Dingman Advising

What is Dingman Advising?

Have an idea for a business or a solution to a problem worth solving? Dingman Advising sessions are held every Thursday of the semester from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and are open to all UMD students, staff and alumni. The Dingman Center is currently operating these events in a hybrid model, so please check the registration page on your appointment to confirm whether it will be held live or in person. Walk-ins are available with staff, or you can make an appointment to meet with a subject matter expert or legal advisor. Rotating guest advisors, as well as Dingman staff, are available to listen to your idea, offer feedback and provide actionable next steps. No need to bring a presentation or business plan; just be prepared to share your idea and receive some great advice.

EYSchedule an appointment with a subject matter expert or legal advisor.

Sign up for our Dingman Advising newsletter and find out which advisors are coming each week.

Visit the EY website to learn more about career opportunities with EY and upcoming EY recruiting events for students.

Why Dingman Advising?

  • Meet with successful entrepreneurs
  • Receive feedback and actionable next steps
  • Build meaningful relationships with advisors and mentors
  • Learn about Dingman Center programs and resources

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can participate?

Dingman Advising sessions are informal and open to all members of the University of Maryland community including faculty, staff, students and alumni. You do not have to be a Smith School student to participate.

2. Do I need to come with a business plan?

No. All you need is an idea. The advising sessions are flexible to your needs. Whether you thought about the idea this week, or you have been working on it for years, our advisors have been through all those stages and can think about next steps for your business or idea.

3. If not a business plan, what should I use to organize my thoughts about business ideas?

The Dingman Center teaches the Lean Startup Methodology, which challenges entrepreneurs to talk to customers and validate key assumptions. A good way to organize those initial thoughts is to attend Dingman Jumpstart, our two-hour crash course in the foundations of building a startup.

4. Can I sit in on a Dingman Advising session?

Dingman Advising sessions are one-on-one between the student and the advisor, so sessions are not open for other students to attend. However, if you want to bring a friend or potential teammate to sit in on your advising session, that is acceptable. All students are also welcome to attend Pitch Dingman Competition to watch students pitch their business ideas live for seed funding.

5. What can I expect from Dingman Advising?

You can expect to leave Dingman Advising with actionable next steps to work on for your business or idea. The more effort and progress we see the entrepreneur demonstrate on acting on those next steps, the more resources such as time, workspace and funds the Dingman Center is able to invest. The initial pitch and feedback session will be a concise pitch about your problem/customer/solution fit and a chance to discuss areas where you need guidance. As the entrepreneur demonstrates initiative in acting on those next steps, they will have greater access to the Dingman Center team and Dingman Center Mentors.

6. Do I have to wear a suit?

No. Dingman Advising are informal and there is no dress code.

7. I still have more questions. Who do I ask?

Email rhsmith-dingman@umd.edu and we'll get back to you.

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