Who’s advancing in the 2025 Pitch Dingman Competition?

Get ready, get set… go! It’s hard to believe, but it’s already here — our 10th anniversary Pitch Dingman Competition! This year, over 97 ventures applied, all vying for their share of $170,000 in prizes. Our panel of judges was able to narrow down the wide range of applicants to reveal the top teams that will be advancing in the 2025 competition. We’re excited to see the top ventures pitch on the big stage at our finals event on April 24 at Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center for a shot at the grand prizes!

Read on to learn more about the tracks and the ventures that will be advancing in the competition:

Alumni Tech Track

In partnership with the UMD Alumni Association, this track supports alumni-founded, tech and software ventures with traction. To be eligible, ventures must have some traction in the form of early customers, and/or a developed MVP/prototype that is being tested, and have less than $100K in annual recurring revenue. The finalist ventures in this campus-wide track for alumni will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching to take their ventures to the next step. On April 24, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Cursive – Joseph Thibault ’23 – Cursive is an API for authorship. We verify writing through transparency to support learning and responsible co-creation with AI.

Plan Forward – Anne Spear ’19 – Plan Forward is a decision-making platform for K-12 administrators, transforming raw data into actionable insights. By leveraging educational frameworks and AI models, we don’t just provide data—we make sense of it, helping schools and districts make informed decisions that drive continuous improvement. Our platform empowers educators to monitor progress and adjust strategies in real-time. Plan Forward helps schools tell the story behind their data, turning insights into meaningful action.

Alumni Tech Track Semifinalists

Presixion – Flavia Negrete ’22 – Presixion is developing a multi-channel lateral flow assay that can detect multiple pathogens from a single swab, providing a rapid, cost-effective, and scalable diagnostic solution for infectious diseases.

Bon Voyage – Bosith Weerasinghe ’23 – Optimizing Travel Planning for Single and Multiple-day Trips Using the Powers of Machine Learning and AI

Gym Supreme – Obidi Orakwusi ’12 – Product Design and Technology company with 3 patents. We influence the mass market adoption of self-care using fitness. We help a generation learn to take care of themselves and feel more confident through product design and technology.

Alumni Tech Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Clinix – Sahar Farajun ’22 – Skip months of reading through thousands of pdfs and clinical notes – Clinix will do it for you! Clinix is a software to automate the data collection, analysis, and entry for clinical research.

Healthier Forms – Jose Leon ’17 – We have created a B2B SaaS platform to help Imaging Centers solve the complex and inefficient process of MRI safety by automating patient screening, implant guideline matching, and safety decision-making through an integrated, user-friendly dashboard.

InZone, Inc. – Jayme Kame ’24 – InZone is an expanding community of tweens built around mindful social media use, unlimited AI characters, fun 3D avatars, and parental oversight. Our primary customers are first‑time social media users aged 8–12 and our secondary customers are parents concerned with their children’s digital well‑being

Makerstate – Jenny Larios Berlin ’04 – Makerstate supports creators by building a clear path to monetizing cultural products with an AI-powered platform offering personalized venture building education, tailored career and artistic goal setting, and tools for independent production at scale. Here creators take ownership of their creative careers!

WISE Cities – Marie Brodsky ’24 – In the future that we hope to live in, our communities are adapted to support us as we age. We envision that we can participate meaningfully, take advantage of the resources available, and connect with one another at community spaces in our vicinity. But today, that world isn’t reality. Instead, although 90% of older adults want to age at home, 40% say they don’t know of organizations in their community that support them. For a change to happen, we need a new avenue for older adults and local providers to connect. WISE Cities spurs this change through an accessible platform for older adults to discover local services and opportunities, paid for by businesses who want to reach older adults.

YourStory – Steve Johnson ’16 – Provides AI-driven educational solutions tailored to K-12 students and teachers, supporting more personalized learning paths.

Alumni Main Street Track

In partnership with the UMD Alumni Association, this track is for alumni-founded, non-tech small businesses that have revenue and initial customers. To be eligible, ventures must have generated at least $1,000 in lifetime revenue and less than $100K in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The finalist ventures in this campus-wide track for alumni will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching to take their ventures to the next step. On April 24, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

3708 Spirits – Tony Ajayi ’10, Mitchell Linton, Zachary Spence – 3708 Spirits is an upscale premium locally black-owned agave spirit brand that is handcrafted using traditional methods and only the finest blue agave from Jalisco, Mexico.

Green Mechanics Benefit LLC – Justan Randolph ’19, Larry Davis – Give Us A Problem, We Will Use Nature To Solve It. We support large industrial clients, counties, farmers and municipalities in meeting their environmental permits through our innovative, cost effective and low disturbance nature-based technology portfolio.

Alumni Main Street Track Semifinalists

OcuClips – Mohil Gupta ’19 – The world’s first patented premium eyewear accessory. Say goodbye to discomfort from headphones or external pressure—OcuClips keeps your glasses secure and comfortable all day long.

Bright Labs Diagnostics – Jennifer Ukegbu ’14 – Our DNA, drug, and alcohol testing business provides reliable Testing & Diagnostic Services, Medical & Scientific Equipment Supply, and Consulting, Training, and Specialized Support Services. We serve a diverse customer base, including individuals (B2C) seeking DNA or drug and alcohol testing, businesses (B2B) such as employers, rehab centers, hospitals, and DOT-regulated companies needing workplace drug and alcohol testing, and government agencies (B2G) at the federal, state, and local levels requiring specialized testing solutions. Our expertise ensures accurate, compliant, and confidential testing services tailored to the needs of each client.

Alumni Main Street Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Dream of Coffee – Reid Xu ’24 – A specialty coffee concept that bridges Gen Z preferences with the artisanal world of third-wave coffee. Through immersive flagship cafés, they partner with roasters to deliver ethically sourced, twist-based coffee experiences.

Envirowell – Alec Soffer ’23 – EnviroWell is an innovative water well technology company that utilizes a patented Safe, Directional, Drought-Resistant Dug Well (SDDW) method developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to provide safer, more cost-efficient alternatives for municipalities and regions with limited water infrastructure.

Ginja Snap – Shaakira DeLoatch ’17 – Ginja Snap is a functional ginger water beverage that transforms a health remedy into a grab-and-go, good and good for you beverage option for wellness enthusiasts. Free of carbonation, artificial flavors, and processed sugars, its ingredients are real and simple: water, organic ginger, raw honey, lemon, and lime. @drinkginjasnap on all social media platforms.

Greenie – Ethan Pham ’24 – Greenie is a flash retail business and e-commerce store, specializing in premium second-hand clothing to offer a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. We host CP Flea, College Park’s first premiere outdoor flea market that brings together 12+ vendors from across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Our customers are style-conscious Gen Z and Millenials who value individuality, sustainability, and community.

HAT Ladies Pound Cake – Teri Walker ’92 – Hat Ladies Pound Cake Frozen Batter changes the way people bake at home with this frozen pound cake batter that let’s you bake fresh, homemade quality cake with 3-easy steps: Thaw, Pour and Bake – no mixing, measuring or mess!

Onye Vé – Goodness Ihekweme ’21 – Onye Vé exists to redefine luxury fashion by making high-quality, bold, and statement-making pieces accessible to individuals who want to express confidence, individuality, and power through their style. The brand’s core mission is to disrupt the industry by bridging the gap between exclusivity and inclusivity, ensuring that luxury fashion is available for all body types while maintaining high-end craftsmanship and uniqueness.

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

The semifinalist ventures in these two advanced UMD-CP student tracks will each receive a $500 prize, participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp, and meet with advisors to help them further accelerate their businesses and make them more competitive for the next round. On Friday, March 28, the semifinalist teams pitched their businesses to an expert panel of judges in Van Munching Hall, and the top 3 of each track will be moving on to pitch on the Finals stage.

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Dare to Dream – Takiyah Roberts ’25 – Dare to Dream Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through entrepreneurship. They provide confidence, education, mentorship, and resources to help individuals chase their dreams unapologetically. Their initiatives include 9th-12th grade afterschool programs, the Young, Diverse, & Gifted Event Series, and an international project in Ecuador to build entrepreneurship among young dreamers.

Energy by Evelyn – Evelyn Murphy ’28 – Healthy, delicious snack food products made from simple, natural ingredients.

Papa Suya – Yassine Boukari ’27 – A West African culinary brand innovating through licensing, authentic products, and a scalable fast-casual model.

