Innovation Fridays: Entrepreneurship Outlook

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, host Jeff Salkin sits down with Elana Fine, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, to talk about startups, innovation and the University of Maryland’s community of entrepreneurs. 

The Dingman Center has been at the forefront of entrepreneurship education and practice for more than 25 years. The center’s primary activities include helping students build their ventures, creating experiential learning opportunities and providing regional entrepreneurs with access to capital. Key programs for University of Maryland students include Pitch Dingman, weekly walk-in sessions to pitch business ideas to experienced entrepreneurs for feedback, Cupid’s Cup, an annual business competition sponsored by Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, and the China Business Plan Competition, an annual competition and global studies trip in partnership with Peking University. Within the region, the Center operates Dingman Center Angels, the area’s most active angel investor network with more than 40 members and 30 companies funded since 2005.