Third Concept Capital Pitch Competition will allow eligible companies to compete for $25,000 in funding
COLUMBIA, Md., (June 24, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announces the third annual Concept Capital Pitch Competition occurring at the upcoming 2026 Entrepreneur Expo. The impactful event is set to take place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor on October 27, 2026.
“Following two years of innovative participants, this year’s competition will continue the tradition of embracing ambition and creativity,” said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO, TEDCO. “These founders are committed to innovation, taking on everyday challenges to create solutions with the potential to transform sectors.”
Moderated by Justin Ferguson, TEDCO’s innovation manager, Venture Development, up to 15 previous Concept Capital recipients will have the opportunity to receive $25,000 to advance their business ventures and go into TEDCO history as one of the competition winners, alongside Plainr and BioEvanesce. Judging the competition will be a panel of experts across the business ecosystem, including:
• Allison Alexander, The Marathon Fund
• Maurice Boissiere, DataTribe
• Bill Collier, Noblis
• Lisa Friedlander, NEXT
• Jess Grant, High Street Equity
• Michael Ravenscroft, University Systems of Maryland Momentum Fund
• Arti Santhanam, Applied Neurons
“We are excited to see the Entrepreneur Expo do what it does best – open doors, create new opportunities and invite connections for business owners,” said Tammi Thomas, president, TEDCO. “This pitch competition is just one of the many ways the event showcases the innovative entrepreneurs across the state, allowing startups to receive real-time feedback that can help foster further growth.”
TEDCO’s award-winning Entrepreneur Expo was established to spotlight entrepreneurship in the region by bringing together Maryland’s various resources for a day of celebration. Last year, the event attracted more than 1,170 attendees, including some of the region’s top entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, venture capital investors and legislators. This year’s Expo will take place in Baltimore—one of the top 20 best cities for entrepreneurs—promising a full day of interactive workshops, insightful discussions and dynamic pitches from emerging companies. Plus, with informative keynote sessions featuring Anirban Basu, Tamala Olivier and TEDCO’s very own LeMaile-Stovall, the event will be one you won’t want to miss.
Help us make 2026 the best Expo yet by securing your spot as a sponsor, exhibitor or attendee; we can’t wait to see you there.