It’s never too early to start holiday shopping! Find the perfect gifts for all the people in your life while supporting an enTERPreneur this week at Terp Marketplace. Join the Dingman Center on Wednesday, November 16th, in Van Munching Hall to shop from unique student-owned businesses and find everything from tech, to dietary-friendly snacks, to the comfiest UMD custom apparel!
Here is a list of the top 10 things we’re excited about buying this semester at Terp Marketplace:
Bacon Candles:
Co-Founders: Austin Smith ‘26, Samuel Sowers ‘26, Jon Kasner ‘26
Forget artificial scents, these unique, cost-efficient candles are made with real bacon grease—and will have you craving breakfast all day long.
Testudo’s Closet:
Co-Founders: Sarah Ferkler ‘23, Marc Cifiello ‘23, John Fetsch ‘24
Show off your Maryland pride with thrifted and upcycled University of Maryland apparel. Testudo’s Closet also accepts custom orders, where they will personalize your own clothes!
Wittle Spoonies:
Founder: Emily Garcia ‘23
Support a Terp and those affected by chronic illnesses this holiday season with Wittle Spoonies handmade and originally designed stickers, notepads, pins, bookmark paintings, and more!
The Burrows Garden:
Co-Founders: Kayla Swisher ‘24, Ava Laubach ‘25
Stay fashionable AND sustainable with The Burrows Garden. Find anything from handmade pressed floral earrings to clay charm bookmarks to crochet bags, hats, and more!
Have a chef in the family? They’ll love experimenting in the kitchen with Pepper Bee’s spiced-infused honey! Find all your favorites like lavender, basil, rosemary, chili flakes, and mint.
Magneto by OffTrend:
Co-Founders: Ali Rajabi ‘24, Eric Gulich ‘23
Calling all tech lovers!! Check out OffTrend’s fashionable MagSafe tech products like phone wallets, RFID blockers, Airtag cases, phone cases, and screen protectors.
Herbin’s Fashion:
Founder: Herbert Obeng
Elevate your look with Herbin’s Fashion’s customized African clothing and accessories. Shop apparel like T-shirts, bomber jackers, hoodies, sweatshirts, polos, and more.
Terp-Town Treats:
Co-Founders: Abdullah Diao ‘22, Gabrielle Cannady ‘23, Robert Lukubama ‘26
Don’t let your dietary restrictions hold you back. Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious and dietary-friendly on-the-go cookies and treats.
Ruff Days:
Co-Founders: Jiasheng Lu ‘22, Yong Hun Na ‘23, Adam Larsen ‘23, Brian Escobar ‘22
Ruff Days has the most paw-fect gift for your furry friends. Get a Ruff Bandana, with a custom print from your favorite sports teams. Now you and your best friend can match for game-day no matter who you root for!
Prophets2Profits Capital LLC:
Co-Founders: Ephraim Shaw ‘24, Beza Solomon ‘24
Give the gift of knowledge with Prophets2Profits Capital LLC’s 10-lesson course on financial literacy. By the end of the course, users will be able to understand concepts like the stock market, options trading, equity investments, technical analysis, chart patterns, and more.
The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is wrapping up a busy semester of events and programs. We are pleased to report that our students are excited to engage with us in person while we are continuing to offer some virtual options. We are proud to see our enTERPreneurs continuing to thrive, and look forward to the exciting work that will come out of the Terp Startup Accelerator cohort this summer.
Join us in looking back over our spring 2022 semester…
Signature Events & Programs
Dingman Fridays
This semester, we continued using a hybrid model to deliver Dingman Fridays where the first Friday of each month was held in person at Van Munching Hall and following Fridays were held virtually over Zoom. Each week the Dingman Center hosted a series of experienced entrepreneurs as well as a legal advisor who gave students, alumni, staff and faculty practical and actionable feedback on business ideas. If you’re interested in participating, sign up for the Dingman Fridays newsletter to be notified when we bring back Dingman Fridays in the fall.
