Maryland’s thriving life sciences and tech ecosystem, fueled by collaboration, talent, and strategic support, is emerging as a launchpad for startups and innovation.
Maryland continues to cement itself as one of the most dynamic regions for entrepreneurship in life sciences, biotechnology, and technology. With a growing talent pool, strong research institutions, and an ecosystem that values collaboration, the state offers more than just space for new companies, it creates fertile ground for them to flourish.
A Community Built for Entrepreneurs
For many founders, the challenge of building a company isn’t just raising capital, it’s finding the right community. Chris Frew, Founder of BioBuzz Networks, emphasized this point in a conversation with Brian Jamieson, Founder and CEO of Diagnostic Biochips, a Maryland-based biosensor platform company. Both startups have received grants funded by TEDCO, highlighting how local support can help early-stage companies grow and thrive.
“Ecosystems are important, especially for entrepreneurs,” Frew says.
Watch the moment between Chris Frew & Brian Jamieson here:
Maryland’s network of researchers, founders, investors, and support organizations provides entrepreneurs with the guidance and connections they need to turn ideas into viable businesses.
“We don’t have funding like Silicon Valley or Boston, but what we do have is tremendous resources and tremendous networks,” says Bret Scheiber, Senior Vice President at Fulton Bank. “An event like this [TEDCO Expo] helps companies create the network they’ll rely on even when things are going well.”
A State That Supports Growth
Beyond connections, Maryland offers practical advantages that make starting a business attractive.
“Maryland is a great place to do business,” Jamieson says. “Economically, Maryland is booming, and it’s a great place to start a company. I would encourage people to look at Maryland as a great place to gain employees, build a customer base, and be part of a lively biotech ecosystem.”
This combination of opportunity, talent, and collaboration helps companies grow in a supportive environment, even when they’re starting with just an idea on a napkin. Scheiber explains how the state’s resources come together to support entrepreneurs.
“[You can take a company idea and find] resources through the Maryland Department of Commerce, Prince George’s County Economic Development, an early-stage funder like Conscious Venture Partners, or an existing founder, and then come back to entities like Fulton Bank to create a pathway of support just because of the people in that room,” he says.
Hear more from Bret Scheiber in this video:
Catalyzing Early-Stage Innovation
While Maryland’s ecosystem provides connections, talent, and opportunity, early-stage capital is often the catalyst that allows ideas to take flight. TEDCO has emerged as a critical partner, offering flexible seed funding and validation at key moments.
“TEDCO partnerships are absolutely essential. They are typically early-stage dollars, and the state is much better off because TEDCO exists to stimulate and catalyze the innovation ecosystem,” Scheiber says.
By providing early-stage support in a collaborative environment, TEDCO complements Maryland’s intrinsic advantages, making the state not just a place to start a company, but a place where businesses can grow and thrive.
Maryland: Where Innovation Meets Opportunity
For founders in life sciences, technology, and neuroscience, Maryland offers more than resources, it offers a network, a supportive community, and a launchpad for sustainable growth. As Jamieson and Scheiber’s experiences show, the combination of local talent, collaborative spirit, and strategic early-stage support creates a unique environment where entrepreneurial visions can become reality.
For founders and innovators looking to connect, learn, and grow in Maryland’s thriving ecosystem, the 2026 TEDCO Expo is the place to be. Register for the 2026 TEDCO Expo here.