business idea | Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship

Sep 15 2015

Top Ten Reasons to Join Fearless Founders Idea Shell

Welcome back to campus, entrepreneurs! The Dingman Center programs are well underway for the semester. Currently, we’re holding info sessions for Idea Shell, the first step of the Fearless Founders evidence-based accelerator program taught by successful entrepreneurs. The next info session is set for Monday, September 21 from 3 to 4 p.m. The deadline to sign-up for Fearless Founders: Idea Shell, Fall 2015 Cohort is rapidly approaching. The tentative schedule includes nine workshops/sessions on Monday’s, 2-4 pm, beginning Monday, September 28 and concluding Monday, November 16.

Upon your successful completion of Idea Shell, you are eligible for Hatch, a for-credit course (BMGT468 or ENES498) in Spring 2016. Here are the Top Ten reasons to join Idea Shell from some of the alumni of Fearless Founders:

Photo Dec 15, 4 25 21 PM 10. Join a cohort of passionate entrepreneurs

9. Validate your problem/customer/solution fit

8. Practice customer discovery and “Talking to Humans”

7. Use feedback, iterate and pivot on your idea

6. Develop your plan for your Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

5. Network with the vast Dingman Center community

4. Prepare yourself for the “Hatch”, Fearless Founders Stage

3. Present your idea for $500 in seed funds

2. Participate in the “Speed Pitch” elevator pitch event

1. Receive the exclusive title of being a “Fearless Founder”

Don’t keep talking to your family and friends about your great ideas. Turn your ideas into a business by joining Fearless Founders: Idea Shell!

Sign-up Here

Tagged business idea, Customer Discovery, Fearless Founders, Idea Shell, Ideation

Mar 12 2015

Leave a comment

EnTERPreneurs, Fearless Founders, Startup Success, student entrepreneur

Part-time MBA Launches Grey Matter, A Terp Startup that Protects First Responders

Imagine a technology that could protect first responders and law enforcement agents from dangerous chemicals.

Not only would the technology protect agents from such chemicals, it would actually block the chemicals from clothing, turn them into water and cause the toxic chemicals to evaporate before even having a chance to touch agents’ skin. That is what the technology behind DC-area startup, Grey Matter, claims to deliver.

The venture, co-founded by part-time Smith MBA student Tommy Luginbill, recently secured $75,000 in federal grant funding to bring this potentially lifesaving, self-decontaminating clothing technology to agents in the field.

How did Grey Matter get its start?

Tommy Luginbill, Grey Matter

Tommy Luginbill is no stranger to entrepreneurship. A part-time MBA student, Tommy comes from a line of entrepreneurs and even helped to start a family-run solar contracting business before business school. Given his strong interest in startups, Tommy started hanging out at the Dingman Center (one of the resources that drew him to UMD) and even pitched an idea to an EIR for an energy software venture.

Dr. Brandy Johnson, Ph.D.

As Terps are known to do, Tommy worked tirelessly and fearlessly dove into the courses available around the Smith School, including the Fearless Founders program. He learned of a new pilot program at the time on campus called iCorps, which matched business students with lab innovations to identify viable commercialization paths. It was here that Tommy met inventor Dr. Brandy Johnson, a Ph.D. working in the Naval Research Lab.

Dr. Johnson was developing smart anti-decontaminating materials made from chitosan, a biopolymer made by treating recycled crab shells. Tommy knew about the lean startup methodology, how to create a business plan, and how to conduct customer discover and identify markets.

And Grey Matter was born.

Continue reading →

Tagged Accelerate DC, business idea, entrepreneurship, iCorps, lean methodology, MBA, MVP, part-time mba, Smith School of Business, Student Entrepreneur, tech transfer, TEDCO, Terps

Mar 28 2014

Leave a comment

Worth Reading

Worth Reading 3/28/14

Cupid’s Cup, the nation’s toughest business competition, will take place one week from today at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. Are you ready?

Here’s what is worth reading this week.

Last year, Elana Fine (@elanafine) told us that All Entrepreneurship is Global Entrepreneurship. To be a global entrepreneur, you have to understand the communication patterns and communication styles of different cultures. These diagrams will show you how to negotiate with people around the world.
Wondering How To Be Wise A Entrepreneur? Check out this infographic and learn how.
Forbes tells us why Mastering The Balance Sheet Can Make Or Break A Startup. Do you agree?
In startups especially, job interviews are just as much for the interviewee as they are for the interviewer. Want to work for a startup? Ask your interviewer these 10 questions.

