Session will feature leaders from Pillar Innovations, Zelaris Group and The LaunchPort, moderated by Maryland Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ricardo Benn
COLUMBIA, Md., (August 27, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announces the “Future of Advanced Manufacturing” session at the upcoming 2026 Entrepreneur Expo taking place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor on October 27, 2026.
The session will bring together Ed Gibson, director of emerging technology at Pillar Innovations; Fay Zein, founder and chief executive officer of Zelaris Group; and Bob Storey, managing partner of The LaunchPort, a Baltimore accelerator for early-stage medical device companies moving into regulatory approval and commercial production, and managing director of The MVR Company — for a conversation moderated by Ricardo Benn, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce.
Maryland has long been strong at invention and less consistent at what comes next. Turning validated technology into a manufactured product requires facilities, supply chains, capital and skilled workers, and companies that cannot find those things in State often build elsewhere. This session examines where Maryland has momentum in advanced manufacturing, where the gaps remain, and what it will take to keep more companies producing here.
“Maryland has never been short on innovative technology. But now, more than ever, we need to expand our capacity to manufacture that technology,” said Benn. “The companies on this panel are helping us meet that need. Moving forward, the conversation should focus on how we can scale that capacity and who else we should bring to the table.”
Panelists will discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping production, what founders should understand about manufacturing readiness before they need it, and how companies can access the facilities, partners and workforce required to scale. The discussion will also address the practical sequencing question founders face: when to invest in manufacturing capability, and what it costs to wait.
The session arrives at a moment of significant manufacturing investment in the State. Maryland ranks fifth nationally in gross value added per worker in manufacturing, according to the Maryland Department of Commerce. Recent commitments have deepened that base: AstraZeneca invested $2 billion to expand manufacturing in Maryland, supporting 2,600 jobs in Frederick and Gaithersburg, and Samsung Biologics opened the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility in Rockville, retaining more than 500 local jobs. The Maryland-D.C. region is home to more than 3,300 manufacturing companies generating over 170,000 jobs.
The panel also reflects TEDCO’s own investment in manufacturing capacity. The LaunchPort received awards under TEDCO’s Equitech Growth Fund, which supports infrastructure and workforce development initiatives designed to accelerate growth in Maryland’s emerging and advanced industries.
TEDCO’s award-winning Entrepreneur Expo shines a spotlight on regional entrepreneurship. Attracting more than 1,170 attendees, the event collects some of the region’s top entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, venture capital investors, legislators and resources for a day of celebration. This year, the event will take place in Baltimore, one of the top 20 best cities for entrepreneurs, offering a full day of interactive workshops, insightful discussions and inspiring connections
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the region’s top experts, including keynote guests Anirban Basu, Tamla Olivier and TEDCO’s very own Troy LeMaile-Stovall; secure your spot at this impactful event now at tedcomdexpo.com/event/2026/register.