The NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region convened leading voices in technology and entrepreneurship on Friday, September 26 for the I-Corps Bio/MedTech Startup Symposium, spotlighting Maryland’s role as a national leader in biotechnology and medical technology.

Held at The Launchport in Baltimore, Md., the symposium was part of the Hub’s Bio/MedTech I-Corps workshop for entrepreneurs developing innovations in those sectors. The cohort was the Hub’s largest ever, featuring 33 teams of inventors and entrepreneurs evaluating the commercial potential of their technologies.

“I-Corps bridges one of the most critical gaps for inventors by answering two questions,” said Dan Kunitz, director of the Hub and venture strategy and development at the University of Maryland. “They are: should this technology be brought to market, and, if so, what is the best way to do it? To answer these questions, I-Corps guides researchers and entrepreneurs through a process of customer discovery and business model generation, which helps them avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes of deep tech startups while defining a viable path to market.”

The result is that entrepreneurs and others put their time, effort and resources into potential companies that show real promise.

“As entrepreneurs, you are some of the most important people in Maryland,” said Patrick O’Shea, vice president for research at the UMD. “It is you and your inventions that are going to bolster the economy and set us on a path for a successful future.”

O’Shea was one of two keynote speakers for the event, in addition to Bob Storey, managing partner of The Launchport.

A Maryland Bio/MedTech ecosystem panel discussion followed, with Storey moderating, featuring: Jesse Christopher, CEO of Longeviti Neuro Solutions; ​Samantha Scott, CEO of JuneBrain and UMD I-Corps alum; Jay Shah, CEO of Neurava; and ​Matt Tremblay, CEO of Blackbird Labs.

Panelists discussed Maryland support for startups and gave advice to entrepreneurs launching new ventures.

“In Maryland, you’re a stone’s throw away from everything you need to start a company,” said Christopher. “This is the right time to be here.”

Scott emphasized the importance of I-Corps for startups. “It was a foundational part of my company,” she said. “To this day, we do customer discovery constantly.”

Networking time concluded the event.

The NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region equips researchers with real-world tools to translate scientific discovery into market-ready solutions that address global challenges.

Since I-Corps launched in the D.C. region in 2013, the program has served 1,824 entrepreneur teams. More than 400 companies have been launched, creating 1,686 jobs and raising $446 million in funding.

View photos from the symposium here.

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The University of Maryland has again been recognized as a national leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, earning a top-10 spot in The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine’s annual ranking of the best schools for student entrepreneurship and receiving an Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ (APLU) 2025 Innovation & Economic Prosperity Award.

Together, the honors underscore UMD’s broad impact in cultivating entrepreneurial talent and driving innovation across disciplines and throughout the state.

UMD placed No. 7 across all institutions and No. 5 among public universities for undergraduate entrepreneurship studies, according to 2026 rankings released Wednesday by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur—marking Maryland’s 11th straight year in the top 10 of this annual list. The university also ranked No. 15 overall for graduate studies and No. 1 in the mid-Atlantic region.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are woven into the fabric of the University of Maryland,” said Dean Chang, chief innovation officer. “Our students are not only learning how to launch ventures—they’re also developing the design skills to solve complex challenges in every field. This ranking reflects the strength of Maryland’s entire innovation ecosystem, from engineering and the arts to business, science and social impact, as well as the selfless I&E leaders who overdeliver year after year.”

While many entrepreneurship rankings focus only on a university's business school, The Princeton Review’s reflects a university’s campuswide entrepreneurship ecosystem, analyzing a variety of factors including academic offerings, mentorships, competitions, programs, centers and faculty support.

“At the University of Maryland, innovation and entrepreneurship are essential elements of how we educate and empower every student,” said Jennifer King Rice, UMD's senior vice president and provost. “Our faculty weave creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking into the learning experience across all disciplines to prepare graduates who drive change and advance ideas that make a meaningful impact on our communities and the world.”

Nearly one in four undergraduates—7,318—in 92 majors were enrolled in undergraduate entrepreneurship courses at UMD in 2024-25; they were taught by 60 faculty members across 29 departments. Beyond traditional entrepreneurship, UMD also offers over 100 courses in innovation-related areas like creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, social value creation, business models and design thinking.

Entrepreneurial UMD students are also routinely selected to participate in national competitions and programs such as the prestigious Y Combinator startup accelerator in Silicon Valley and XFoundry Nexplore, a hands-on innovation summit that brings together students, researchers and industry partners to design solutions for scientific and technological challenges.

The Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Award in the Innovation category from the APLU  recognizes the university for advancing the innovation landscape in two key areas: community and quantum. This is the fourth APLU IEP award for UMD, which won the 2017 IEP Place Award and the IEP Connections Award in 2015 and 2017 that recognizes excellence in overall economic engagement and impact.

As the lead university of the NSF Mid-Atlantic Innovation Hub, UMD conceived of and launched the statewide Maryland Innovation Extension effort to expand access to entrepreneurial training and resources by partnering with HBCUs and minority serving institutions. The program provides training courses, workshops, entrepreneurs-in-residence and access to experienced startup founders who mentor faculty, staff and students. The program has helped create new ventures and developed a stronger, more interconnected statewide innovation infrastructure.

Drawing on its longstanding leadership in quantum computing, UMD also created the Quantum Startup Foundry and the Discovery Fund to attract and support top quantum startups and entrepreneurs, and UMD helped launch the Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance, a coalition of academic institutions, small businesses, industry leaders, and nonprofit and government partners dedicated to supporting quantum innovation and talent development in the region.

UMD’s Discovery District will be the home of a new quantum benchmarking hub supported by up to $100 million in matching funds from the state and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. More than a dozen quantum companies have been selected to participate, and UMD’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security  will serve as a major partner in the initiative.

“At the University of Maryland, innovation and entrepreneurship are fundamental to who we are,” said Patrick O’Shea, vice president for research. “These national recognitions highlight the power of our collaborative research community—one that transforms ideas into impact, strengthens Maryland’s innovation economy, and advances discoveries that benefit people everywhere. From quantum science to social innovation, our faculty, students and partners are driving progress on a truly global scale.”

To learn more, visit UMD’s Innovation Gateway at innovate.umd.edu.

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The NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub has released its first Economic Impact Report.

The Hub continues to be a vibrant and influential engine driving economic growth and technological advancement across a region rich with research, talent, and innovation.

Anchored by twelve leading research universities spanning Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, the Hub harnesses the collective strengths of its partners to transform cutting-edge research into market-ready technologies and thriving startups. This collaborative ecosystem is a vital contributor to the region’s economy, creating high-quality jobs, attracting investment, and catalyzing the development of new industries.

Building on a legacy of success and with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub aligns closely with both state and federal initiatives designed to bolster innovation in critical technology sectors. The Hub's efforts are attuned to national priorities such as the CHIPS and Science Act and state-level strategies in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C. and North Carolina, which focus on advancing breakthroughs in nuclear science, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and translational technology. By connecting university research with industry needs, the Hub fosters a pipeline of entrepreneurial ventures poised to tackle some of the most complex and promising technological challenges of our time.

As part of the broader National Innovation Network, the Mid-Atlantic Hub is committed to scaling innovation through rigorous training programs, regional cohorts, and partnerships that extend the reach and impact of the NSF I-Corps program. Through immersive customer discovery and business model validation, researchers and innovators gain the insights and tools necessary to transform promising ideas into viable commercial enterprises. This approach has yielded hundreds of teams and startups advancing technologies with real-world impact and measurable economic benefit.

View the report online!

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Mtech’s Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund, in conjunction with Bethesda Green and the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy, hosted a Chesapeake Bay Green Entrepreneur Roundtable on Thursday, October 23, 2025, online.

The event was designed to highlight environmental and social entrepreneurs, helping to connect them to resources, build awareness of their work, and amplify their current needs—including funding, partnership-building, customer introductions, team-building, and more.

During the roundtable, attendees heard from entrepreneurs addressing ecological and collective health in communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including:

​Larry Davis, Lead at Cool Green Bus Shelters

Larry is leading the development and installation of plant-packed, protective, and energy-producing eco-transit hubs.

Patrick Ho, President at Forager Station

Patrick is developing next-generation lithium refining equipment, enabling mineral extraction from wastewater.

​Jenny Kassan, Chief Executive Officer at Baltimore Community Commons

​Jenny is leading the development of a community center supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, including those working on ecological restoration and climate action in Baltimore.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Entrepreneur Roundtable increases connectivity between different stakeholders across the region’s climate and entrepreneurship ecosystems, including entrepreneurs, supporters, funders, government, community members, and more. 

The next roundtable event will be on Thursday, December 18; if you’re interested in attending, register here. 