Main Street Track Semifinalists

Body Essentials by Abiara – Mathea Abiara ’28 – Body Essentials by Abiara (BEBA) is a bodycare brand dedicated to crafting high-quality products with cold-pressed, unrefined butters and oils, combined with carefully selected ingredients that cater to a wide range of skin types. At the heart of our formulations is Shea Butter, sustainably sourced directly from Nigeria, ensuring both authenticity and excellence in every product.

M’Elyon Organics – Adewunmi Agagu ’25 – At M’Elyon Organics, we passionately craft organic, handmade haircare products, blending the purest plant-based herbs, lightweight oils, and essential oils. Our mission? To unlock the secret to radiant, thriving hair. Each product in our lineup is a testament to our commitment to using natural and chemical free products, formulated to not only promote hair growth and strengthen follicles but to also combat hair breakage, hair thinning and shedding, and to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), lastly, to also infuse your hair with lasting nourishment. Beyond nourishment, our creations boast anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties, ensuring your scalp’s health is always at its peak.

MundaneMarketplace – Obi Nzerue ’26 – Mundane Marketplace is a clothing brand that challenges the ordinary by redefining the everyday. We take inspiration from the overlooked details of daily life and transform them into unique, thought-provoking designs. Our brand thrives on the intersection of simplicity and creativity, making the mundane feel extraordinary. Our customers are individuals who appreciate minimalism with a deeper meaning—people who find beauty in the routine, the unassuming, and the often-ignored. They are creatives, deep thinkers, and those who seek to express themselves through subtle yet impactful fashion. Whether they’re artists, students, or professionals, our customers resonate with the idea that the mundane isn’t boring it’s a canvas for storytelling.

Main Street Track Semifinalists – honorable mention

Divine Ethereal Collections – Daisy Lopez ’26 – At Divine’s Jewelry, our vision is to empower individuals to express their unique style and embrace self-love through exquisite jewelry pieces. We aim to inspire confidence, celebrate individuality, and evoke a sense of self-expression in every wearer.

Grinzo Project – Anthony Kang ’27, Shen Gu ’25 – Grinzo is our team’s original IP brand that sells Grinzo-related creative merchandise such as keyrings, coasters, dolls, badges and other cultural and creative accessories. Our goal is to provide a unique and creative product experience for young people.

Ivansupply – Ivan Marroquin ’26 – A sneaker and streetwear brand with daily restocks, offering authentic products and fast shipping.

Linen and Purple Co – Ivon Santos Castellon ’25 – Linen and Purple Co is a purpose-led clothing store created to provide more women with modest clothing options for everyday wear, and special occasion. We aim to bridge the gap in the fashion industry for modest fashion.

Movement Street – Lyric Amodia ’25 – The Movement Street is a nonprofit organization founded in 2020 with the mission to make community service accessible, enjoyable, and impactful. We address the challenge of disengagement by creating creative pathways for people to volunteer, especially younger generations, in ways that feel inclusive and rewarding. Through in-person, virtual, and passive service initiatives, we foster a sense of connection and belonging, bringing people together to make a positive impact in communities they may not call home. Our approach transforms volunteering into a shared experience that inspires lasting change. Ultimately, we aim to increase volunteerism by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to give back and feel supported.

Noir Auto Detailing – Ysaak Wabreha ’27 – Noir Auto Detailing was founded three years ago with a clear mission; to deliver high-quality, affordable car care to every client. We work with a diverse range of customers, including rental companies, wrap shops, and owners of high-performance vehicles, offering tailored yearly plans and partnerships. Additionally, we serve the general public by providing a wide spectrum of services, from routine maintenance detailing to in-depth disaster detailing. Our goal is to make professional-grade car care accessible and reliable for all.

ProTags – Jason Okorie ’25 – We specialize in creating entirely reusable, aluminum QR code-based business cards and name tags for students and organizations.

Sincere Gear – Adam Antar ’25, ’24 – Discover the essentials you never knew were essential. These are the game-changing products that will seamlessly integrate into your life, becoming indispensable from the moment you experience their transformative power.

Wellness Detailing – David Castillo ’26 – We provide mobile and at-business automobile detailing for both interior and exterior. We also offer paint correction and other vehicle revitalization services.

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

BetterU – Saurabh Chapagain ’25 – BetterU is a gamified social habit builder that helps people become the best versions of themselves in a fun & social way!

Saved – Aayush Gupta ’25 – We turn live streams into viral clips.

Tailored – David Shukhin ’27, Ian Picard ’26 – We are making it easier and more accessible to buy secondhand clothing so we can reduce the impact of fast fashion on the environment. We are doing this by utilizing an AI-powered recommendation system paired with a tinder-style swiping interface. We are currently on the IOS App Store with 200+ users.

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists

PropertyWorx AI – Aaron Warren ’26 – PropertyWorx AI™ is a next-generation Proptech SaaS platform designed to revolutionize property management by streamline vendor-tenant communication, improve property maintenance operations, and enhance the customer experience for property management teams. The platform integrates Generative AI, Agentic Ai and a mobile-first experience. Our platform enhances automates maintenance workflows, property managers workflow automation, communication tools, analytics, tenant engagement and vendor management solutions powered by Insite22™ to help property managers reduce tenant turnover, improve operational efficiency, and simplify maintenance coordination.

Omniscouts – Vaibhav Vasudevan ’28 – Building AI agents for industrial/chemical sales reps finding exactly the right people to target with all the context.

Quattrone Tech Track Quarterfinalists – honorable mention

App Dev – Matt Gashaw ’25 – App Dev is bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world software development. This organization has a dual approach to social good; one is equipping UMD students with practical experience, crucial for securing internships in the saturated tech industry, and developing software for socially impactful corporate projects.

Finaive – Henry Uwabor ’26 – Finaive is an AI-powered escrow platform designed to make online transactions safer and more seamless for businesses, freelancers, and e-commerce users. Our platform ensures secure payments by holding funds in escrow until both parties fulfill their contractual obligations. Leveraging AI-driven fraud detection and automated dispute resolution, we minimize financial risks, prevent fraud, and streamline the payment process.

OMAL – Dikennaya Ejiogu ’25 – At OMAL Solutions, we specialize in matching businesses with the perfect freelancers to elevate their brand. From logo and brand identity design to web and UI/UX design, we offer everything you need to take your business to the next level. Our platform is your one-stop solution, streamlining the process of finding top talent and enabling you to fully automate your operations. What makes us different? We don’t just connect you with freelancers; we curate the right team for your unique needs, allowing you to focus on growth while we handle the details. Whether it’s a single project or ongoing support, our flexible packages ensure your business is always ahead of the curve. Though we’re a new agency, we’re fueled by a passion for excellence and a commitment to building lasting relationships. Ready to scale your business with ease? Let’s connect and explore how we can make it happen.

Pickaxe – Pranav Bolla ’25 – Our venture provides a sports betting optimization platform that combines consulting and proprietary software to maximize profits for our customers. We help individuals and groups leverage sportsbook promotions and bonus bets through strategic hedging, ensuring guaranteed profits.

Red Alert – Miles McDonald ’27 – Red Alert: an emergency information distribution system. Red Alert is an alert system to be used in the case of school shooting situations, which notifies students on campus of an emergency and allows them to easily report their status to school and police authorities. What separates Red Alert from other alert systems is its use of student locations to provide top-quality safety.

Sellwase – Bhagavan Bolli ’25 – Our venture offers a secure, university-exclusive platform where students can trade daily essentials such as textbooks, tables, and tech gadgets. We specialize in creating a safe and reliable environment that will only allow students to trade and ensure that every user is a current student or faculty member. This approach keeps the marketplace insulated from outside interference and scams, fostering a community-centric trading space that’s all about student convenience and connection.

SONE – Yonatan Tussa ’26 – An eye-tracking system to improve communication between patients and nurses.

Theki – Kareem Bishr ’25 – Theki is building a trust engine for technical hiring through Web3-verified credentials: Core Product: – Automated/instant credential verification platform that accurately verifies claims made on resumes – Real-time verification through established databases via Chainlink oracles – Privacy-preserving verification using zero-knowledge proofs for sensitive data – Blockchain-stored credentials owned by job seekers

Tranquil – Chirag Jain ’26 – AI-powered mental wellness platform where users can journal their thoughts and engage in weekly AI-driven conversations for emotional support and self-reflection. It integrates a chat feature and plans to incorporate GPT-powered voice interactions for a more natural and engaging experience.

