Helping founders find community and connections
A government contracting education and networking program operated by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce that equips small businesses with the knowledge, skills, and connections to win federal and state government contracts. Includes forum series, training programs, procurement conferences, and access to agency officials and prime contractors.
A free two-day entrepreneurship training program offered by the SBA as part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for transitioning service members, National Guard/Reserve members, and their spouses. Covers business ownership fundamentals, key considerations when starting a business, and techniques for evaluating and developing business concepts.
Learn more →A one-day SBA entrepreneurship training program that extends Boots to Business education to veterans of all eras, National Guard/Reserve members, and military spouses who may not have access to on-base training. Provides an overview of business ownership as a career path, business plan components, opportunity recognition, and available public and private resources.
Learn more →Part of the Grow Prince George's initiative, this series offers strategic business training workshops for established small and mid-sized businesses focused on technology tools and competitive skills.
Learn more →Comprehensive training series for BIPOC, women, and Latino entrepreneurs using an economic gardening approach. Includes 7-week Business English Essentials and 10-week Start Up Business Series for established businesses.
Learn more →A free NSF-funded 4-week customer discovery program designed to help researchers and entrepreneurs validate their technology's commercial potential. Participants must complete 40+ customer discovery interviews. Teams receive a $2,880 grant upon successful completion. Offered quarterly (January, April, July, October). Over 200 JHU teams have participated. JHU serves as a Mid-Atlantic regional hub alongside the University of Maryland.
Learn more →The Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship Accelerator (IDEA) Lab is a community-based program at FITCI that provides entrepreneurship education, peer learning, and early-stage business support to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Frederick community. Funded in part by a Truist Foundation grant, the IDEA Lab serves entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of business ideation and development.
Learn more →A community-facing program for earliest-stage entrepreneurs exploring entrepreneurship and innovation. Funded by an $88K Truist Foundation grant. Serves as the entry point into the FITCI ecosystem, with a pathway to the Edge Accelerator and FITCI Incubator for participants ready to advance.
Learn more →A free entrepreneurship training program tailored specifically for military spouses, providing business education and resources designed around the unique lifestyle challenges of military families. Available in-person, online, and on-demand to accommodate varied schedules and frequent relocations.
Learn more →9-week idea-stage bootcamp powered by COSTARTERS, helping working professionals test and develop tech business ideas toward commercialization.
Learn more →A series of open-access workshops covering foundational entrepreneurship topics including ideation, customer discovery, business models, pitching, and funding strategies. Open to UMD students, faculty, staff, and community members. Serves as an accessible entry point into the UMD entrepreneurship ecosystem, with pathways to the Dingman Center and Do Good accelerator programs.
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