Events

Hear from industry leaders, learn about new opportunities, and connect with successful entrepreneurs at these StarTUp events. 

New for 2024: TU Maker Fest

If you could solve ONE problem in 24 hours, what would you solve? The TU Maker Fest is a 24-hour innovation sprint where students solve real-world problems with innovative solutions.  

This competition is your opportunity to represent your college, compete for glory, and secure your spot in the TU College Cup. Now's your chance to participate in an event that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit of TU. 

Attend one of the information sessions to learn more about the 24 hour challenge!

  • Applicant info sessions
    • Thursday, October 10, 45 p.m., StarTUp at the Armory RSVP
    • Friday, November 1, 23 p.m., StarTUp at the Armory RSVP
  • Application due: Sunday, November 3
  • 24-hour Maker Sprint: Friday, November 8, 3 p.m.–Saturday, November 9, 3 p.m., Cook LIbrary
  • Main Event: Saturday, November 9, 4–6 p.m., StarTUp at the Armory TO WATCH THE EVENT REGISTER HERE

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Upcoming events

Boss Up: Becoming Your Own Boss Panel 

Wednesday, October 16, 5:30–7 p.m.
StarTUp at the Armory

The Boss Up Career Panel is an exciting student-focused event dedicated to the road to becoming your own boss. This panel features a diverse group of entrepreneurs who will share their unique journeys and insights around entrepreneurship as a career path. Whether you are curious about starting your own business or looking to gain inspiration from real-world success stories, this panel is the perfect platform to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and build meaningful connections.

Panelists

  • Lianna Banks, Towson University alumni, owner of Events by Elle B. 
  • Jal Irani, founder and CEO of Flave, professor at Towson University and Johns Hopkins University 
  • Kerrie Carden, CEO and founder of Equip Advisory 
  • Cat Volcy, Towson University Graduate Student and Mental Health, Wellness; travel content creator 

REGISTER

TU Maker Fest Main Event

Saturday, November 9, 4–6 p.m.
StarTUp at the Armor
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Join TU students, faculty, and staff and discover what inventive products and solutions students created during the 24-hour TU Maker Fest.

REGISTER

ATHENAPowerLink Baltimore Women in Business Speaker Series: Women in GovCon Panel

Wednesday, November 13
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m., Program: 9:15 a.m.
StartTUp at the Armory

  • Stephanie Bagley, founder and CEO, SCB Management Solutions
  • Tamera Rush, founder and CEO, TENAX Technologies
  • Jeanne Kimmich Roberts, founder and former president, Kimmich Software Systems (KSSI)
  • Moderator: Martin O’Neill, managing director, Chesapeake Corporate Advisors

REGISTER

College Cup Pitch Event

Tuesday, April 8, 5:30–8 p.m.
StarTUp at the Armory

Join the finalists of the College Cup as they pitch their innovative ideas to win a $10,000 equity-free stipend and a place in the TU StarTUp Accelerator.

REGISTER

Learn more about application and information sessions.

 

Past Events

Join the fellows of the StarTUp Accelerator as they pitch their ventures to campus, community, and business leaders at the annual StarTUp Accelerator Showcase. Enjoy networking and learning more about the StarTUp at the Armory. (9/12/24)

April Richardson, Esq. is an accomplished attorney and businesswoman. Join her to learn about her career path from becoming a lawyer to switching careers to own and operate two retail bakeries and a robust baked goods manufacturing facility. April will share her journey and how she works to empower women to embrace action and innovation. (9/5/24)

About April

April N. Richardson, Esq. is an accomplished Attorney and astute American Businesswoman. She co-owns and operates two retail bakeries, Baked In Baltimore and DC Sweet Potato Cake, alongside owning a robust baked goods manufacturing facility. Her clientele includes prestigious names like Starbucks, Nordstrom, Wegmans, Safeway, and QVC, among others.

Beyond her bakery empire, April’s leadership has led to the development of two dynamic food halls in the region. Recently, she secured the rights to co-develop a historic mansion in Baltimore into a vibrant food and market hall, showcasing her efforts in revitalizing communities through culinary ventures.

As the founder of The Private Practice Law Group LLC, April has provided invaluable counsel to numerous entrepreneurs, leveraging her legal acumen to guide them toward success. April has been featured in esteemed publications like The Washington Post, Afro Newspaper, and The Daily Record, while her expertise has been sought by prominent media outlets including CNN, BBC, Fox 5 DC, MSNBC, and BET.

