Cupid's arrow may have gotten you, now go for his Cup!

1st Annual Competition - May 19th 2006
Cupid's Cup Business Competition - Finals Round May 19th

General Admission
1524 Van Munching Hall - Frank Auditorium
Guest Speaker: Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour and UMD alum

Competition Agenda May 19th:

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Finalists business pitch and presentation/questions from the audience and judges

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Guest Speaker Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour and UMD alumni, to talk about his entrepreneurial ventures

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Reception and Winner announcement with presentation of Cupid's Cup

Mark your calendars to attend this exciting competition and get a chance to hear Kevin Plank speak live about how his entrepreneurial ventures in college became what Under Armour is today!

North Star Games Wins Cupid's Cup

Under Armour's Kevin Plank awards board-game maker $10K; talks about entrepreneurship

On May 19, 2006 the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the first Cupid's Cup business competition for student-run startups at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Under Armour Chief Executive Kevin Plank, a 1996 Smith graduate, put up the $10,000 prize and helped pick the winner of this year's competition — North Star Games (www.northstargames.com).The board game company, founded by 2004 MBA graduates Dominic Crapuchettes and Satish Pillalamarri, incubated in the Dingman Center and has grown to sell thousands of copies of award-winning original games “Cluzzle” and “Wits and Wagers.” The duo hopes to have the next blockbuster board game. The $10,000 prize will help the company add a card game called “Secret Signs” to its product line.

“This event has given us a significant amount of exposure and will help pique professional investors' interest in our company,” Crapuchettes said.

For the complete story click here!

2006 Finalists - The Final 5

Geocentric is a specialty software and services company dedicated to improving internet mapping and local search by enabling Destination Marketing Organizations, such as business improvement districts and tourism destinations, to self-manage and self-publish high-quality interactive maps and location driven content within their existing websites.  Geocentric's award-winning technology is currently showcased on Downtown Bethesda, an interactive guide to Bethesda dining and shopping.

Hook & Ladder Brewing Company is an award winning microbrewery (Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival, 2001) founded by a firefighter from Bethesda, MD. Hook & Ladder produces two beers for your enjoyment: Grassfire Wheat, an American style wheat beer with a zesty wheat malt flavor that is crisp and refreshing and Backdraft Brown, a medium bodied brown ale with a pronounced roasted flavor and light hop finish. CEO and President Matt Fleischer, is a former Dingman Scholar and earned his MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

The company was founded by two MBA graduates from the University of Maryland in 2004 in order to bring innovation back into a stagnant party game market. Contrary to current trends, North Star Games is taking a long term approach by focusing on games that are fun, innovative, and can be enjoyed time and time again. The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship has been very supportive of North Star Games since its inception in the summer of 2003 where it was incubated within the center.

Dayna Designs is a wholesale jewelry design and manufacturing company which markets genuine gemstones and sterling silver pieces. Dayna pieces are produced by the women of Make Piece, a non-profit in the DC area which provides job training and jewelry making techniques to unemployed and underemployed women and pays a living wage. The company, led by Dana Lande, has two divisions: Dayna, a designer line found at www.daynadesigns.com; and Dayna U, a collegiate line found at www.daynau.com.  Dana graduated from the MBA program at the Smith School of Business.

Founded by two childhood friends, Crooked Monkey is fast becoming the clothing line for the college student. Launched in May of '05 at the University of Maryland, Crooked Monkey's hilarious slogan tees are expanding to college towns across the county. Crooked Monkey maintains an online store and distributes wholesale to over 30 retail locations.  Check out the new craze at www.crookedmonkey.com.