Seed and Early Stage Funding
Maryland Venture Fund
from the State of Maryland
- A leader in seed and early stage investing with nearly two decades of experience and numerous successful investments.
- The fund invests in highly innovative technology companies from industry sectors including software, communications, cybersecurity, and life sciences in the areas of healthcare IT, medical devices, and diagnostics.
- For more information call (410) 767-6383.
Seed Investment Fund
from the Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation
- Launched on November 1, 2016, the fund replaced the Maryland Life Science Investment Fund, Technology Commercialization Fund, and Cybersecurity Investment Fund.
- Support Maryland companies in their effort to develop and commercialize new technology-based products.
- To be eligible, companies must be based in Maryland and generally have less than 20 employees, 5 years in existence, and $1 million in qualified financing.
- Companies must be developing an innovative, technology-based product that addresses a critical need in a growing market.
- There is strong potential for the company to grow and have an economic impact on Maryland.
- For more information contact Ron Kaese at (410) 715-4170 or rkaese@tedco.md
Minority Pre-Seed Fund
from the Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation
- Addresses the needs of minority entrepreneurs in Maryland, who often lack access to the earliest stage of start-up capital known as the Friends and Family round.
- The fund will make investments up to $40,000 to help minority entrepreneurs take a technology -based idea or concept that represents a viable business opportunity and develop it into a product that can be tested with potential users.
- Investments are made in the form of a five-year, convertible note to the company.
- For more information contact Mac Conwell at (410) 715-4180 or mconwell@tedco.md
- Maryland-based angel investment group that provides funding to technology-driven companies in the Mid-Atlantic region addressing significant market opportunity.
- Investments range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 and the group will often syndicate with other angel groups and VC’s for deals up to $2,000,000.
Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program
from the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
- Provides funding for university-based research projects that help companies develop new technology products.
- For more information call (301) 405-3891
Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund
from the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
- Invests $250,000 annually into startup companies with innovative technologies that may help improve air and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay area.
- For more information call (301) 314-9770 or email adawood@umd.edu.
Other Resources
- Maryland Entrepreneur Resource List from TEDCO
- Provides a list of entrepreneurs who are available to mentor or provide leadership to early stage companies.
- Use include innovators who need an entrepreneur to commercialize their technolgy, entreprenuers looking for their next start-up opportunity, or just the change to network.
- List of Regional Venture Capital Firms
- Gust
- Funding platform providing entrepreneurs the tools to manage the startup process from pitch to exit.
- Mid-Atlantic Venture Association