Learn how Greater Baltimore attracts investment from Silicon Valley and learn about venture capital, regional investment, and Baltimore-based ventures. (5/14/24)

Hosted by the StarTUp at the Armory, hear from Maryland trailblazers as they discuss accomplishments, challenges, and insights as woman business leaders. Breakfast and Starbucks coffee served. (4/18/24)

Panel

  • Janet Currie, president, greater Maryland, Bank of America
  • Jen Dardis, chief financial officer and treasurer, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc
  • Aileen Eskildsen, chief executive officer and managing partner, Ellin & Tucker
  • Laura Gamble, regional president greater Maryland and territory executive for the northeast, PNC Bank

Hear from trailblazer Dr. Sam DuFlo, the founder, owner, and chief medical officer of Indigo Physiotherapy. Gain insight on her accomplishments and challenges as a woman business leader. (2/29/24)

Dr. Sam DuFlo is founder, owner, and chief medical officer of Indigo Physiotherapy. Dr. Sam is pleased to share her journey from envisioning the unique model and methodologies behind Indigo to where she is today, sitting at the helm of a brand which represents a new paradigm in pelvic floor health. Her first book, Pelvic Prep School, A Guide to Preparing Your Pelvis for Each Stage of Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond, was published in 2023.

Join trailblazers from across Maryland for this new speaker series. Tanya A. Bryan, CEO & Founder of the Baltimore Nighthawks will discussing accomplishments, challenges, and insights as a woman business leader. (11/15/23)

Tanya Bryan is the CEO and Founder of the Baltimore Nighthawks. She founded the team with the purpose of teaching women in Maryland and the surrounding areas how to play tackle football. Since then, she has helped her team become nationally recognized and awarded. Tanya helped Team USA win gold at the inaugural IFAF Women's World Championship. When Tanya is not coaching the Baltimore Nighthawks, she is a senior project manager at TAI Engineering, and holds a BS in engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Join trailblazers from across Maryland for this new speaker series. First up is Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman discussing accomplishments, challenges, and insights as a woman business leader. Breakfast and coffee served. (10/3/23)

Join the fellows of the 2022 StarTUp Accelerator for the annual StarTUp Accelerator Showcase. This high-energy, live event will feature product pitches from our eight fellows along with networking with business leaders. (9/28/22)

Baltimore is one of the top U.S. cities for women entrepreneurs. ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore is a year-long program to develop women entrepreneurs and business owners. Offered at no cost, the program provides participants invaluable tools for success—guidance, support, and advice from business experts who offer direction and perspective. (10/27/21 & 11/18/21)

View Recording

The StarTUp and Athena Powerlink Baltimore are excited to connect our local entrepreneurship community with the global Weekly Women Entrepreneurship. Join us to hear remarkable stories from leading female business leaders and entrepreneurs. (10/21/21)

View Recording

Welcome remarks: General Linda Singh, Towson University leader-in-residence; First woman and first African-American Adjutant General, Maryland National Guard (retired) 

Panel

  • Moderator: Patrick McQuown, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship, Towson University
  • Juliana Buonanno, CEO of Tech Slice
  • Stacey Stube, CEO of SEW BROMO
  • Delaney Fox, CEO of Minutes 4 Moms

The StarTUp Accelerator fellows pitched their ventures at the annual StarTUp Accelerator Showcase.  (10/8/21)

Through the redevelopment of the former Maryland National Guard Armory building in downtown Towson, TU is creating a front door for start-ups, small businesses and our region’s largest corporations while connecting campus with the greater Baltimore business community. (9/20/21)

The ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore team provides an overview of the program, and facilitates a conversation with past program participants about their experiences and professional growth as a result of the program. (5/19/21)

Entrepreneurs and industry leaders discuss the benefits of small businesses (restaurants) and startups working together, especially during a pandemic. Panelists talk about their experiences fostering relationships with startups, small businesses, and the local community. (5/19/21)

View Recording

Moderator: Patrick McQuown, Towson University

Panelists
  • Josh Ambrose, Johns Hopkins University
  • Jal Irani and Derek Battle, Flave
  • Minje Suh and Tommy Choe, Waffie
  • Aaron Velky, Ortus Academy

ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore highlights challenges and resources available for women entrepreneurs. Panelists include General Linda Singh, Lindsay Ryan, USM venture development director; and Tamera Rush, founder and CEO of Tenax Technologies. (4/29/21)

View Recording

Presented by Towson University, Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences, and University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

What are best practices for developing student entrepreneurship? What role do community partnerships and mentorship play in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation on campus? Presidents, administrators, and faculty from three universities with strong entrepreneurship programs highlights how each institution approaches entrepreneurship through academic, social, and partnership programs. (4/27/21)

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Patrick McQuown shares information about the opening of the StarTUp at the Armory and leads a discussion between successful founders and CEOs of BarTrack, SharkMarket, and RADRR, all founded by college students. (2/25/21)

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The inaugural StarTUp Accelerator Showcase features pitches and interviews of the inaugural cohort, along with commentary from President Kim Schatzel and Patrick McQuown, executive director of entrepreneurship. (12/3/20)

Founder Profiles

  • Halal Beauty
  • Smart Bridge
  • Lockbox Adventures

Founder Pitches

  • Shark Market
  • Flave
  • Stocastic

Watch Showcase

The StarTUp Accelerator connected our local entrepreneurship community—for the first time—with the global Weekly Women Entrepreneurship. View the recording to hear remarkable stories from leading female business leaders and entrepreneurs—all with TU ties. (11/10/20)

View Recording

Direct Edit