Feb. 23 – Being Black in Entrepreneurship Event
To celebrate Black History Month, The Dingman Center partnered with Southern Management Leadership Program to organize our third annual Being Black in Entrepreneurship event via Zoom. Panelists Audrey Awasom ‘18, Founder & CEO at Noble Uprising and André Blackman ‘05, Founder and CEO of Onboard Health, were joined by moderator Sydney Parker ’18, CMO of Aurora Tights as they discussed their contributions and experiences as Black entrepreneurs.
Mar. 15 – Terp Marketplace
Dean Konana visiting Terp Marketplace venture, The CP Thrift Shop.
This semester, 37 students startups got to test the market by setting up tables in Van Munching Hall and selling their products and services for Terp Marketplace. The turn out was huge as vendors sold an array of products and services like sustainable clothing, delicious treats, custom candles, and more.
Apr. 26 – Pitch Dingman Competition
The three top Quattrone Venture Track teams pose with their winnings.
After two years of being virtual, the Dingman Center held Pitch Dingman Competition 2022 Finals in person at Stamp Grand Ballroom. The event was bigger and better than ever with over 300 in-person and over 500 virtual attendees watching the six student start up finalists pitch to judges Shark Tank style. While all of the finalists did an outstanding job presenting their business and ideas, this year, Edwin Djampa ’22, founder of Omega 3, won the grand prize for the Main Street Track and Sanketh Andhavarapu ’23, founder of Vitalize, won the grand prize for the Quattrone Venture Track.
Terp Ladies First Founders Class
Ladies First Founders is the Dingman Center’s signature course for female and non-binary students interested in entrepreneurship. This semester, 13 students worked to build soft skills for overcoming gender biases in entrepreneurship. Unlike previous years, students did not need to have launched a venture, as the focus of the course was on demystifying entrepreneurship.
To learn more about the course and why these students took it read here.
Fearless Founders: New Venture Practicum
New Venture Practicum is another one of the Dingman Center’s signature courses where students experiment with business models, revenue streams and go-to-market strategies. After developing their business throughout the semester, students end the course by pitching for seed funding.
This semester’s cohort included:
Build Bigger – Jonathan MacGregor ’22
Easy Park – Sarthak Patel ’25
Em G Art Design Studio – Emily Garcia ’24 (Studio Art and Art Education)
Heart2Starr – Ileana Lozano ’22
Odin Electric – Paul Mouring ’22 (Mechanical Engineering)
Sequester Carbon Certified – Nathan McMullen ’23
Shai Consulting – Shiv Agarwal ’23
Stockadoo – Hrithik Bansal ’22 (Computer Science) and Justin Fenn ’22 (Computer Science)
Sparza – Ryan Myer ’22 (Finance and Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Undefined Dreamerz – Takiyah Roberts ’25 (Material Science Engineering)
Venture – Isaac Lefkovitz’24 Samai Patel’24
To learn more about the course and the businesses involved read here.
Founders Forum
Founders Forum is held once a month, shown here at The Hall CP.
Not only will events like the Pitch Dingman Competition–among other Dingman Center programs–benefit your business, but they will provide you with a community of supportive like-minded individuals. Once a month, both current and alumni members of Terp Startup, Pitch Dingman Finalists and Startup Shell participate in Founders Forum. This forum is an opportunity for participants to hone entrepreneurial skills, learn from peers, and catch up with one another. During these meetings, we dive into a new topic related to running a businesses in a roundtable-style, while also making time to socialize.
Terp Startup Accelerator
This is now the program’s eighth consecutive year, and the first time the program will be held live again after two virtual years. Aside from the program’s workshops and roundtable discussions held throughout the summer, each team in the cohort will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 and a dedicated advisor to help them grow their businesses.
EMPIRE 242 – Kang Ewimbi ’23 (Entertainment Industry)
JuJu Food Delivery– Weixiang Wang ’22 (Computer Science), Nanxin Luo ’25 (Finance and Information Systems), Zeyang Liu ’22 (Economics), Keying Sun ’23 (Statistics), Liqianrui Yang ’22 (Economics and Management), Zirui Zhou
The Dingman Center has stayed #trending this semester with our TikTok account! We have posted four videos advertising Giving Day, Terp Marketplace and Pitch Dingman Competition 2022–with more videos to come in the summer and fall. So far, our videos have almost 3,300 views combined. Be sure to check out our account and give us a follow to get exclusive Dingman Center content.
