TEDCO on Wednesday announced the launch of its new Women Entrepreneur Leadership Programs, designed to build a coalition of diverse founders and CEOs to strategically navigate Maryland’s entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem.
In collaboration with Maryland’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), TEDCO’s new programs will focus on building a diverse community of women entrepreneurs and helping them grow their companies.
TEDCO’s Women Entrepreneur Leadership Program Webinar Learn from TEDCO’s latest program, the Women Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Executive Director Dr. Linda Singh, TEDCO Board Member and immediate former Chairman Myra Norton, and TEDCO CEO Troy Lemmel-Stovall as they discuss the program Huh.
The leadership program begins with a pilot program in Howard County at the Maryland Innovation Center (MIC). The Open Institute for Black Women Entrepreneur Excellence will convene a group of 25 women entrepreneurs whose goal is to develop a network of peer mentors and build a collaborative community.
HBCU will determine the needs of these entrepreneurs at the intersection of research, technology transfer and education. Maryland’s HBCUs include Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
To be eligible for the group, applicants must be a founder, co-founder, or CEO whose company is in a growth phase from a minimum pre-seed to a maximum pre-Series A. Watch the webinar to know more about it. visiting program
The new program builds on previous work by TEDCO as it works to support women and underrepresented entrepreneurs.
In 2016, TEDCO commissioned a study into the demographics of startups that were applying for funding and support from TEDCO, to attempt to identify ineligible entrepreneurs. As a result of that study, TEDCO launched the Minority Business Pre-Seed Fund, which eventually became the builder fund for startups run by entrepreneurs who demonstrate economic losses.
In 2019, TEDCO went further by convening its task force for women entrepreneurs. 12 thought leaders in the Maryland entrepreneurial ecosystem were tasked with identifying and implementing concrete actions to drive results for women entrepreneurs in the state. The task force ended with a recommendation to implement these programs in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the state.
