University of Marylands Business School Expands Capital Access Network

College Park, Md. October 5, 2005 The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced that the schools Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship has expanded its Capital Access Network (CAN), a program that facilitates funding relationships between angel investors and regional start-ups. The Dingman Center has formed a number of key partnerships and has planned new activities which will provide entrepreneurs with greater resources and opportunities to secure funding. New developments include:

• Deloitte & Touche and Silicon Valley Bank have joined CAN as sponsors to provide participating entrepreneurs access to seed- and early stage capital
• Beginning this year, Charles O. Heller senior managing director of Beacon Global Private Equity and past director of the Dingman Center, will work with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) to further evaluate companies and provide assistance
• Monthly CAN breakfasts will connect potential mentors and investors with entrepreneurs

The commitment from the regional investment and venture capital community in targeting the network for involvement has been great, said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. Feedback and interest from the entrepreneur community has been strong as well. Were looking forward to a productive and active year.

Maryland DBEDs experience and resources in assisting small businesses will bring a tremendous added value to participating entrepreneurs, said Heller. Adding Maryland DBED to the mix really enriches the network.

As an example of a recent success story, the network recently assisted a local start up, eXpert Technology Solutions (XTS), which provides turnkey business intelligence reporting to track access to corporate computer systems, in securing $50,000 in matching funds from Maryland DBED in June 2005. After securing the DBED funding the company also obtained another $200,000 from an early-stage investor.

We came to the Dingman Center and got great feedback and help refining our business plan, said Eric Spiegel, XTS CEO. After the Dingman Center introduced us to DBED things really started rolling. Id encourage any local entrepreneur to take advantage of the resources offered by CAN as a key first step in turning a business idea into a reality.

As one of the first and leading entrepreneurial centers in the nation, the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs by facilitating, supporting and guiding new enterprise growth in the mid-Atlantic region through professional services, academic programming and outreach alliances and events. To learn more about the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/dingman or call 301-405-9545.

About the Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research for the digital economy. The Smith School one of 13 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, PhD, and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in four continents including North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. More information about the Robert H. Smith School of Business can be found at www.rhsmith.umd.edu.