We hope everyone in the Dingman Center community has a restful and relaxing summer. We can’t wait for all the remarkable entrepreneurship to come in the upcoming school year.
The Dingman Center team celebrated Venture Programs Intern Barathi Aravindan’s Fall 2021 graduation at Terpzone.
The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is wrapping up a semester of live, virtual and hybrid programming. We are pleased to report that our students are excited to engage with us in person while still having some virtual options. As finals week comes to an end and holiday break begins, we want to take the time to reflect on the Dingman Center’s successful programs, events and more. Join us in looking at our Fall 2021 semester recap!
Terp Marketplace, taking place on Wednesday, November 10th, will be packed with innovative student ventures. This event is not only the perfect way for UMD entrepreneurs to test the market with their products and services but it’s also a great place to do some holiday shopping.
Don’t wait until the last minute to get your family and friends a gift; come to Terp Marketplace and find anything from delicious food to clothes to sustainable household items. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re bound to get something incredible.
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the student-run companies that you’ll find at the event:
Original ocean designed T-shirt from Save the Wave
Inclusive skincare made by Organically Amateur
Chocolate M&M cookie made by CHIP’D Cookie
Handmade origami earrings from Handmade for Aid
Custom Pokemon snow globe by USnow Shop
UMD Pre-game – Give your favorite Maryland sports fanatic some unique game day apparel! UMD Pre-game is a clothing company that will be selling affordable UMD T-shirts, jackets and more.
E. Ozie Productions – Love to read? Stop by E. Ozie Productions where Ijeoma Asonye will be selling her published original book, The Beautiful Math of Coral: A Novel. This coming-of-age story, about the relationship between STEM, art and the human experience, is a great read for any student.
Organically Amateur – Try out this inclusive organic skincare brand that sells herbal-based products for all dark and brown skin types!
ModBars, LLC – These delicious granola bars are great for the foodie in your life. ModBars sells affordable and nutritious granola bars that also seek to meet an array of dietary needs and restrictions.
Biodegradable Coolers – Ditch your unsustainable styrofoam coolers for an environmentally friendly alternative! These biodegradable coolers are perfect for a sports game, bbq, or even the beach–because let’s be honest it’s never too early to have summer on your mind.
Handmade for Aid – For the fashionista in your life, get them a handmade piece of jewelry. This small business makes beautiful original accessories with the goal of donating the proceeds.
Ecosponge – Do your part to help the environment by purchasing an “Ecosponge.” This reusable sponge, made out of eco-friendly fiber, is a great compostable, sustainable and affordable gift for anyone who likes to clean.
CHIP’D Cookies – Move over Levain, CHIP’D Cookies is here! Founder Ardyn Solomon will be selling a variety of these homemade cookies in flavors like Chocolate M&M, Chocolate PB, Funfetti, and more. They’re a great holiday treat and even come in gluten-free options.
Save the Wave – Help clean our oceans with this original marine-inspired artwork and apparel. Save the Wave will be selling items like T-shirts, hoodies and stickers to benefit ocean clean-up organizations–specifically those working to clean the California coast after the detrimental oil spill in October.
Rooftop Garden Kits – If you or someone you know has a green thumb, buy one of these DIY gardening kits. The kit comes packaged with instructions and any necessary materials, so you can start your own mini garden stress-free in the comfort of your own home.
Stop by Van Munching Hall tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. to browse these among many other ventures like Tailored Treats, Gotta Buy Em’ All, Pop Pop’s Pro Planter, the Green project, Costa Verde, USnow Shop, Terrapin Tees, Build Bigger, Nuts 4 U, Oyster Fest, Terps on Wheels, Rent-A-Closet, Em G Art Designs, and UMD University Designs.
Things are slowing down at the Smith School. Students are taking their last finals, and we’re finishing up work to prepare for a blissful holiday season ahead. So grab a cup of cocoa and take a trip with us down memory lane as we recap a fantastic fall semester of events, programs and more at the Dingman Center!
A Rise in the Rankings
University of Maryland rose in the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine’s rankings to #7 in undergraduate programming, and #3 for public universities. This marks our fifth consecutive year in the top 10! Read about the rankings here.