Yuuera – Raymond Flowers ’27 – Yuuera is a platform that empowers teachers to develop engaging and dynamic conversational practice assignments for foreign language students, solving a critical lack of confidence and conversation capabilities of students in foreign language classrooms.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

The finalist ventures in this early stage UMD-CP student track participated in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and marketplace to help them further hone these venture ideas. They submitted 5-min video pitches to an expert panel of judges for their finals, and the winners will be announced on April 24. You can see all of these amazing finalists show off their ideas at Terp Town.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

AkereRose Glove – Rosabella Mvemba ’27 – Cultivating a love, embrace, and care for thick and curly hair through natural hair tools, education, and community.

Alcclear – Rachel Snow ’28 – Instant Protection Against Drink Spiking.

Arithmetix – Shankar Haridas ’26 – Integrating technical math notation into typing-based note-taking processes.

Artha – Nataraj Shivaprasad ’25 – An intelligent wallet that automates your finances.

Bluuzone Bottles – Robbie Ballentine ’26 – Creating 100% plastic-free, disposable, and compostable water bottles to address the health hazards of microplastics in bottled water.

Breaking The Ice – Isha Kamara ’20, ’25 – Bridging the gaps between Black entrepreneurs, executive directors, and their ecosystem through community-building.

Chic Sweeteners – Brianna Robinson ’28 – Offering gourmet sweeteners with unique flavors for tea lovers to elevate their daily tea rituals.

Dancify – Natali Oleinik ’28 – Using AI to analyze and improve dance performances, offering real-time feedback to help users perfect every move.

Educate – Vraj Patel ’25 – AI-enhanced learning platform that syncs with Canvas LMS, offering personalized study plans and academic support.

EDvancedGPT – Denonte McKinney ’25 – An AI-powered platform for enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in education, offering personalized learning experiences.

FinGo – Tyler Boden ’25 – A personal finance app for high school, college students, and young adults to learn budgeting, saving, and investing.

Proco – Aditya Sengar ’27, Akshita Tiwari ’27, Grace Jagga ’27 – A professional networking platform focused on meaningful mentorship and connections based on personal relationships.

Sit’n Sweet – K’Lor Simms ’26 – A health-conscious bakery offering customizable, wholesome cookies for those seeking a balance of wellness and indulgence.

Podfolio – Feileen Li ’26, Juhi Parikh ’26 – A social podcast platform for discovering, tracking, and sharing podcasts.

Spotter – Kevin Kyle ’27 – An AI-powered mobile app that analyzes and provides real-time feedback for gym workouts.

The Muse Relationship Company – Kris Pipion-Williams ’27 – A web app to provide insights into romantic relationship styles and offer resources for improvement.

Zahara Blends – Kaoutar Cheji ’25 – A premium, ethically sourced clean beauty brand specializing in 100% pure, cold-pressed hair oils.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

BenchmarkGo – Alex Hearn ’25 – A GPS-powered mobile app to find, verify, and report benchmark conditions nationwide for surveyors, civil engineers, government agencies, and outdoor enthusiasts.

ByteBabel – Eman Bautista ’25 – Developing an AI-powered tool to seamlessly translate code between languages, frameworks, and architectures for developers and enterprises.

Loco Logoz – Jayla Parrott ’26 – Custom-designed logos and branding services for businesses to establish strong brand identities.

Our Incredible Judges

These early stages of Pitch Dingman Competition set the entire experience into motion and we are grateful for this exceptional group of judges that review, score and provide growth feedback for all applications. These judges are or were founders/investors/entrepreneurial support individuals themselves, and have played significant roles in our programs over the years. Thank you for all you do to support these founders in their journeys!

Round 1

Alumni Tech Track

Athena Abbott ’91
Brin Xu ’23
David Greenfield ’20
Drew Bewick ’88
Evan Shubin ’97
Kelsey Abernathy ’20
MaiLinh Ho
Reed Harrison ’71
Shivam Goyal

Alumni Main Street Track

Connie Ford ’77
Dan Raithel ’24
Francie Wasser ’11
Max Weiner ’96
Sammy Popat ’15

Main Street Track

Barathi Aravindan ’21
Bright Djampa ’22
Brooke Smith ’17
Fredrica Antwi ’15, ’21
Henrik de Gyor ’98
Natalie Urban ’19
Shane Kim ’98
Theresa Alfaro Daytner ’89
Tricia Homer

Quattrone Tech Track

Aishwarya Tare ’22
Alla McCoy ’13
Ben Slavin ’08
Bryan Houlton ’22
David Steele ’18
Jake Taub ’20
Josh Doying ’23
Mildred Diggs ’24
Rob Cohen
Ryan Downing ’22
Shannon Hynds
Sophie Li ’21
Tim Shaw ’90

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Brandon Schwab ’15
Cedric Nwafor ’18, ’21
Chris Light ’93
Courtney Johnson ’23
Ellen McGeoch ’10, ’17
Erich Meissner ’18
Jenny Larios Berlin
Kobby Osei-Kusi
Latrice Wilson ’21
Marie Brodsky ’24
Matt Foulk ’23
Nazea Khan ’20, ’24
Nima Farshchi ’20
Obidi Orakwusi ’12
Phillip Alvarez ’22
Polly Vail ’04
Robert Choe ’23
Sourabh Mane ’24
Vaughn Hatfield ’25

Round 2 – Semifinals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Bill Smith ’81
Chris Malone ’86
Hillary Berman MBA ’03
Moniesha Shorter ’96, MPP ’20

Main Street Track

Abby Malchow ’17
Neal Kursban MBA ’00
Sydney Parker ’18
Theresa Alfaro Daytner ’89

Quattrone Tech Track

Evan Shubin ’97
Maurice Boissiere ’89
Shalanda Armstrong MBA ’12

Round 3 – Finals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Akash Magoon ’18
Elana Fine ’97
Jasmin El Kordi ’83
Sayed Naved MS ’92
Seema Alexander ’00

Quattrone Tech & Main Street Tracks

Ali von Paris ‘12
Chris Ballenger
David Quattrone MBA ’05
Jennifer Hsin ’98
Kendall Holbrook MBA ’01
Tom Parsons ’93 MBA ’10

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Bryan Houlton ’22
Elana Fine ’97
Gary Swart ’83
Jainaba Ceesay
Jordana Lynn Armstrong
Sarah Miller
Shannon Hynds
Steve Freishtat ’81

Tagged dingman center, entrepreneurship, Fearless Founders, pitch dingman, startup, Student Entrepreneur

Mar 20 2024

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Pitch Dingman

Who’s advancing in the 2024 Pitch Dingman Competition?

Get ready, get set… go! In another record-breaking year, Pitch Dingman Competition received over 107 venture applications, all vying for their share of $170,000 in prizes. Our panel of judges was able to narrow down the wide range of applicants to reveal the top teams that will be advancing in the 2024 competition. We’re excited to see the top ventures pitch on the big stage at our finals event on April 25 at Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center for a shot at the grand prizes!

Read on to learn more about the tracks and the ventures that will be advancing in the competition:

All Stars Track

The finalist ventures in this Maryland-wide track for alumni and students at University System of Maryland (USM) Institutions will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching in the coming weeks to take their ventures to the next step. On April 25, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

All Stars Track Finalists – pitching

Fem Equity – Adeola Ajani ’20 (Towson University); Malir Burks – Fem Equity is an AI Powered Future of Work platform that creates solutions for women and underrepresented professionals going through pay or professional gaps in real-time. It is a double-sided platform that provides these solutions for women and minority professionals and gives organizations access to a highly qualified diverse pool of young women and minority professionals.

NextStep Robotics – Bradley Hennessie ’09 (Towson University) – NextStep Robotics is building the next generation of rehabilitation robotic solutions for neurorecovery. Focusing initially on stroke and neuroplasticity training this devices aims to be efficacious first, fit clinic work flow second, and accessible through cost management.

All Stars Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Biochemical Analyzer – Chad Sundberg ’25 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – Enables automated, real-time measurement of analytes within biomanufacturing processes

THE SHELLER – Shelby Blondell ’18 (University of Baltimore) – THE SHELLER is a patented, stainless steel, seafood multitool – mallet, picker, and bottle opener – made in Maryland.

Xeddy – Basil Udo ’22 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – Xeddy is a multi-business platform for restaurant rewards.

All Stars Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

AidSmart – Jaivien Kendrick ’24 (Bowie State University) – AidSmart is the first mobile app that turns financial aid learning into a fun board game, helping HBCU students master financial aid literacy.