If you’re interested in participating in future roundtables, please reach out to Scott Christensen at schris14@umd.edu.

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The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program has approved 17 new or second-phase technology product research projects teaming companies and faculty throughout Maryland.

Projects pair University System of Maryland faculty members with Maryland-based companies to develop new technology products or processes. Each project is jointly funded by both MIPS and participating companies. All funding goes to the university research.

Phase 1 (new) projects include:

*College Park-based Alchemity LLC is working with Professor Eric Wachsman, director, Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research, and Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Benchmarking and Scale-Up of Membrane Reactor.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

*Churchville-based C. J. Karwacki LLC is working with Professor and Director Michael Sieracki, Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, on a project titled “Assessment of Biomimetic Oyster Shell Material.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Salisbury-based Delmarva Veteran Builders is working with Associate Professor Giulia Franchi, Department of Computer Science, Salisbury University, on a project titled “Robotics Cross Training.” MIPS/company contributions: $100K/$25K.

Baltimore-based Falls Road Mushroom Company is working with Professor and Graduate Director Stephanie Yarwood, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Exploring Spent Fruiting Blocks in Mycoremediation.” MIPS/company contributions: $30K/$3K.

*Sherwood-based Ferry Cove Shellfish and Professor Yantao Li, Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, on a project titled “Preserving Microalgae for Oyster Production.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Germantown-based Intelligent Fusion Technology Inc. is working with Professor of Mechanical Engineering Jamil Abdo, Frostburg State University, on a project titled “AI-Enhanced Additive Manufacturing.” MIPS/company contributions: $96K/$24K.

Silver Spring-based Khanjur R&D is working with Professor Hugh Bruck, Distinguished Scholar-Teacher and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “A New Approach for Fatigue-Resistant SMAs.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Baltimore-based Kubanda Cryotherapy is working with Associate Research Professor Anil Deane, Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Modeling of Cryotherapy Device to Optimize Flow.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Bethesda-based Magic Blue LLC is working with Professor and Associate Chair Kan Cao, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Wound Healing Topical Treatment.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Chevy Chase-based New Integration Photonics is working with Professor Mario Dagenais, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “High-coupling Efficiency PIC Packaging Development.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

College Park-based NewCopper LLC is working with Professor and Graduate Program Director Shenqiang Ren, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Alloy-Reinforced Cu for High Temperature Electronics.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Middle River-based ​​Pedestal Inc. is working with Assistant Professor Nooh Bany Muhammad, Department of Computer Science & Information Technologies, Frostburg State University, on a project titled “Pedestal App Development.” MIPS/company contributions: $79K/$9K

Baltimore-based Quickfhyr Health LLC is working with Microbiology and Immunology Associate Professor Helen Dooley, University of Maryland School of Medicine, on a project titled “POC Influenza H5 Testing for Pandemic Prevention.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

College Park-based Redhelm Labs Inc. is working with Project Engineer Joshua Gaus, UAS Research and Operations Center, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Laser Power Beaming Integration with UAS Platforms.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Phase 2 projects include:

*Baltimore-based Envista Growers LLC is working with Senior Lecturer Jose-Luis Izursa, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Small-Scale Farm Hydroponics in Urban Centers.” MIPS/company contributions: $140K/$10K.

*Baltimore-based BetterFedFoods MD LLC is working with Professor Feng Chen, Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, on a project titled “Microalgae in Soil Amendments.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Rockville-based Microsphere Material Solutions is working with Minta Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering Norman Wereley, University of Maryland, College Park, on a project titled “Maturation of Tunable Automotive Safety Materials.” MIPS/company contributions: $90K/$10K.

Funding for projects with an asterisk was provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

This is the 77th round of MIPS funding.

Projects are subject to final contract negotiations.

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program is an initiative of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. MIPS leverages the resources of Maryland’s public universities to bolster the state’s economy by bringing faculty and students into collaboration with companies to develop new technology products and processes.

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Baltimore-based Linshom Medical was named the winner of the 9th Annual Crab Trap Competition during the BioHealth Capital Region Forum. Linshom’s mission is to provide continuous respiratory monitoring for patients and health care providers to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory depression and compromise.

Linshom Medical is a former Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) project award winner.

TEDCO announced a recent $200,000 Builder Fund investment in JuneBrain Inc., a  company developing optical coherence tomography (OCT) products that expand the reach of neurology and ophthalmology into underserved communities around the world.

JuneBrain is a former Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) project award winner.