Startup Maryland Announces 8 Finalists for
"Pitch Across Maryland" Competition
Separate "Fan Favorite" Voting Continues Until Nov. 12
Everywhere, Md. - Startup Maryland, today announced the 8 Finalist for the Pitch Across Maryland competition. After posting the 168 video pitches from Maryland entrepreneurs that were captured during the three-week Pitch Across Maryland bus tour, Startup Maryland is proud to reveal the Eight (8) Finalists that were selected by a panel of entrepreneur and investor experts.
The following link takes you to a Playlist with the 8 Finalists:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBN03TRv8YYfeHdh_p9eiKVx-VG5qIK3o
The companies are also listed below (in no particular order):
These 8 Finalists are now invited to present their "pitch" again at the 2012 Entrepreneur Expo on November 13, 2013. As a key Tour Partner for the Pitch Across Maryland, TEDCO has reserved the final "Closing Mayhem" session of the Entrepreneur Expo for the Finalists to present their business plans to the full community of conference attendees and another panel of investor/entrepreneur experts.
This second panel will then select and announce a Pitch Across Maryland Winner and a Runner-up at the Expo.
Separately, the online Fan Favorite competition is still ongoing. This Fan Favorite portion of the competition is a fun activity that Startup Maryland added to the pitch competition to keep the awareness and celebration aspects of the tour at a high level. Essentially, all 168 Pitch Across Maryland videos are posted up on the Startup Maryland YouTube site in a Gallery of Playlist broken down by Tour Stop locations.
So, startups and those who love them can show their support by "voting" for the best pitch. Forget the ballot box and hanging-chads, this is the Age of Social Media so the way to "Get Out the Vote" is to activate personal networks. Mobilize FaceBook, Twitter accounts and send a notice to your friends, family, peers with the following link or the link of the specific entrepreneur you support:
http://www.youtube.com/user/StartupMaryland/videos?flow=grid&view=1
Once logged in to this main YouTube Video Playlist Gallery, viewers can navigate through the playlists to find individual videos. Supporters cast their vote by simply viewing the videos. As a reminder, this online viewing and voting is simply meant to be a fun activity to produce a Fan Favorite. More information about the Tour and the Video Playlist can be found at:
http://startupmd.org/pitch-across-maryland/
"These videos are a testament to the strength, dedication and diversity of Maryland's entrepreneurial community," says Startup Maryland Co-Chair Mike Binko. "When we launched the Pitch Across Maryland tour we thought we might have 40-50 entrepreneurs join us on the Tour Bus and pitch, so 168 is phenomenal. Including all the rallies and events we held more than 200 startups actually participated in the tour."
The entrepreneur who has received the most "view-votes" by 10:00 am ET November 12, 2012 will be declared the Pitch Across Maryland Fan Favorite. The Fan Favorite is invited to present their pitch at the Maryland Entrepreneur Awards Gala on November 14, 2012 @ Howard Community College. Details on this event can be found here:
http://www.hceda.org/eventDetail.aspx?id=486
Additionally, members of the media are being directed to all Video Playlist to learn more about the innovations and entrepreneurs building great companies in Maryland and across the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
"The Pitch Across Maryland tour, which ran from September 11 - 28, 2012, held celebration and promotional rallies at 25 stops throughout the state of Maryland," added Julie Lenzer Kirk, Startup Maryland Co-Chair. "Culminating in the Last Stop, First Step party and celebration event at Merriweather Post Pavilion on September 28th this Tour has rightly placed the spotlight on the vitality in Maryland's innovation economy."
About Startup Maryland
Startup Maryland (http://startupmaryland.org) is a regional initiative launched out of the Startup America Partnership (www.S.co). It is a state-wide initiative FOR entrepreneurs BY entrepreneurs to bring entrepreneurial resources together, increase access to resources / capital / deal flow and boost awareness, while also bringing together entrepreneurs in a community of support to drive greater economic outcomes.
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Throughout the year, we will be introducing you to the winners of this year’s Alumni Association Scholarships, which are supported by alumni gifts. Today, we meet information systems major Savita Moses ’13.
Name: Savita Moses ’13
Major: Information Systems
Scholarship: Alumni Association Scholarship
Q: Why did you decide to come to UMBC?
A: I was a part of a Pre-College Program offered by University of Maryland, College Park and we went on many college tours throughout the area. UMBC was one of the places we visited and toured. I fell in love with the campus as soon as I stepped onto it; I felt right at home. I had some friends that went here, so I began researching the university and talking to them about it. It seemed like everything I wanted in a college and so I made the decision to come here. I haven’t regretted my decision at all. My experience at UMBC has been outstanding.
