September 24, 2018

MCE Awarded Grant for Accelerator Program Series

The Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE), in partnership with the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been awarded a TEDCO Incubator Grant Award of $10,000 for FY’19 to facilitate two accelerator programs for the second year in a row. This iteration is designed to help government contracting companies attract more clients and boost revenue.

In Fall 2018, the MCE will launch its GovCon and CEO Accelerator programs, where participants will learn SBDC’s Strategic Growth System to “Earn More. Work Less!” in addition to gain insights on their current challenges through professionally facilitated, open strategic discussions. Each participant will receive support, feedback, strategies, perspective, and accountability with the clear goal of gaining more government contracts to build a profitable business that functions without the owner, so the owner can ultimately sell their company.

“With this grant, we continue to address the needs of our business community, especially our small businesses, by providing them with programs and subject matter experts to assist with their growth,” said County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. “Howard County is home to many businesses with government clientele, and we will continue to find ways to help them foster these relationships.”

“Howard County’s proximity to key military installations, federal agencies, and leading research and development centers that are vital to the U.S government, continue to make Howard County a strategic location of choice. Therefore, we appreciate government contracting companies whom have chosen to start their business here,” said CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, Larry Twele. “Acknowledging the needs of our business community, through our business development programs, is one of our top priorities. We’re honored to facilitate these programs and accelerate the growth of our small businesses.”

The first iteration of the program series launched in Spring 2018 as the MCE Tech Venture Accelerator Program. The program included two sessions designed to help entrepreneurs implement a money-making model behind their technology by identifying strategies to better manage and reshape business operations, develop an adequate financial plan, locate resources to support growth, design a protection plan for their businesses and intellectual property, and improve leadership.

MCE resident company, Kaizen Approach, reflects on the successes of the last iteration of the accelerator program, “[i]t was very insightful, the MCE Tech Venture Accelerator Program allowed us to step back, and think about how we do business as a team to accomplish our corporate goals and prioritize how work is accomplished.” Kaizen Approach CEO, Al Pickering, and COO, Richard Tait, added, “[i]t has directly influenced our current growth in federal contracting as well as the private sector.”

The following sessions are available for registration, applications are required in order to be selected to participate:

GovCon Accelerator | Designed for Fast Growing Government Contractors
Cost: $790 | Reduced to $250 For Selected Maryland Firms (Applications required)

  • 2 1/2 Days: 2 Full Days Thursdays October 4 & October 11 (8:30am-5:30pm) at PSA Insurance Building (Hunt Valley, MD) and Morning (9am-12pm) Wednesday December 19 at Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (Columbia, MD)
  • 2 1/2 Days: 2 Full Days Thursdays November 8 & November 15 (8:30am-5:30pm) and Morning (9am-12pm) Wednesday December 19 – ALL SESSIONS at Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (Columbia, MD)

CEO Accelerator | Designed for Owners with Revenue Above $500k
Cost: $1,580 | Reduced to $250 For Selected Maryland Firms (Applications required)

  • 12 Wednesday Mornings October 3 – December 19 (9am-12pm): at Bowie City Hall; 12/19 Session in at Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (Columbia, MD)

To learn and apply, please visit: www.marylandsbdc.org/accelerator or contact the internationally certified coach/facilitator, Russell Teter, directly at rteter@umd.edu or 240-463-8686.

Categories: News
Back