Startup Maryland Unveils Competition Participants for the “Pitch Across Maryland” Tour and Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
147 Startups Now Compete for Fan Favorite and Finalist Designations
Until Midday on Friday, October 31
Startup Maryland™ today unveiled the 147 video pitches from the participants in the 2014 Pitch Across Maryland competition. After posting the video pitches from Maryland entrepreneurs that were captured during the three-week Pitch Across Maryland bus tour, Startup Maryland is proud to announce that the two Video Pitch Competitions are now underway.
The following link takes you to the Startup Maryland YouTube Channel where participant videos can be found in Playlists based on the location/tour stop at which companies pitched:
https://www.youtube.com/user/StartupMaryland/playlists?sort=dd&view=1
“What a month we had making the tour around Maryland for the third Pitch Across Maryland tour,” state Michael Binko, founder | president of Startup Maryland. “The diversity of industries and innovations was once again impressive and inspiring. We now begin the two separate competitions that define the next stage of the Pitch Across Maryland. The first competition is something fun we refer to as the Fan Favorite and the second competition will reveal our Great 8 Finalists.”
To be crowned Fan Favorites, participant companies need to get the word out about their video and let family, friends, supporters and fans know that their video is now available for viewing and liking. The viewing/voting will continue until 12:00pm (noon) ET on Friday, October 31, 2014. At that time the three Pitch Across Maryland companies with the most tallied view/likes will be declared the Fan Favorites for 2014.
During the same period through noon on October 31 an expert panel of investors (angel/VC) and successful entrepreneurs will review the 2014 pitches and select eight (8) companies as the Great 8 Finalists for 2014. The Fan Favorites and Great 8 Finalists will be announced together with the Great 8 Finalists receiving invitations to the annual TEDCO Entrepreneur Expo held on November 12.
At the Entrepreneur Expo, the Great 8 Finalists will be giving the opportunity to present a more comprehensive “pitch” of their venture and opportunity. Building on the 2-4 minute Pitch Across Maryland video, these pitches will be longer and afford the Finalists a chance to share more detail about their opportunity.
“Finalists will present their business plans to the full community of conference attendees and another panel of investor/entrepreneur experts who will then select and announce thePitch Across Maryland Winner and a Runner-up live at the Expo,” added Binko.
The Winner and Runner-up are then automatically catapulted into the second round of judging for the DBED InvestMaryland Challenge – pitch competition where four startups will receive $100,000 grant awards in four innovation/industry categories.
Additionally, members of the media are being directed to all Video Playlists to learn more about the innovations and entrepreneurs building great companies in Maryland and across the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
About Startup Maryland:
Startup Maryland (www.startupmd.org) is a regions initiative launched out of the Startup America Partnership (now UPGlobal, www.up.co). Driven from within the community and led by entrepreneurs … for entrepreneurs, Startup Maryland strives to remain nimble and inclusive. Startup Maryland works to connect innovation communities and rallies entrepreneurs, supporters and other innovation stakeholders around four main initiatives: Connection, Celebration, Coaching, and Capital while also bringing together entrepreneurs in a community of support to drive greater economic outcomes.
For more detailed information check out www.startupmaryland.org or contact Startup Maryland founder Michael Binko at: mbinko@kloudtrack.com.
