MBA alum and former Dingman Scholar Matt Fleischer put passion into promise to create a successful beer company Zoey Rawlins, founder of Shop DC and former Dingman Scholar, launched her business by following trends in the marketplace Run by students, The Smith Store offers promotional branded apparel, accessories and gifts The Dingman Center supports entrepreneurs throughout the Washington D.C. Metro Area and beyond The Dingman Center is located at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland

About BB&T Invitational

The BB&T Business Invitational will be held in advance of the Cupid’s Cup Business Competition from 2:00-3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11th. There will be a BB&T “marketplace” to showcase all of the businesses being incubated by the Dingman Center. The BB&T Business Invitational and the Cupid’s Cup Business Competition are open to University of Maryland students and staff, as well as members of the regional business community.

About Cupid's Cup

What is Cupid's Cup? Cupid's Cup is an annual business competition showcasing young entrepreneurs from the University of Maryland. This competition is made possible by one of UMD's most successful entrepreneurs, Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour, whose generous donation of $22,500 is awarded each year to the 1st and 2nd place winning companies. Winners of the 1st Annual Cupid's Cup were North Star Games founded by two former Smith MBA students and past Dingman Scholars.

How the competition got its name
The competition got its name from one of Kevin Plank's early entrepreneurial ventures, a rose sale business called Cupid's Valentine that sold roses to University students on Valentine's Day. This small business earned him over $20,000 during his four years at UMD and helped fund his ultimate entrepreneurial venture, Under Armour. Cupid's Cup highlights early stage entrepreneurs in and around the University of Maryland campus in hopes to find and grow the next Under Armour.

Who can enter?
Eligible contestants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at the University of Maryland. Alumni of the University of Maryland, graduating with an undergraduate or graduate degree between May 2004 and December 2007 are also eligible for the competition.

All entrants must have an operating company that has generated at least $5,000 in revenue prior to the date of entry. Companies that have generated more than $500,000 in revenue are not eligible to compete in Cupid's Cup.

Interested in attending? Please register here!