Jay’s Watermelonade – Joyson Balisamore ’26 (University of Baltimore) – Jay’s Watermelonade is a natural juice brand based in Baltimore on a mission to lower cardiovascular mortality by promoting healthier hydration and offering delicious, natural alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Lytos Vodka – Alex Zephir ’14 (Towson University); Billy Fanshawe ’14 (Towson University) – Lytos Vodka is a patent-pending, high alkaline, gluten-free, premium vodka with added electrolytes which include salt, potassium, and phosphorus. Lytos Vodka was born in Baltimore, MD, distilled in Columbia, MD, and enjoyed everywhere.

Taqueros Del Mar – Thomas Zinzi Jr ’25 (Salisbury University) – Late Night Taco shop founded to reduce drunk driving/alcohol poisoning by bringing Mexican Street cuisine and culture to the college scene.

The Collegiate Care Experience, LLC – Kendal Howell ’26 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – The Collegiate Care Experience is a faith-based on-campus self-care supply store bridging the gap between college students and hygiene products. Currently, it is based at the University of Maryland Baltimore County serving students through online order & pickup and frequent pop-up shops for an in-person experience.

Tomorrow’s Bio – David White ’26 (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science) – Created a single camera ingestible tablet for large animal endoscopies. The tablet works by capturing images and sending them to an application to be used to assist with diagnoses, making it safer for vets to use while also reducing costs on farmers.

Alumni Pilot Track

The finalist ventures in this pilot track for alumni from UMD-CP will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching in the coming weeks to take their ventures to the next step. On April 25, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Pilot Track Finalists – pitching

BrightWave Partners LLC – Paula Henry ’84; Tim Shaw; Ken Peretti – BrightWave’s technology enables customers across a dozen industries to produce renewable feedstocks on a minimal footprint. Their photobioreactors, used to cultivate algae and seaweed, can be co-located with primary manufacturing or refining activities.

JUUCE – Jake Taub ’20; Pouya Susanabadifarahani ’19; David Greenfield ’20 – JUUCE offers secure and convenient on-the-go charging solutions through portable charger rental kiosks and digital signage for venues and events.

Alumni Pilot Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

NotUrAverage Candles – Courtney Johnson ’23 – NotUrAverage Candles is a coconut wax candle company that illuminates the world of science through fragrance.

Travana – Rohan Tangadpelli ’23 – Travana is your AI-powered travel companion, streamlining the journey from inspiration to destination, making travel planning seamless, personalized, and fun.

Alumni Pilot Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

CSL Therapy – Tai Brown ’13 – A regulatory organization working to bridge the gaps of surgical care for American healthcare stakeholders.

Cursive Technology, Inc. – Joe Thibault ’07, MBA ’23 – Cursive Technology is focused on the writing process, using Machine Learning and AI to support accelerating writing skills development, provide feedback, provide shareable verification, and promote academic integrity.

E-Livestock Global Inc. – Chris Light ’93 – An award-winning healthy livestock traceability platform powered by Blockchain.

Korion Health – Akshaya Anand ’23 – The mission of Korion Health is to expand access to healthcare screenings in an ultra patient-centered and culturally competent way, enabling not just technical screenings but also breaking down barriers to knowledge, allowing people to own their data, and ultimately engaging more people in their own healthcare. Their first product is an electronic stethoscope and guided user interface that allows anyone to record heart and lung sounds from the comfort and convenience of their home.

Lumikha Cosplay Resale – Myleah Lofland ’18 – Buying and selling cosplay on social media has long been a pain for cosplayers. Lumikha Cosplay Resale is a community marketplace where users can buy and sell costume items specifically for the cosplay community.

Redhelm Labs – Neil Sorkin ’23 – Redhelm Labs empowers limitless drone flight through laser power beaming.

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

The semifinalist ventures in these two advanced UMD-CP student tracks will each receive a $500 prize, participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp, and meet with advisors in the coming weeks to help them further accelerate their businesses and make them more competitive for the next round. On Friday, March 31, the semifinalist teams pitched their businesses to an expert panel of judges in Van Munching Hall, and the top 3 of each track will be moving on to pitch on the Finals stage.

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Cookies By Drew – Drew Haas ’24 – Cookies By Drew is a business that sells stuffed cookies and cookie cakes all over the DMV area and nationwide. They cater events, sell locally, and distribute their cookies in 9 different Foxtrot locations along with other stores and bakeries.

Dawson’s Detailing – James Dawson ’24 – Dawson’s Detailing provides the best detailing in the DMV, creating an experience that goes beyond the physical cleaning of the car.

StreetLoveDMV – Jeffrey Kyei-Asare ’25 – StreetLoveDMV is the #1 place for Streetwear You Love. It is a student-run vintage and streetwear clothing store dedicated to promoting positivity and building community through fashionable clothing. With over 2000+ total happy customers, it’s a hub for street fashion enthusiasts.

Main Street Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

AfroLuxe Glam Shop – Chelsea Amadi, ’24 – AfroLuxe Glam Shop is an online cosmetic store that currently sells a variety of AfroLuxe brand cosmetic products. Products offered by this brand are curated to African American women and were made to address problems faced by black women in the beauty industry. AfroLuxe Glam Shop celebrates the luxury in African American beauty at a very affordable price.

Exercise Network – Candace Austin ’24 – Exercise Network designs customizable fitness and aquatic programs, aiming to motivate kids, especially those who struggle in larger group activities, to stick with sports and physical activity. They offer private lessons and small group class options, differentiating themselves from competitors by providing multidiscipline programs in a non-competitive, stress-free environment with a low instructor to student ratio.

Retro Boomin – Ethan Pham ’24 – Retro Boomin is an e-commerce and flash retail business, specializing in premium second-hand clothing to offer a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Engauge – Rodrigo Sandon ’24; Marie Brodsky ’24 – Students in large lecture math courses often get confused mid-lecture and are not willing to raise their hand to express that they are no longer following.

Iffirm, LLC DBA Journiy – Mildred Diggs ’24 – Journiy is a digital care management company that uses a culturally tailored and individualized approach to make it easy for patients to follow their treatment plans. With Journiy, patients can effectively manage their chronic diseases and improve their overall health.

Vyne – Shaurya Saran ’25; Vaughn Hatfield ’25 – Vyne is an innovative application designed to revolutionize the thrifting experience for buying and selling clothes within local communities (specific focus on college campuses). Their mission is to help make student fashion more sustainable on campuses everywhere.

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Dondon Animation Tech – Shu Chen ’24 – Dondon Animation Tech provides state-of-the-art software to assist artists and producers making traditional 2D animation.

Sociable AI – Thomas Noh ’24 – Sociable AI is an AI social media manager platform designed to automate social media interactions for creators, brands, and businesses. Their no-code web app allows users to train data and clone their brand voice as an AI to automate interactions such as DMs and comments on social media platforms like Instagram. The platform aims to make it easier for users to engage with their audience and grow their brand presence online.

Temporal – Sourabh Mane ’25; Niklas Elmqvist – Bringing new dimension to entertainment experience. Explore, analyze & share your sports telemetry inside your browser.

Main Street & Quattrone Tech Tracks Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

BetterU – Saurabh Chapagain ’25 – BetterU is a gamified social habit builder that helps people become the best versions of themselves in a fun & social way!

Chatty – Tarun Thatavarthi ’24; Advait Kushe – Chatty is an AI interviewing agent who is able to give useful feedback to software engineers and guide them towards smarter problem-solving during interviews. Chatty is also capable of collecting user data through these conversations and producing detailed performance analysis.

E. Ozie Studios – Ijeoma Asonye ’24 – E. Ozie Studios is a multimedia creative house that blends nature, tech, and art in storytelling for the adult and YA-crossover market.

Heart2Starr – Illy Lozano ’24 – Heart2Starr began in 2013 as a safe space for poet Ileana ‘Illy’ Lozano. It follows Lozano through her artistic journey and quest to spread appreciation for the arts.

Hermes – Rohan Bajpai ’24 – Hermes empowers developer teams to focus on innovation and maximize productivity with their unified, searchable development platform.

Planda – Hevander Da Costa ’25 – Planda is the go-to travel planning social media that allows you to effortlessly organize trips to your dream destinations on the go, share your exciting adventures, and explore all the places your friends have been.

Sellwase – Bhagavan Bollina Bolli ’25 – Sellwase offers a secure, university-exclusive platform where students can trade daily essentials such as textbooks, tables, and tech gadgets.

Slut for Yarn – Anna Boyd, ’24 – Slut for Yarn sells ethically handmade crochet items for all body types at an affordable price point.