Q: What has been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
A: I have had numerous opportunities to develop and practice my leadership skills through extracurricular activities, through course team-based projects, and through internships that I have received via UMBC. Through various activities that I have participated in within those aspects, I have made the discovery of the outgoing, effective, and engaging leader I can be.
Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind (and why).
A: Being heavily involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) during the first few years of my college experience was eye-opening. I got the first-hand opportunity to see and be a part of the impact that students can have on their campus. UMBC truly encourages civic engagement and encourages students to believe that they can make a difference. Realizing this dramatically increased my respect and involvement at UMBC.
Q: What do you hope to do after graduation, and why?
A: I hope to complete my Master’s degree in Information Systems and work full time for a well known company/agency. I want to pursue a Master’s degree because it fits my goal of being a life-long learner. I desire to build my knowledge and be the best person I can be. Pursuing a Master’s degree would help me do just that. I want to work for a well known company so that I can positively contribute to the society I live in. I’d love to use my experiences and my knowledge for the betterment of society and I’d love the opportunity to continue my growth and development in the
company that I work for.
Q: What would you say to the alumni who contributed to your scholarship?
A: I want to say THANK YOU!!!! Your financial contributions have not gone unnoticed. Paying for college can be and has been difficult, especially in the current state of the economy. I am extremely, extremely grateful for your assistance in furthering my education at this wonderful university. Again, THANK YOU! I would hug the contributors if I could. 
Q: Besides the Alumni Association scholarship, do you currently receive any other scholarships?
A: I receive a $200 scholarship every semester from the state of Maryland for
a Senatorial Scholarship.
Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
A: My parents and I work extremely hard to be able to pay my college tuition. To receive such scholarship support was alleviating and a wonderful feeling. Having supporters like you encourage students like myself to keep going and to keep learning.
Throughout the year, we will be introducing you to the winners of this year’s Alumni Association Scholarships, which are supported by alumni gifts. Today, we meet information systems major Savita Moses ’13.
Name: Savita Moses ’13
Major: Information Systems
Scholarship: Alumni Association Scholarship
Q: Why did you decide to come to UMBC?
A: I was a part of a Pre-College Program offered by University of Maryland, College Park and we went on many college tours throughout the area. UMBC was one of the places we visited and toured. I fell in love with the campus as soon as I stepped onto it; I felt right at home. I had some friends that went here, so I began researching the university and talking to them about it. It seemed like everything I wanted in a college and so I made the decision to come here. I haven’t regretted my decision at all. My experience at UMBC has been outstanding.
Q: What has been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
A: I have had numerous opportunities to develop and practice my leadership skills through extracurricular activities, through course team-based projects, and through internships that I have received via UMBC. Through various activities that I have participated in within those aspects, I have made the discovery of the outgoing, effective, and engaging leader I can be.
Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind (and why).
A: Being heavily involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) during the first few years of my college experience was eye-opening. I got the first-hand opportunity to see and be a part of the impact that students can have on their campus. UMBC truly encourages civic engagement and encourages students to believe that they can make a difference. Realizing this dramatically increased my respect and involvement at UMBC.
Q: What do you hope to do after graduation, and why?
A: I hope to complete my Master’s degree in Information Systems and work full time for a well known company/agency. I want to pursue a Master’s degree because it fits my goal of being a life-long learner. I desire to build my knowledge and be the best person I can be. Pursuing a Master’s degree would help me do just that. I want to work for a well known company so that I can positively contribute to the society I live in. I’d love to use my experiences and my knowledge for the betterment of society and I’d love the opportunity to continue my growth and development in the
company that I work for.
Q: What would you say to the alumni who contributed to your scholarship?
A: I want to say THANK YOU!!!! Your financial contributions have not gone unnoticed. Paying for college can be and has been difficult, especially in the current state of the economy. I am extremely, extremely grateful for your assistance in furthering my education at this wonderful university. Again, THANK YOU! I would hug the contributors if I could. 
Q: Besides the Alumni Association scholarship, do you currently receive any other scholarships?
A: I receive a $200 scholarship every semester from the state of Maryland for
a Senatorial Scholarship.
Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
A: My parents and I work extremely hard to be able to pay my college tuition. To receive such scholarship support was alleviating and a wonderful feeling. Having supporters like you encourage students like myself to keep going and to keep learning.