Frozen desserts, spicy sauces and burrito-sized sushi rolls added flavor to a food entrepreneurship conference organized by undergraduate students on Nov. 16, 2015, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “This event is like a startup company that will last exactly three hours,” Smith School professor Oliver Schlake told the audience of about 200 guests at the school’s Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Md. “It’s a learning experience.”

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is the recipient of the 2015 Outstanding Contributions to Venture Acceleration. The award was presented at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Annual Conference, hosted by the University of Florida, Oct. 29-31.

On Nov. 16, 2015, students at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business will host the 2015 Entrée’preneurship Conference at the Universities at Shady Grove. Building on last year’s successful inaugural conference that drew 250 participants to the event, students in Smith's Entrepreneurship Fellows program will again organize a colorful event around upcoming food and beverage businesses.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

Two-time Smith Terp Dave Trebilcock ’89, MBA ’96, knows a thing or two about wine. And he’s putting that knowledge to good use in his business venture, GrapeSeed, a company that uses a crowd-funding model to supply the exclusive wine it provides its customers.

The Dingman Center Angels (DCA) is making a push to bring in more investors and hear more pitches from the University of Maryland alumni community. Run out of the Smith School’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, this group of investors — made up of top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business leaders — has invested more than $12 million in early stage companies since 2005. With more than 55 portfolio companies, DCA has been a great funding resource for early stage Mid-Atlantic region entrepreneurs.

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2015, 2 p.m. Location: 2333 Van Munching Hall Attend the showcase to meet the Terp Startups, learn more about the companies and offer customer feedback. Light snacks will be provided.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST -- Fitbit is ridin

Every two years, Washingtonian magazine identifies the “most influential and exciting people” in the D.C. region’s technology scene. Elana Fine stands out in this crowd. 

Thirteen student-run companies in the Spring 2015 Hatch Cohort of the Fearless Founders program have been awarded a total of $11,000 in funding to continue working on their businesses this summer.