Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence, Inc.

The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence, established by TEDCO, harnesses the distinctive expertise of Maryland's four Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. We are forging an alliance of diverse founders and CEOs in collaboration with various colleges, universities, economic development centers, and counties.

About

TEDCO’s Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence was created to address barriers to success. According to the most recent U.S. Census, 63.2% of Maryland’s civilian labor force is female.  

Research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research from 2018 shows Maryland ranks first as the best state for women based on employment and earnings. The 2021 Maryland Small Business Economic Profile found that a total of 237,668 businesses in Maryland are owned by women, yet women continue to lag behind men in the accessibility of leadership roles throughout the country.

While they lead the way in business formation, only 3% of Black women business owners are running mature businesses. Research cites three key reasons—the types of businesses, limited access to capital, and the uneven distribution of access to key resources needed for entrepreneurship success—as barriers to entry and catching up of disadvantaged groups.

Our program builds on promising statistics for Maryland’s inclusive economy: at 52%, Maryland has the highest rate per capita of women business ownership in the United States. 

The condensed program is a week-long in-person workshop designed to provide women entrepreneurs with the information and tools to arm themselves for success. These sessions will take place in different locations—see below for more information on exact dates and locations.

BRIDGE Program

The BRIDGE Program (Building Resources for Investment, Development, and Growth in Entrepreneurship) is a cohort-based initiative designed to support Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) entrepreneurs by equipping them with the technical knowledge, resources, and personalized guidance necessary to access both debt and equity capital. The program addresses critical gaps in financial literacy, strategic planning, and investor readiness through a structured curriculum that combines expert-led instruction with individualized mentoring, enabling participants to build sustainable and scalable businesses.

The eight-week program is delivered in a hybrid format, with in-person sessions and the option to join virtually via Zoom. Program components include weekly expert-led workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and applied learning activities that reinforce key concepts and support real-world implementation.

Each week includes:

• Workshops (3 hours per week): Expert-led sessions focused on core business and capital-readiness topics (e.g., financial statement analysis led by a financial advisor).
• One-on-One Mentoring (1–2 hours per week): Personalized support from subject-matter experts to refine financial models, pitch decks, and capital strategies.
• Applied Assignments: Guided exercises that require participants to apply concepts, such as drafting loan applications, strengthening investor materials, or revising financial projections.

Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to complete the application form to be considered for participation in the BRIDGE Program. Selected applicants will be notified following the review process and provided with next steps regarding enrollment and program onboarding.

Applications are closed.

Board Members

• Teresa Payne-Nunn, Interim Executive Director
• Arti Santhanam, Chair
• Treava Hopkins-Laboy, Vice Chair
• Erica Anthony, Secretary
• Pamela Allison, Board Member
• Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO (Ex-Officio)
• Ann-Marie Waterman, Board Member 
• Allison Alexander​, Board Member
• Johnetta Boseman Hardy, Board Member
• Farrah Holder, Board Member