Building an alliance to enable promising, diverse, and disadvantaged women business leaders for a more equitable future.

Open Institute for Black Women Entrepreneur Excellence  •  Leading Women's Program

Women Entrepreneur Leadership Programs

TEDCO is leveraging the unique 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 – and other colleges, universities, economic development centers, and counties to build an alliance of diverse founders and CEOs to enable promising women business leaders to focus on unique challenges for female entrepreneurs and as they navigate Maryland’s entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem and raise the economic standards for all. As we work together with our collaborators, we are creating a business multiplier for all women entrepreneurs to create sustainable and repeatable growth for Maryland.

Open Institute for Black Women Entrepreneur Excellence (Howard County)

Leading Women's Program (Montgomery County)

Open Institute for Black Women Entrepreneur Excellence (Howard County Pilot Program)

About the Program

TEDCO, along with Maryland’s four HBCUs are creating a community of entrepreneurs to support each other and to provide a best-in-class entrepreneur leadership development program focused on building critical skills that foster resilience. We bring together entrepreneurial leaders in a cohort to develop a network of peer advisors and a community that seeks collaboration. TEDCO’s strategic partners at the Maryland HBCUs determine these entrepreneurs' needs at the intersection of research, tech transfer, and education. This program is designed for Howard County-based business owners, though entrepreneurs located outside of Howard County will be considered based on available slots.

10-Month Program Overview

This program will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual sessions, with one of each taking place every month. The in-person sessions will be held at the Maryland Innovation Center in Columbia, Maryland. All sessions will begin at 4:30pm. 

Program Sessions:

  • Pre-Requisites for Prep Session
  • Introductory and Preparation Session
  • Leadership and Communication Workshop (8 Sessions)
  • Real World Perspectives (7 Sessions)
  • What’s Your End Game (Development Plan) (4 Sessions)

Tentative Program Dates:

  • October 13 (In-Person), 27 (Virtual)
  • November 10 (In-Person), 17 (Virtual)
  • December 14 (In-Person), 21 (Virtual)
  • January 12 (In-Person), 26 (Virtual)
  • February 9 (In-Person), 23 (Virtual)
  • March 9 (In-Person), 23 (Virtual)
  • April 13 (In-Person), 27 (Virtual)
  • May 11 (In-Person), 25 (Virtual)
  • June 8 (In-Person), 22 (Virtual)
  • July 13 (In-Person), 27 (Virtual)

Requirements

Applicants must be a founder, co-founder, or CEO whose company is at a minimum of pre-seed to growth stage and a maximum of pre-series A.

If a participant accepts admittance into the program, the only cost a participant will incur is a $250.00 registration fee to cover a portion of the assessments highlighted in the prerequisite session. Participants can miss no more than two sessions to graduate from the course. If the participant completes the course, $200.00 of their fee will be returned to them. If a participant cancels after the cancellation date, they will forfeit their registration fee.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.  

Request for Applications

Apply Here

Questions? Any questions can be directed to the program staff at: OIBWE2@tedco.md

Leading Women's Program (Montgomery County Pilot Program)

About the Program

TEDCO is continuing to move the dial forward to support tech-based female founders, co-founders, and CEOs creating a community of entrepreneurs to support each other and provide a best-in-class entrepreneur leadership development program focused on building critical skills that foster resilience. We bring together entrepreneurial leaders in a cohort to develop a network of peer advisors and a community that seeks collaboration. TEDCO leverages strategic partners across Maryland to determine these entrepreneurs' needs at the intersection of research, tech transfer, and education. This program is designed for Montgomery County-based business owners, though entrepreneurs located outside of Montgomery County will be considered based on available slots.​​​​​​​

10-Month Program Overview

This program will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual sessions, with one of each taking place every month. The in-person sessions will be held at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland. All sessions will begin at 4:00 pm. 

Program Sessions:

  • Pre-Requisites for Prep Session
  • Introductory and Preparation Session
  • Leadership and Communication Workshop (8 Sessions)
  • Real World Perspectives (7 Sessions)
  • What’s Your End Game (Development Plan) (4 Sessions)

Tentative Program Dates:

  • October 11 (In-Person), 25 (Virtual)
  • November 8 (In-Person), 15 (Virtual)
  • December 13 (In-Person), 20 (Virtual)
  • January 10 (In-Person), 24 (Virtual)
  • February 7 (In-Person), 21 (Virtual)
  • March 7 (In-Person), 21 (Virtual)
  • April 11 (In-Person), 25 (Virtual)
  • May 9 (In-Person), 23 (Virtual)
  • June 13 (In-Person), 27 (Virtual)
  • July 11 (In-Person), 25 (Virtual)

Requirements

Applicants must be a founder, co-founder, or CEO whose company is at a minimum of pre-seed to growth stage and a maximum of pre-series A.

If a participant accepts admittance into the program, the only cost a participant will incur is a $250.00 registration fee to cover a portion of the assessments highlighted in the prerequisite session. Participants can miss no more than two sessions to graduate from the course. If the participant completes the course, $200.00 of their fee will be returned to them. If a participant cancels after the cancellation date, they will forfeit their registration fee.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.  

Request for Applications

Apply Here

Questions? Any questions can be directed to the program staff at: LWP@tedco.md

Women Entrepreneur Leadership Programs Infographic