StudentHousingEU – Justin Wagner ’24 – StudentHousingEU is an organization developed by past study abroad students. They offer an online database of safe and verified apartments for students to rent through the platform. Additionally, StudentHousingEU provides insight into the culture and infrastructure of where students plan to study abroad. Utilizing the services offered by StudentHousingEU, students can feel confident in their decision to study abroad.

Savor – Saurav Vidyadhara ’25 – Savor enables restaurants to create and market fire sales on items about to expire, allowing them to increase their profit margins and reduce food waste.

Taty’s Desserts – Randi Whitehurst – Taty’s Desserts is a Latina-based and owned dessert company.

Ticker – Max Harris ’25; Max Kaufmann – Ticker Markets is a network for venture capital limited partner secondaries. They allow VC funds to offer selling opportunities to their investors throughout the lifetime of the fund. And have built a network and system to streamline the transaction process.

Vizuri – Crystal Ndungu ’25 – Vizuri is an aggregator site to consolidate all the people, primarily students, in our area that can do hair, nails, haircuts, hair braiding, etc.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

The finalist ventures in this early stage UMD-CP student track will participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and marketplace in the coming weeks to help them further hone these venture ideas. On April 25, the top teams will show off their ideas to an expert panel of judges at Terp Town in the Finals Event.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

Bon Voyage – Nethmi Weerasinghe ’24; Bosith Weerasinghe ’23; Ravindu Adikarige; Sameera Herath; Markell Shepherd – Optimizing travel planning for single and multiple-day trips using the power of machine learning.

Chai Shai – Ismaeel Ibrahim ’25 – Chai Shai makes special Pakistan chai called dhood patti with a perfected recipe of cookies cultivating a warm mix of flavors to bring people together.

Cloudola – Yifan Zhang ’27 – Violinists often suffer from fatigue after long practice sessions because their shoulder rest, which props the instrument against the body, does not fit well. Cloudola makes custom shoulder rests tailored for each violinist’s body using 3D scan data.

Exchange Roots – Evie Scott ’26 – Exchange Roots is a digital farmer’s market, designed to promote local food systems and allow small farmers and home gardeners to sell or exchange produce in their local community.

Full – Kiran Muthusamy MBA ’25 – Next-generation food service.

Kulqi – Mary Sangurima Loayza ’24 – A fintech app for Hispanic Americans, using AI to offer personalized financial education, generate future cash flows, and guide strategic investing in the U.S.

Matching Students Abroad – Maryann Vazhapilly ’24; Miranda Song ’24 – Matching Students Abroad is an app that allows exchange and international students to meet each other by providing percentage matches based on responses from their profiles.

Memorial Music – Lauren Twombly ’24 – Memorial Music provides live harp music to funeral homes that are interested in offering live music as a default part of their deluxe packages.

M’Elyon Organics – Adeuwnmi Agagu ’25 – At M’Elyon Organics, we passionately craft organic, handmade haircare products, blending the purest plant-based herbs, lightweight oils, and essential oils.

MyUniventure – Brandon Fung ’24; Jake Blum ’24; Caleb McClatchey ’24; Megan Nee – MyUniventure is an online platform which enables prospective college students and their families to book one-on-one experiences with current college students of their choosing. These experiences are designed to give prospective students a personal, unscripted perspective of the universities they are interested in.

Nerve Systems – Cartor Hancock ’26 – Design improved non-invasive devices & methods for high spatial and temporal resolution brain scanning and targeted neuron stimulation.

Strapt – Emily Ciardiello ’24 – Strapt LLC offers luxury phone accessories that allow individuals to live worry free. Designed specifically for the socially active, Strapt devices prevent the loss of your phone while out in public, crowded spaces. These accessories are life essentials that also make for great gifts.

SunDance – Eric Detjen ’24 – A CPG developed and marketed to help people embrace their social side by enhancing their energy, happiness, and confidence.

Unifyr: Meeting Mismatch Mayhem Solved – Rohith Pulaputturi MBA ’25 – Spark romance, reconnect with friends, or network seamlessly! Find the perfect “midpoint” venue for any meet-up, blending individual preferences – cuisine, activities, even allergies. Say goodbye to generic cafes, hello to unique restaurants, museums, adventure spots, and more! Personalized connections start with the perfect meeting place.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

AR Billboard – Tracy Chen ’24 – AR Billboard is a free AR content management platform for local business.

BoostMark.io – Armaan Jain ’26; Aadesh Kheria – BoostMark.io is an advanced bookmark management tool designed to streamline and enhance your web browsing experience.

Cutz – Oliver Fitch ’24; Ben Dietz – Cutz is designed as a center for appointment creation, 3D haircut scanning and modeling, as well as a social media hub to show and share haircuts with your friends.

Cordeaux A – Astrid Tagne ’26 – Cordeaux A is a Cameroonian-owned brand selling handmade bags straight from the motherland.

John – Utkarsh Agrawal ’24 – Improving car service industry using machine learning and augmented reality.

Munching Boxes – Bhavya Peddigari ’24; Satish Vennapu, ’24 – Munching Boxes revolutionizes the convenience food industry by offering high-quality, affordable, and nutritious ready-to-eat Indian recipes, uniquely packaged in eco-friendly, edible, and crisp boxes, catering to kitchen-challenged, time and budget-conscious consumers seeking quick, healthy, and delicious meal options.

PTBamboo – Brennen Le ’27 – Our platform enables individuals to get information straight from the source– going to the individuals who experience events firsthand without having experience filtered by mediary entities.

Sanda Technology – Srinickethan Ramamoorthy ’25 – The company utilizes advanced automation in medical coding to deliver rapid and precise solutions, catering to healthcare providers seeking precise code accuracy for billing, minimizing errors, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

VogueVeda – Yashveer Jain ’24; Dhruv Sharma ’24; Suryavardhan Reddy Chappidi ’24 – VogueVeda is at the forefront of a technological revolution in the fashion industry. Utilizing advanced AI algorithms, the system is designed to adapt and refine fashion recommendations by continuously learning from user interactions.

Our Incredible Judges

These early stages of Pitch Dingman Competition set the entire experience into motion and we are grateful for this exceptional group of judges that review, score and provide growth feedback for all 100+ applications. These judges are or were founders/investors/entrepreneurial support individuals themselves, and have played significant roles in our programs over the years. Thank you for all you do to support these founders in their journeys!

Alumni Pilot Track

Ben Taylor
Cedric Nwafor
Dan Raithel
Evan Shubin
Francie Wasser
Henrik de Gyor
Janice Burg-Levi
Kirk Morris
Max Weiner
Rick Genzer

Main Street Track

Alan Spurgin
Audrey Awasom
Edwin Bright Djampa
Mathew Parsons
Neal Kursban
Shalanda Armstrong
Shane Kim
Zeluis Teixeira

Quattrone Tech Track

Athena Abbott
Ben Tchoubineh
Camilo Melnyk
Dan Fucich
Fredrica Antwi
Kendall Holbrook
Kevin Tu
Maurice Boissiere
Steve Freishtat

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Barathi Aravindan
Benjamin Taragin
Blake Kuzemchak
Brandon Schwab
Connie Ford
Daniel Shapiro
Ellen McGeoch
Gabrielle McLaughlin
Goodness Ihekweme
Joelle Anselmo
Matthew Foulk
Nishelle Oglesby
Robert Choe
Sanketh Andhavarapu

Tagged dingman center, entrepreneurship, pitch dingman, startup, Student Entrepreneur

Nov 06 2023

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E-fund

Wittle Spoonies: A Beacon of Creativity and Support for Spoonies Everywhere

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is thrilled to shine a spotlight on an inspiring venture that is not only an embodiment of creativity but also an agent of awareness and encouragement. Wittle Spoonies has captured the hearts of many and stands out as a rising star in our community. We are excited to announce that Wittle Spoonies has been granted an E-Fund investment of $485 to propel their admirable mission forward.

Bringing Creativity and Comfort to the Spoonie Community

Wittle Spoonies is more than just a brand—it’s a heartfelt initiative that supports individuals living with Fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions. By cleverly using the term “spoonies” – a moniker embraced within chronic illness communities to signify units of energy – the venture creates delightful merchandise designed to resonate deeply with those who understand the daily struggle of managing their spoons.

The products offered by Wittle Spoonies are a blend of whimsical artistry and considerate representation. Through their charming merchandise – which includes glow-in-the-dark stickers, epoxy stickers, shaped pillows, tote bags, and mirror keychains – Wittle Spoonies becomes a voice for those who often feel invisible or misunderstood. These small yet powerful tokens serve a dual purpose: to raise awareness about Fibromyalgia and to spread joy among those who fight unseen battles every day.