Graduation is this week, and we’ve had some time to reflect on the numerous events and programs we’ve held throughout the semester. The community has impressed us once again with their enthusiasm, passion and dedication to entrepreneurship throughout spring. Here are some featured highlights from our events, and be on the lookout for upcoming interviews with the student entrepreneurs in our Summer 2019 Terp Startup Cohort.
With the holiday season fast approaching, students are hunkering down in the library to finish final projects and prep for exams. In the meantime, we’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the events and programs that went on at the Dingman Center this past semester. We’re always thankful for the immense support, enthusiasm and engagement we receive from those within our community. Check out some of our favorite highlights over the past few months, and have a wonderful winter break!
Sept. 29 – spark: Where Fearless Ideas Start
Students playing spark: The Card Game
Now in its third year, spark: Where Fearless Ideas Startis an event hosted by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and Startup Shell. spark gives University of Maryland students who are interested in entrepreneurship but don’t have a venture a platform to brainstorm business ideas with their peers. This year the event got a major venue upgrade, with Professor Oliver Schlake leading the program at the innovative Edward St. John Learning & Teaching Center. Students refined their initial ideas through an interactive card game and then split up into teams to prepare an energetic, infomercial-style pitch. This year’s group of ideas were some of our most viable and creative yet! Read the full recap of spark here.
With the academic year drawing to a close this past weekend, we’ve had some time to reflect on the numerous events and programs we’ve held throughout the semester. The community has impressed us once again with their enthusiasm, passion and dedication to entrepreneurship throughout spring. Here are some featured highlights from our events, and be on the lookout for upcoming interviews with the student entrepreneurs in our Summer 2018 Terp Startup Cohort.
Feb. 13 – Robert G. Hisaoka Speaker Series: Young Founders Panel
We kicked off the spring semester with an exciting Hisaoka Speaker Series featuring an intimate conversation between Robert Hisaoka ’79 and four young entrepreneurs from the UMD community: Ali von Paris ’12 of Route One Apparel, Evan Lutz ’14 of Hungry Harvest, and Brandon Deyo and Bradley Deyo of Mars Reel. During the panel, these entrepreneurs shared some of the insights and challenges they faced while turning their dorm room ventures into successful businesses. Read our full recap on the Young Founders Panel here.
The Dingman Center is lucky to be a part of a fantastic community filled with motivated student and alumni entrepreneurs. To celebrate this strong spirit of entrepreneurship at UMD, we hosted Entrepreneurship Day on Tuesday, April 17, which featured student startups at Terp Marketplace during the afternoon and serial technology entrepreneur Raul Fernandez at the Robert G. Hisaoka Speaker Series later that evening.
Terp Marketplace
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Terp Marketplace was an opportunity for student startups to showcase and sell their products & services directly to the Smith community. This semester, we had a huge turnout from students, staff, faculty and alumni who were eager to see the 30 startups on display. A few participants featured included Pitch Dingman Competition second place winner Brianna Queen ’18 of BEEQBOX with her popular F*ckboy Repellent illuminating setting spray, and alumni startup FroDoh, who brought samples of their tasty frozen doughnut holes. The students who participated have taken part in our Fearless Founders Accelerator program, Ladies First Founders or Professor David Kressler’s 461 Entrepreneurship class.
Robert G. Hisaoka Speaker Series featuring Raul Fernandez
UMD alumnus and highly successful entrepreneur Raul Fernandez ’90 traveled to Van Munching Hall for an intimate conversation with Robert Hisaoka ’79 on his experiences in entrepreneurship. As the former founder of Proxicom and currently the Vice Chairman and Owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Raul shared some of the key lessons he learned through his journey and valuable pieces of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The end of the semester is here once again! Student entrepreneurs are buckling down to get through their final exams, group projects and presentations before they’re off for the holidays. As the Dingman Center quiets down while students are studying, we’ve had time to reflect on the events we’ve held throughout the semester. In these past few months, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of energy, engagement and enthusiasm from the community at our events and programs at the Smith School. Take a look at some of our favorite highlights over the past semester!
