Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Fostering entrepreneurial talent, ideas and opportunities through programs, competitions, and the infusion of innovative thinking across campus.

Towson University develops world-class entrepreneurs through educational practices with a startup culture which focuses on real world application to empower economic and social growth throughout the greater Baltimore area, the region and nation.

entrepreneurship students talking about ideas in the student launch pad
Entrepreneurship students talking about ideas in the student launch pad.
Student pitching a product to judges during the business model canvas competition
Students have the opportunity to practice entrepreneurship through a wide variety of experiential programs at TU.
exhibitors talk to attendees at the demo day 2018 event
Successful ideas come from class projects and independent student side hustles.
entrenpreneur shares her product at demo day
Entrepreneurship@TU engages constituencies across the university: students, faculty & staff, the business incubator and while showcasing TU talent to the greater Baltimore region and throughout Maryland

Get Engaged

  • Big Idea Poster Competition – Take your entrepreneurial pitch and presentation skills to the next level with the cohort-based Big Idea Poster Competition experience. At TU, we grow innovators and entrepreneurs through a ‘practice internal, compete externally’ approach. Work with peers and faculty to advance your ideas.
  • Venture Club – Looking for the innovation and entrepreneurial hook-up? Meet other like-minded students, learn from guest speakers, participate in workshops, and hang during watch parties. Venture Club is where like-minded students find community.
  • Whiteboard Wednesday – Each Wednesday someone from TU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be available to whiteboard your idea with you and identify next steps.
  • Student Launch Pad – We're the hub of entrepreneurial activities and resources helping the TU community to imagine, ignite and transform ideas into action.
  • StarTUp Accelerator – The Towson University StarTUp Accelerator is an intensive eight-week, cohort-based fellowship where ventures take residency and work in a collaborative space accelerating their ventures.

more About The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)

Mission

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) develops, nurtures and commercializes talent contributing to economic and social development in the Baltimore metro region and beyond. The center fosters entrepreneurial talent, ideas and opportunities on campus and beyond by leveraging Towson University's proven core strengths in healthcare, sciences, education and business along with its extensive alumni and business partner network.

Vision

Our vision is to make Towson University the entrepreneurial hub of Baltimore County and an integral part of the local, regional and national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

 Key Outcomes and Goals
 
  • Driving economic prosperity in the region by creating a dynamic hub of innovation and entrepreneurship in Towson for the surrounding communities and businesses, creating a lively place where people want to live, work and play
  • Empowering people to establish new businesses and engage innovative thinking 
  • Fostering entrepreneurship as a way of thinking and acting: implementing 21st century thinking and technology to solve problems and innovate
  • Commercializing research at all levels: bachelor's, master's, Ph.D. programs, faculty research 
  • Leveraging expertise: bringing together, enhancing and extending all of the resources of Towson University with local businesses and regional community resources 
  • Empowering women and minorities to engage in entrepreneurship 

Alumni Entrepreneurs

TU's entrepreneurial alumni stand out in the business community.