E-Fund Investment: Fueling Growth and Reach

With an array of items designed to be both personal and shareable, the use of the $485 E-Fund couldn’t come at a better time for expanding Wittle Spoonies’ scope of influence. The investment will be thoughtfully allocated across various needs to maximize impact:

$43 for 100qty. of 2.5″ glow-in-the-dark stickers.
$14 for 50qty. of 1.5″ glow-in-the-dark stickers.
$78 for 200qty. of 2″ epoxy stickers.
$89 for 15qty. of 7″ shaped pillows.
$87 for 25qty. of 34x38cm tote bags.
$37 for 80qty. of 58mm mirror keychains.
$105 for shipping to ensure the merchandise reaches spoonies far and wide.
$10 for self-adhesive hangers to showcase the creative stickers attractively.
$22 for Azar display hooks to enhance the visual appeal at events.
$80 for transportation to upcoming events, where the Wittle Spoonies story can be shared and celebrated.

Join Us in Celebrating and Supporting Wittle Spoonies

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship proudly congratulates Wittle Spoonies on their E-Fund investment and eagerly anticipates the wonderful strides they will make in advancing their cause. We urge you, our cherished community, to join us in supporting and celebrating this remarkable venture.

Whether you identify as a spoonie, love someone who does, or simply appreciate the artistry and mission of Wittle Spoonies, your support can take many forms. Follow their journey, purchase merchandise to gift or keep, or spread the word to help Wittle Spoonies reach all corners of the spoonie universe.

With creativity as their canvas and compassion as their brush, Wittle Spoonies is poised to make a colorful splash in the lives of many. Let’s rally behind them and watch them grow!

To learn more about Wittle Spoonies and other ventures paving the way for a better tomorrow, stay tuned to the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship blog and follow us on our social media channels.

Tagged E-fund, entrepreneurship

Nov 06 2023

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E-fund

Dream of Coffee: Brewing a New Generation of Specialty Coffee Lovers With the E-Fund Grant

Calling all coffee enthusiasts and entrepreneurial spirits! The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is thrilled to pour out some fantastic news – “Dream of Coffee” (DOC), an innovative venture steaming with potential, has been awarded an E-Fund grant to energize and expand their operations. We are ecstatic to announce that they will be receiving a bold infusion of $1,500 to help them on their mission to revolutionize the coffee industry for the new wave of java aficionados.

Perking Up Coffee Culture

Dream of Coffee is far from your average café startup. It’s spearheaded by a group of go-getters determined to confront a bitter truth in our coffee culture. Today’s vibrant GenZ crowd craves not just a caffeine kick but also a flavorful and social experience when it comes to their coffee habits. Sadly, they’re being served a cup of compromise – cheap, commercial-grade beans masked with artificial flavorings.

DOC isn’t just about brewing cups; it’s about revamping perceptions and connections. They’ve identified an unmet need amongst GenZ coffee lovers for authentic, specialty-grade coffee and are on a mission to fill this void with sustainable passion. Their goal? To rebrand coffee as a connective thread that weaves together social interactions while promoting specialty coffee roasters and equipment companies.

Caffeinating the Campus and Beyond

Operating primarily on campus, Dream of Coffee has sparked conversation and community with their weekly coffee socials, demonstrating the varied, rich tapestries of coffee brewing methods directly to the University of Maryland students. These gatherings have become a hub for connection, learning, and enjoyment, with attendance reaching the hundreds – a testament to the venture’s resonance and allure.

With the awarded E-Fund, Dream of Coffee plans to intensify these experiences, brewing beyond the campus confines. The E-Fund grant will facilitate the purchase of much-needed equipment and merchandise, including:

A professional Breville the Bambino® Plus Espresso Machine – Because every great coffee social depends on a great espresso ($500)
Merchandise like t-shirts and hats – So sip in style and showcase your coffee community support ($300)
A Baratza Encore ESP (Electric Burr Coffee Grinder) – For the freshest grind and the best flavors ($200)
Three Slow Pour Supply Latte Art Pitchers – Elevating the art in your coffee art ($150)
Two Origami Dripper Bundles – Combining traditional techniques with modern flair ($130)
Two Fellow Stagg Pourover Sets – For the pursuit of a perfect pour-over ($160)
A budget for tax, shipping, and those inevitable unexpected costs ($60)

Charting New Grounds

Dream of Coffee is not content with merely dodging the drip of the status quo. They are enrolled in BMGT468R – Fearless Founders, underlining their commitment to entrepreneurship and education. As they plan to host larger coffee socials and cast their net further into and beyond the Maryland community, Dream of Coffee is ready to steep their vision into reality.

Heartfelt congratulations to Dream of Coffee for being selected as an E-Fund grant recipient! Watch this space, as DOC and its passionate founders are poised to make a splash in the coffee scene, one cup at a time. Share this journey with them, and let’s raise our mugs to their success!

To all the entrepreneurial dreamers out there – the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is your partner in bringing those dreams to life. Who knows? Perhaps your venture will be featured here next, providing just the jolt our community needs. Keep on brewing those ideas! ☕🌟

Tagged E-fund, entrepreneurship, startup

Nov 06 2023

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E-fund

Revolutionizing Essay Grading: EssayGraderAI Receives E-Fund for AI-powered Innovation

Here at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, we are always thrilled to highlight groundbreaking ventures that are reshaping industries through innovative solutions. Today, we are proud to congratulate EssayGraderAI for securing a significant funding grant from our Entrepreneurship Fund (E-Fund). EssayGraderAI, an exceptional startup, has been leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the way professors grade essays. In this blog post, we will delve into the remarkable features and benefits of EssayGraderAI while shedding light on the financial support they received from the E-Fund to further fuel their mission.

Solving a Common Pain Point:

EssayGraderAI addresses one of the most tedious and time-consuming elements of a professor’s role – grading essays. With their cutting-edge technology and AI algorithms, EssayGraderAI significantly streamlines the essay grading process, allowing professors to say goodbye to long, sleepless nights spent marking papers.

Benefits that Boost Productivity:

The core strengths of EssayGraderAI lie in its extraordinary features that set it apart from traditional grading methods:

Lightning Fast Feedback: By harnessing the power of AI, EssayGraderAI can grade essays in the blink of an eye. No more laborious hours spent deciphering students’ work and providing feedback – EssayGraderAI delivers results rapidly, allowing professors to efficiently allocate their time to other valuable academic tasks.
Reliable Outcomes: Powered by Retrieval Augmented Generation, EssayGraderAI eliminates grading discrepancies and ensures dependable results. Professors can trust that the feedback provided by their AI-enabled assistant adheres to the highest standards.
Personalized Criteria: EssayGraderAI offers customizable rubrics and grading instructions, empowering professors to maintain their unique teaching style and standards. This flexibility ensures that the grading process remains tailored to individual professors while embracing the advantages of AI technology.
Deep-Dive Analytics: With EssayGraderAI, professors gain access to advanced analytics at both the student and class levels. These insights help them foster a thorough understanding of their students’ progress and enable them to make more informed instructional decisions.
Seamless Integration: EssayGraderAI seamlessly integrates with existing Canvas Learning Management Systems (LMS), minimizing disruption and allowing professors to adopt this innovative tool with ease. No extensive changes to their workflow are necessary.

Financial Support for Growth and Development:

With the grant received from the Dingman Center’s E-Fund, EssayGraderAI can scale up its operations and continue delivering exceptional value to professors within the educational community. The funds allocated for a 3-month period will cover various vital costs:

AWS Lightsail server (2 months): $50
Bubble prototyping (1 month): $30
Website hosting (3 months): $39
OpenAI API: $121
Domain name: $10
Total: $250

Conclusion:

EssayGraderAI’s groundbreaking approach to essay grading is transforming the landscape of education through the power of AI. By successfully securing funding from our Entrepreneurship Fund, EssayGraderAI is poised to revolutionize the industry by providing professors with lightning-fast, reliable, and personalized feedback for their students. As we congratulate EssayGraderAI on their accomplishment, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the positive impact they will continue to make in classrooms worldwide. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship!

