TEDCO’S Entrepreneur Expo To Host “Unlocking Capital: Lending & Investment Strategies For Business Growth” Panel

Session will feature leaders from Fulton Bank, Bank of America, TCP Venture Capital and FSC First, moderated by TEDCO board member Thomas Bundy III

COLUMBIA, Md., (September 3, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announces the “Unlocking Capital: Lending & Investment Strategies for Business Growth” session at the upcoming 2026 Entrepreneur Expo taking place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor on October 27, 2026.

The session will bring together Joe Durham, market president for Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. at Fulton Bank, a Mid-Atlantic community bank serving more than 200 financial centers across five states; Maryam Tayeri, senior vice president and business banking market executive for the Baltimore metro market at Bank of America; Chris College, managing partner of TCP Venture Capital, a Baltimore-based early-stage technology investment firm; and Dawn Medley, president and chief executive officer of FSC First, a Largo-based community development financial institution that has lent more than $109 million to Prince George’s County businesses — for a conversation moderated by Thomas Bundy III, a member of TEDCO’s board of directors and a member of Zealous Advocates, a Baltimore litigation firm.

Access to capital does not have to mean a one-size-fits-all approach. This session brings together executive leaders from leading banks and venture capital firms to break down the full spectrum of funding options available to growing businesses, from traditional lending to equity investment.

“Founders often assume there is one path to capital, and that path runs through an equity round,” said Bundy. “In practice, the companies that grow well tend to be the ones that understand the full range of options and know which instrument fits the moment they are in. That is what this panel is built to make clear.”

Panelists will explore how entrepreneurs can identify, secure and strategically leverage capital to scale their ventures, whether they are looking to preserve ownership or bring on strategic investors. Attendees will learn what banks and investors evaluate before they commit, how to position a business competitively across different sources, and how to turn funding into long-term growth.

The conversation arrives as venture capital grows more concentrated and harder for most founders to reach. U.S. startups raised more than $400 billion in the first half of 2026, already surpassing all of 2025, but megadeals of $100 million or more captured 87.5% of the funding deployed, and AI companies accounted for 86% of all venture dollars. For companies outside that narrow band, understanding the alternatives matters. Building a company in Baltimore also costs roughly 60% less than in San Francisco and 44% less than in New York City, economics that extend a founder’s runway well before a term sheet enters the picture.

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.