Stay connected with the Dingman Center

Tagged business idea, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, international business, negotiate, startups

Dec 06 2013

Leave a comment

Worth Reading

Worth Reading 12/6/13

As of today, there is one month left to apply for Cupid’s Cup. We have received many impressive applications from all over the country, and we are still looking for more. Interested in total of $115K in cash prizes? Want to compete in the nation’s toughest competition? How about exclusive access to Kevin Plank‘s professional network? Don’t hesitate, apply for Cupid’s Cup right now and impress us with your brilliant business!

Now, let’s check out the Worth Reading for this week.

Many people believe in certain myths about entrepreneurship, but not all of them are true. Get it straight by reading 4 Startup Myths That Should Be Busted Immediately.
Entrepreneurs are resilient. They may stumble in one place but they always bounce back. Check out the stories of 4 Incredibly Successful Companies That Didn’t Get A Deal On ‘shark Tank’.
Check out 12 Successful Entrepreneurs Share The Best Advice They Ever Got and steal their secrets!
It is close to the end of 2013, and it’s time to evaluate the performance of outstanding entrepreneurs in this year. Read the article about Aaron Levie and see why he is named Inc. Magazine’s entrepreneur of the year.

Stay connected with the Dingman Center

Tagged Advise, business competition, business idea, Cash Prize, Cupid's Cup, DC entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, kevin plank, Shark Tank, Startup Myth

Nov 15 2013

Leave a comment

Worth Reading

Worth Reading 11/15/13

1454603_10152014749396692_1085443322_n

This week, participants of Fearless Founders presented on the progress of their business ideas to sponsors from Capital One. It was great to see how far they’ve come! We also had a Research and Practice Luncheon discussing the use of crowdfunding. The luncheon promoted engaged interaction between faculty, staff, angel investors and students. Check out some photos from the event on our Facebook page.

Now, here’s the Worth Reading for this week.

It’s not east presenting your business to angel investors. Read this article to learn 7 Tips For Pitching Your Entrepreneurial Idea, Whether To Angels Or Sharks.
Electric car company, Tesla, has become the hottest name in the Silicon Valley. Read Elon Musk’s Tesla Strategy Starts With 3 Cars and realize why.
For entrepreneurs, when it comes to business development vs. technology development, which one works better? Read the Stanford vs. MIT: How Marketing Tumps Technology In Startups.
As a student, you might not have the time and money to start a viable business. Check out this article and play “Hipster CEO” instead.
Instagram is a free and effective resource for small business, but non-adopters are still reluctant to use it for a variety of reasons. Read this article of The 5 Biggest Misconceptions About Using Instagram for Business.

Stay connected with the Dingman Center

Tagged business idea, CEO, entrepreneurship, instagram, Marketing, small business, student, technology

Oct 18 2013

Leave a comment

Worth Reading

Worth Reading 10/18/13

This week the Dingman Center team welcomed the first cohort of Fearless Founders! We hosted a kick-off event for the group where they attended their first workshop and celebrated in the Dingman Center bullpen. Read our last post “Introducing the Fearless Founders” for details on the 22 accepted companies.
We’ve also begun receiving applications for Cupid’s Cup! Check out cupidscup.com for details on this year’s bigger competition. Not sure if you’re ready to apply? Hit the “Apply Later” button on cupidscup.com and we’ll invite you to a webinar on November 6 to answer all your questions.

FF-16Oct13-2

Now, let’s enjoy this week’s Worth Reading:

Digital marketing is getting more and more crucial, especially for startups with small marketing budgets. However, the truth is lots of CMOs still don’t understand how it works. Check out the infographic: Are CMOs ready for digital marketing?
To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to learn how to be a good boss. Read The 10 Best Pointy-Haired Boss Moments From ‘Dailbert’ and make sure you don`t make the same mistakes.
We’ve all met these people: They are likable, welcoming, and seem to know everyone. By speaking with them for 15 minutes, you already feel like you have known each others for centuries. Who are they? They are connectors. Check out Forget Networking. How to Be a Connector and learn a few tips.
Many entrepreneurs disregard the traditional business plan. They think business plans are static and unrealistic. But, there is The Business Plan That Always Works. Check out the article and learn the secrets why.
Every idea has the potential to become a viable business. Read the story of How ’Nightmare’ Producer Tim Haskell Turned NYC’s First Haunted House Into a Year-Round Business and get inspired.

Stay connected with the Dingman Center

Tagged business idea, business plan, Connector, digital marketing, dingman center, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Fearless Founders, infographic, Networking, startup

Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship

Tag Archives: business idea