Tagged dingman center, efund, entrepreneurship

Dec 02 2022

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Feature Friday

Feature Friday! Platybase

*Platybase co-founders, Olivia Bruno ’20 (top left), Colleen Baldwin ’21 (top right), and Mika Panday ’21 (bottom row).*

DC: What is your name, major, and graduation year?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno:

Chief Design Officer: Mika Panday, UMD 2021
Chief Technology Officer: Colleen Baldwin, American University 2021
Chief Executive Officer: Olivia Bruno, American University, 2020; Cornell University 2022

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Platybase has been fully immersed in Dingman Center programs since our inception. We got our start in Terp Startup Accelerator’s Summer 2021 cohort and we are now part of Terp Startup Fellows. Out of all the Universities our team has attended, American University, Cornell University and UMD, UMD and the Dingman Center have risen far above all others in their impact on our venture. Through the Dingman Center, we gained incredible mentors like Michael Kapoor, Zeki Mokhtarzada and David Engle who have led us through difficult times and allowed us to grow into the team we are today. We are beyond grateful for the mentorship and experiences that Terp Startup has provided us with over the last two years and we are so excited to see where Bill Boyle, Tsega Belachew and the Terp Startup Fellows program will lead us next.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Platybase was founded by three neurodivergent women on a mission to improve the lives of the next generation of families impacted by disabilities. With the help of Platybase’s HIPAA compliant communication platform, families and therapy providers build community support and create a visual diary of progress for their children. Visual diaries provide motivation for everyone and focus care teams on the positive impact of their work, while decreasing miscommunications and turnover.

DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Growing up we all faced challenges due to our differences, and we watched those closest to us become victims of existing systems in mental and behavioral healthcare. Accountability and communication are the pillars of trust, which is broken between many families and the institutions aiming to serve them. With Platybase, our goal is to build trust and create the communities we wish our families could have experienced.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last three months?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Our team has been focused on raising non-dilutive funding and building our client base. Over the last year we have raised a total of 45k non-dilutive funding and we have grown astronomically, from only 36 users at one center to onboarding approximately 1,000 across 14 centers. This growth and financing is allowing us to track the ROI of Platybase, which aims to improve parent satisfaction, learning outcomes for children, client and employee turnover rates, and dosage fulfillment (the number of hours pediatric therapy has been recommended for vs. the number of hours a parent agrees to have their child treated for). By the end of May, we will have meaningful data proving Platybase’s ROI for therapy centers and value for parents and kiddos.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: The most important thing we are currently working on is showing value to our clients and families; however, on a personal level we are using our product to fight injustice and save lives. Olivia’s uncle who has Down’s Syndrome was badly neglected and abused in a hospital while he was being treated for Covid. He was not prioritized by the medical staff and was left without food, water or access to the lavatory, and since he was in a covid ward his family was not permitted to visit and therefore had no way of knowing how he was being treated or protecting him from such abuse. Thankfully once this was discovered he was moved to a rehab hospital where Olivia’s family has insisted his staff use the Platybase application to increase accountability in his care. With Platybase, his caretakers send photos and videos of his progress and his care daily, and communicate with his entire family in one place. Since moving and using platybase with his new nurses, he has turned a corner and improved significantly. While Platybase is currently marketed to pediatric therapy centers, this horrific experience has taught the founders how critical it is to offer our product to all ages. Once we receive funding and grow as a company, we believe that Platybase will create a better world for people with disabilities at every age.

DC: As student business owners, what motivates you?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Our personal experiences and the experiences of our family members motivate us everyday. One in six children under the age of 18 has been diagnosed with a disability in the USA and it is our responsibility to create a better world for the next generation of people like us.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Panday, Baldwin, and Bruno: Entrepreneurship is fun and exciting, but it can also make you feel like Sisyphis, perpetually pushing a boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down again. The problem you are trying to solve needs to be intrinsically important to you, so that the benefits of success outweigh the turmoil of getting there.

To learn more about Platybase, please visit the website here.

Tagged entrepreneurship, Feature Friday, startup

Nov 04 2022

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Feature Friday

Feature Friday! Vitalize

*Sanketh Andhavarapu ’23 pitching Vitalize at the 2022 Pitch Dingman Competition Finals.*

DC: What is your name, major, and graduation year?
Andhavarapu: My name is Sanketh Andhavarapu, and I graduate in the spring of 2023 with a degree in Health Decision Sciences. [Vitalize was also co-founded by Veeraj Shah ’21.]

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Andhavarapu: We participated in the 2020 Terp Startup Accelerator, and the 2021-22 Terp Startup Fellows. We won the Quattrone Venture Track Grand Prize and Audience Choice Prize at the 2022 Pitch Dingman Competition.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Andhavarapu: Vitalize works with healthcare employers to improve the mental health of their staff. For individual healthcare workers, we offer a mobile app with healthcare-centric coaching, peer support and mindfulness content. For employers, we provide a web-based dashboard with robust data on staff well-being trends, app engagement, and drivers of burnout.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?
Andhavarapu: In high school, I had the opportunity to be the Chief Human Resources Officer of a nonprofit organization. I learned that I really enjoyed leading and inspiring teams to collectively achieve social impact. This experience directly motivated me to found STEPS, a revenue-generating education nonprofit. In this role, I realized how important it was for me to take on an irreplaceable role in anything that I put time and effort into. I liked knowing that as a founder, there is no one more knowledgeable about your idea and innovation than yourself, and that you’re leaving a unique footprint on the world. I didn’t find this same sense of personal fulfillment when looking at the different clubs I could join when I first came to UMD. This is why, when I had the idea for Vitalize, I knew I had to take action and it was a no-brainer that I wanted to invest my time and effort into making it successful. Through Vitalize, I have the unique opportunity to transform healthcare through innovation and creativity.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last six months?
Andhavarapu: Last summer, Vitalize launched an unpaid pilot with Midland Health. We were able to convert this pilot into a paid annual contract with their entire system, where we’re now launching to 2000 staff members in January, 2023. Yes, this means we’re officially post-revenue! With this progress, we’ve also accepted investments from several VC funds and angels including Conscious Venture Partners, StartUp Health, and Dorm Room Fund.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Andhavarapu: As the Chief Product Officer, I am currently working on ensuring that our product and coaching pipeline is ready for the upcoming health system launch. I currently manage a outsourced development team of 5 engineers and meet with them daily to ensure that we’re staying on timeline and building our product efficiently. I also coordinate all communications and onboarding of coaches to ensure the service-side of our product is ready-to-go. Finally, I work with our Director of Mindfulness to ensure that our library of on-demand content is also ready for launch.

DC: As a student business owner, how do you define success?
Andhavarapu: Success means answering the following three questions that must be answered with a resounding “yes”:

Am I addressing a problem that I care deeply about with a solution that has potential for grand impact. In my opinion, poor mental health of healthcare workers is one of the largest problems in healthcare, and building Vitalize allows me to be a part of the solution.
Am I continuously learning new skills, gaining knowledge, learning about myself, and growing my network. I have arguably learned more from building Vitalize than most of my classes, and I got to meet amazing founders, healthcare executives, and clinicians throughout my journey.
Is my time and effort translating into meaningful traction milestones or learnings for the venture? With Vitalize, I have the opportunity to set new goals each month and work towards them.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Andhavarapu: Customer discovery is one of the most important skills in your toolkit, and it remains on your to-do list regardless of the stage of your venture. If you have an idea that you are looking to pursue, it is important to conduct several unbiased interviews with all the potential stakeholders (customers, payers, partners, etc). Customer discovery is a great way to validate assumptions and de-risk your startup before investing too much money and time into a potentially flawed concept.

Also, don’t be afraid to talk about your idea! So many people are concerned about someone stealing their idea, but talking about it is the only way to get the feedback and advice you need to continue building the business.

Finally, don’t confuse funding for traction. Ultimately, what determines a success trajectory for a startup is proving value and willingness to pay for customers. Funding is amazing and can help you achieve these milestones, but funding alone does not progress the venture.

To learn more about Vitalize, please visit the website here.

Tagged entrepreneurship, startup

Oct 07 2022

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Feature Friday

Feature Friday! Old Town, New Clothes

OTNC’s new clothing drop, “Old Town, In October”.

DC: What is your name, major, and graduation year?
Spinner: Brian Spinner my major is Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Environment and Agriculture and my graduation year is May 2023.

Old Town New Clothes’ September Pop-Up Event in College Park.

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Spinner: I am currently involved in the New Venture Practicum.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Spinner: My startup is my clothing brand “Old Town, New Clothes” which has created a circular economy for clothing in the College Park region. I take in students and members of the local communities Old clothing they no longer have a purpose for and put them on display at pop-up events all around campus and these donors get a portion of the profit once these items sell. I use the remaining revenue to invest back into my company to make custom clothing for my brand.

DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Spinner: I have a couple of influences for my startup. My parents have always been very supportive of me and love what I’m doing and when they are impressed with how its going this keeps me going. I also would like to give a shoutout to two of my inspirations that have also been friends and mentors Carson Alford the founder of wiseandfoolish clothing co and Findcnt a local artist and musician and founder of NBCKWRLD. These two people are the ones who I talked to over the phone and they helped me early on with guiding my passions in the right direction.

DC: How did you come up with the name of your venture?
Spinner: I came up with the name Old Town, New Clothes early fall semester of my Junior year. I had an idea of starting a produce stand in Old Town that would run weekly with the name “Old Town, Fresh Produce” in mind. When drawing up this name in my sketchbook I never even got to writing fresh produce I just added New Clothes instead and loved the way it looked and sounded.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Spinner: The most important thing I am working on right now is my “Northeast Tour” I printed 100 shirts that have a roadmap graphic of my tour that will take place next weekend. I am selling 25 different shirts at 4 different colleges in the northeast region. I already have the shirts and now I am working on promoting and getting the word out to these other schools. By the end of this tour starting here at UMD I will have 100 other people from all over the country wearing my merchandise and supporting the business. I will use the revenues from this to launch my Fall Winter drop which is in the works right now.

DC: As a student business owner, what motivates you?
Spinner: The thing that motivates me most is creation. All my life I had a drive to create media for others to consume whether this was YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, art or music. I always loved creating things that other people can enjoy. Old Town, New Clothes is the platform that I use to combine all of these things into one and continue to create never before seen ideas that came from my head. There has been days where I will walk around and see 10+ people wearing pieces of clothing I sold them and that alone is enough to motivate me to keep going.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Spinner: My advice to young entrepreneurs is to take that risk and bet on yourself. Getting that prototype made, or making a post on your personal instagram about your business can be scary. But take the chance because college is the best time to do that and I wish I started earlier. Starting up that idea of yours is a lot easier when you have a student and university by your side helping you through the process and rooting for you.

To learn more about Old Town, New Clothes, please visit the website here.

Tagged entrepreneurship, Feature Friday, startup

Jul 08 2022

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Terp Startup

Keeping Up With Terp Startup Accelerator 2022!

This week marks one month into the Dingman Center’s 2022 Terp Startup Accelerator program…and it could not be going better!

So far our cohort has had a blast hearing from guest speakers, participating in workshops and roundtable discussions, and even taking field trips to the Johns Hopkins University Fast Forward U program and Towson University’s accelerator at Startups!

Our cohort has also been participating in fun innovation challenges throughout the summer like paper airplane building competitions and playing the card game “A Balancing Act”, created by cohort members and co-founders of Sparza, Ryan Myer ’22, and Kyle Sznoluch.

“TSA has been an amazing experience! The entire community has been extremely supportive and nurturing in helping us with our ventures. The cohort has been really great as well, and it has been extremely educational and beneficial to learn from fellow members. The structured environment and advising have helped us move forward and think about aspects of our venture we hadn’t thought about before. We have immensely expanded our network and have made connections not only at UMCP but also at JHU, Towson, alumni and practicing professionals,” said Ina Kovacheva, founder of Arch Dash.

The program, held in the new Idea Factory’s Academy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Loft on campus, has given these student entrepreneurs the opportunity to advance their own ventures full-time while spontaneously collaborating with one another. Working in this type of environment is relatively new for many students, but participants like Emily Garcia, founder of Em G Art Design Studio, have grown to appreciate the benefits.

“I’ve worked in art studios which are similar in a way. The similarities come from the fact that the space gathers like-minded people. People who are working in a space that inspires creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. One’s environment can influence their work and mindset. It also creates a sense of community,” said Garcia.

Of the 11 ventures accepted into TSA, each is unique–and not only in its products and services. While some students have fully developed ventures that already generate revenue, others simply have an idea and the passion to make it happen. No matter the stage of the startup, each company is given up to $5,000 in financial support and full physical support from members of the Dingman Team, Holly DeArmond, Tsega Belachew, Lottie Byram, and Alex Onufrak.

“The access to mentors, professionals, and their networks has been really helpful. Even more than the specific workshops, simply the ability to connect with and tap into mentor networks has been a huge value add,” said Josh Doying founder of Bedtime Sports.

Despite some ventures being more advanced in their process than others, by the end of the program, all companies will meet critical outcomes such as making data-driven decisions using metrics that matter, finding product/market fit, and acquiring initial customers.

Even though the 2022 program is nearly halfway complete, students are still working hard and are excited to take the next steps in furthering their venture.

“I am very much looking forward to starting a pilot program with the University and learning more about how they can benefit from our technology! A bit nervous about demo day and really dreading the thought of TSA coming to an end,” said Kovacheva.

Tagged entrepreneurship, Terp Startup

May 20 2022

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Feature Friday

Feature Friday! Stockadoo

*Stockadoo is a platform that allows fans to trade shares of creators’ channels, which reduces creators’ reliance on ads and sponsors—while giving fans an opportunity to make money.*

DC: What’s your name, major, and graduation year?
Fenn: Justin Fenn, Computer Science Spring 2022.

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Fenn: I participated in and won the Hult Prize 2019 at UMD and was fortunate enough to be able to compete with my team in Boston at the regional finals. Also, I attend Dingman Fridays regularly for guidance on a range of questions. Additionally Stockadoo was worked on in New Venture Practicum, one of the Dingman Center’s signature courses.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Fenn: Stockadoo is a platform that allows fans to invest in their favorite creators by trading shares of creators’ channels, monetizing the creator in the process. Our goal is to reduce the reliance on the advertisement economy by allowing fans to support creators directly while also benefitting through trading on the Stockadoo exchange.

DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Fenn: It may sound silly, but Star Trek is a big influence on my startup and most startup ideas I’ve had. Specifically, the hopeful attitude that Star Trek takes on how the future could be and that we will find solutions to our human vices, such as greed. In the future given by Star Trek, money does not exist, freeing up most anyone to pursue the goals they’d like to in their life. I hope that even if it’s extremely minor, Stockadoo can make a step towards a future like that.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last five months?
Fenn: Since January, we went from an idea to a brand, website, prototype and spread the idea to many people through surveys and word of mouth. We have signed up multiple creators who are willing to beta test the app when it launches.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now, and how are you making it happen?
Fenn: We are finishing the beta version of the app and will be launching this summer. We are excited to get feedback from users and creators alike and hope we can provide a valuable product to both.

DC: As the founder of Stockadoo, how do you define success?
Fenn: I define success as the continual process of refining an idea to provide the most valuable solution while maintaining the integrity of the core goal of a business. In the case of Stockadoo, the app may change drastically, but the core goal of reducing the reliance of digital content on advertisements remains the same.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Fenn: The most important piece of advice I could give is simply to lean toward making any decision instead of making the best decision. Most startup decisions are situations where you can analyze the multiple options for an eternity and still not have enough information to make the best decision. If you make decisions sooner, you save a lot of time and make incremental progress to a larger goal.

To learn more about Stockadoo, please visit the website here.

Tagged entrepreneurship, startup

Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship

Tag Archives: entrepreneurship

Alumni Tech Track

Alumni Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Alumni Tech Track Semifinalists

Alumni Tech Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Alumni Main Street Track

Alumni Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Alumni Main Street Track Semifinalists

Alumni Main Street Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Main Street Track Semifinalists

Main Street Track Semifinalists – honorable mention

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists

Quattrone Tech Track Quarterfinalists – honorable mention

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

Our Incredible Judges

Round 1

Alumni Tech Track

Alumni Main Street Track

Main Street Track

Quattrone Tech Track

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Round 2 – Semifinals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Main Street Track

Quattrone Tech Track

Round 3 – Finals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Quattrone Tech & Main Street Tracks

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

All Stars Track

All Stars Track Finalists – pitching

All Stars Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

All Stars Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Alumni Pilot Track

Alumni Pilot Track Finalists – pitching

Alumni Pilot Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Alumni Pilot Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Main Street Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Main Street & Quattrone Tech Tracks Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

Our Incredible Judges

All Stars Track

Alumni Pilot Track

Main Street Track

Quattrone Tech Track

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

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Join Us in Celebrating and Supporting Wittle Spoonies

Perking Up Coffee Culture

Caffeinating the Campus and Beyond

Charting New Grounds

Solving a Common Pain Point:

Benefits that Boost Productivity:

Financial Support for Growth and Development:

Conclusion: