US Northeast

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship

Vivian C. Armor

History

The Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship was established at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) in spring 2000 through a $1 million gift from the Alex. Brown Foundation.  Since its creation, UMBC has worked closely with faculty and the Baltimore business community with one vision in mind, to create one of the leading university centers for entrepreneurism in the country for universities its size. UMBC’s entrepreneurial spirit, dynamic and diverse academic environment, commitment to excellence in research and education and experience in economic development provide a strong platform for creating and supporting entrepreneurism in the region.

Philosophy

UMBC believes that entrepreneurship is the ability of an individual to identify a goal, provide the leadership, and mobilize the assets necessary to reach that goal.  As such, individuals taking the risk to push the envelope in science and technology, break new ground in the creative arts or craft new solutions to society’s problems are all entrepreneurs. At UMBC, we believe in entrepreneurship.  It is our mission to infuse the university with the thinking and attitude, activities and ideas that will inspire entrepreneurial accomplishment in all its forms.

Programs/Initiatives

The Center develops and delivers innovative educational programs and services to support the creation of entrepreneurism in the region. Programs are available to students, faculty, graduates and professionals in the business community.  Initiatives include:

Ø      Over 40 credit and noncredit classes for students

Ø      Executive training

o        ACTiVATE – a customized program that introduces highly driven mid –career women to the concepts of entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.

Ø       Faculty Development Institute  - an intensive 2 week program to prepare faculty to better understand and teach entrepreneurship.  It is designed to equip faculty to pursue their own entrepreneurial interests as well as add a new understanding/creativity to their course development. 

Ø      Faculty Fellows -  campus champions and respected members of the university community who are charged with leading the institution in its entrepreneurship initiatives.

Ø      The IdeaLab provides start-up entrepreneurs with 24-hour access to entrepreneurial resources (databases, business software, advisors from the professional service community, etc.). The Idea Lab is available for use by UMBC students, faculty and staff, as well as the entrepreneurial tenants of the techcenter@UMBC and bwtech@UMBC.

Ø      The Entrepreneurship Speaker Series provides a platform for successful entrepreneurs to candidly share their experiences and insights with UMBC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the business community. The series is offered 6 times per year.

Ø      The Entrepreneur Internship Program provides students with a firsthand learning experience in entrepreneurship through a semester long internship.  Students earn 3 credits and a competitive stipend.

Ø      CEO Chats give small groups of students an opportunity to meet and talk with CEO Entrepreneurs and engages them in an in-depth discussion on topics of entrepreneurial interest.

Ø      Techpreneur@UMBC encourages students with entrepreneurial potential to remain in the Baltimore area after graduation.  The program exposes top technology and entrepreneurship students from UMBC to the business opportunities and resources available to them in the surrounding area.

Ø      Business Plan Competitions provide an opportunity for full time students to prepare and present their business plans to panels of experienced venture capitalists and business leaders.

Ø      CEO Club is a student club focused on educating, supporting and inspiring students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation.

For More Information Contact:

Ms. Vivian Armor

Director

Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship

UMBC

1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21250

410-455-5740

armor@umbc.edu

http://www.umbc.edu/entrepreneurship