Loyola鈥檚 Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship to host inaugural Baltipreneurs Ecosystem Night
91吃瓜网鈥檚 Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CI&E) will host the inaugural Baltipreneurs Ecosystem Night on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 鈥� 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The event is sponsored by a grant from Maryland Business Innovation Association and Maryland Technology Development Corporation and will feature local entrepreneur Andrew Suggs, founder and CEO of Live Chair Health, as the keynote speaker.
The goal of this new initiative is to cross-pollinate innovation between those involved in Loyola鈥檚 Baltipreneur Accelerator Program and the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, while providing additional specialized services for a select group of ventures to support their success.
鈥淟ive Chair Health has developed a unique model to improve the health of residents in the Baltimore area,鈥� said Michael Tangrea, Ph.D., endowed professor in innovation. 鈥淲e are excited to hear Andrew share the Live Chair Health story with our Baltipreneurs.鈥�
Capping off the keynote talk, ecosystem participants will function as judges to evaluate and select a company from within the Baltipreneur Accelerator Program cohort to receive a total of $5,000 in an assistive grant.
鈥淯ltimately, the event will continue to enhance Loyola鈥檚 support of local startups and keep moving them toward success as drivers of revitalization in a more economically stable and equitable Baltimore,鈥� said Wendy Bolger, director of the CI&E. 鈥淲e hope partnerships and programming like this event will showcase the extraordinary depth of resources available to startups within the Baltimore region and establish Loyola University Maryland as an impact-oriented member of the Maryland startup community.鈥�
Interested participants may register for the Zoom keynote and Q&A with Mr. Suggs online. The first 50 RSVPs will have live access to the video Q&A, while the remainder of participants may submit questions via chat.
About the Baltipreneur Accelerator Program
The Baltipreneur Accelerator Program provides funding, training, and mentorship for innovators in Baltimore, including members of the Baltimore community, as well as Loyola students, faculty, and staff, with a preference for those in groups underrepresented in entrepreneurship. The program experienced a 34% increase in applications growing from 8 to 13 ventures since launching last year, and the top-ranked ventures in last year鈥檚 inaugural group have already gone on to meet significant milestones, including quadrupling their client portfolio, launching product in grocery stores, joining area incubators, and adding critical board members.