A coffee startup that emerged through the University of Maryland (UMD) has captured the 2016 Cupid’s Cup Competition. Javazen, which blends coffee with teas and superfoods for “a healthier caffeine boost,” topped five other entries in the 11th annual competition, established by Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank -- in collaboration with his alma mater and founding "university partner," UMD.

On Thursday, April 7, Cupid’s Cup Entrepreneurship Competition will return to The Clarice for its eleventh year of show-stopping startup exhibition. Six companies have been announced as finalists, selected from hundreds of applications representing nearly 100 universities and colleges. On Feb. 19, Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank ’96, who chairs the competition, hosted the semi-final round at Under Armour’s global headquarters in Baltimore, Md.

A “superfood coffee blend” developed and sold by University of Maryland graduates is one of six finalists vying for more than $100,000 in total prizes in the 2016 Cupid's Cup Entrepreneurship Competition. Javazen, the name of the startup and product, has been selected from hundreds of applications representing nearly 100 universities and colleges.

WeCook, a new tech company that brings personal chefs into people’s homes to stock their refrigerators with meals for a low subscription fee, was the big winner in the Feb. 16 Pitch Dingman Competition. The first-place win came with a $15,000 prize that the startup plans to use for marketing.

Pitch Dingman Competition Finals Tuesday, February 16, 2016 6 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Stamp Student Union, Colony BallroomRegister to attend

UPDATE: Evan Lutz appeared on Shark Tank on Jan. 8, 2016, and received a $100,000 investment from Robert Herjavec for a 10 percent stake in Hungry Harvest.

The Do Good Challenge is excited to announce the selection of the 2015-2016 Accelerator and Ladies First awardees. 

François de Zamaróczy, Smith MBA candidate 2017, writes about the Pitch Dingman semifinals event last week. Pitch Dingman is the University of Maryland’s only business competition exclusively for Terps.

Secrets of a Serial Entrepreneur Entrepreneurs beat long odds when they launch a company, scale it up and sell it to investors. Jason Cohen ’96 has done it five times in 15 years. “A lot of people will tell you that the way I worked, I basically worked to 100 years old. But I did it in 15 years,” says Cohen, who recently gave back to the Smith School in the form of a lead trust that benefits the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

Executive MBA students took turns in the “Terp Tank,” pitching their businesses to seasoned investors like on TV’s “Shark Tank.” The panel of five investors was impressed with the business ideas from the 16 teams and some of the pitches may lead to investments. The Oct. 16 pitch session was the culmination of the EMBA entrepreneurship Action Learning Projects, which started in April 2015. The projects are part of a course taught by Joe Bailey, associate research professor, and Elana Fine, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. It wraps up later this month.