The Smith School’s “Startup 2.0” Entrepreneurship Series in Beijing got off to a great start on July 15, 2008. More than 70 aspiring entrepreneurs attended a workshop “Creating an Effective Business Plan,” hosted by Zhongguancun Science Park, a government sponsored high technology zone often described as “China’s Silicon Valley” and a partner of the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business in the 2008 China Business Plan Competition. The workshop was presented by Ning Tang, CEO of China Growth Capital, and Chris Chen, CEO and founder of VanceInfo.

Beijing, China and College Park, Md. – May 14, 2008 - The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced the launch the 2008 China Business Plan Competition – Go for the Gold!, a contest delivered in partnership with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). The competition, now in its fourth year, is supported by Fidelity Asia Ventures and invites China entrepreneurs to win cash prizes totaling US$50,000. Entrants are invited to submit their business ideas through July 1 via the Smith School China Web site.

College Park, Md. - April 15, 2008 - Environmentally friendly Internet provider Anaptyx won the top prize in this years Cupids Cup business competition on April 11, hosted by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. School alumnus Kevin Plank, chief executive and founder of sports apparel maker Under Armour, donated the $22,500 in prize money to the winning student- and alumni-run startup companies.

Rockville, Md. - April 9, 2008 - Students at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland will host an entrepreneurship conference, E*Generation: Entrepreneurship and the Environmental Renaissance, Saturday, April 19, at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. The Smith Schools chapter of Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) organized the daylong conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m., engaging prospective and future business owners, entrepreneurs and students throughout the Washington D.C., region.

Dingman Center Gathers Students for Intriguing Real-life Business Lesson on Using the Past to Shape the Future Michael Granoff was astounded when he found out about Professor David Kirsch’s research. Granoff was meeting with team members at Project Better Place, a California-based startup electric vehicle company, when someone started passing around Kirsch’s book, “The Electric Vehicle and the Burden of History.”

In March 2008, the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship hosted its annual Start-Up Night, bringing together entrepreneurs, students, venture capitalists and community members to network and share ideas. The event presented wonderful opportunities for entrepreneurs to get advice, share ideas and make contact with top MBA talent at Smith. Students had the chance to network with the entrepreneurs and speak with them about potential job opportunities.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship has increased fivefold the potential prize money awarded at its monthly Pitch Dingman competitions now up for grabs, $2,500 in start-up funding to the best new business ideas.

The entrepreneurial spirit is often focused on creating a successful business and building a profitable enterprise. These days, some small businesses are focusing on using part of their profitability to benefit social ventures. In addition to using the profit generated by the firm to fund growth and expansion, or simply to benefit the founders, small companies are now integrating charitable giving into their business plan. One of the ideas behind this is that the company can generate employee and customer loyalty by engaging in charitable giving that those groups can get behind.

Graduation is a magical day in the life of a college student. It is a transition day into the professional world and it is a time to look back on what has been accomplished as a student. One of the highlights of graduation is the opportunity to wear a cap and gown and pass through the formal commencement ceremony. As the winter graduation ceremony approaches, Smith undergraduate student Christopher Kobus runs a business to help students with the cap and gown process for their graduation.

On Dec. 4, 2007 the Smith School's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship will host Dingman Marketplace from 12 - 2 p.m. in Van Munching Halls third floor atrium. The event showcases eight student-run businesses and portfolio companies that will make their various products available for purchase to the general university population.