September 2007

The Latest News

Smith School of Business Among Nation's 25 Best for Entrepreneurship says Fortune Small Business! http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fsb/0708/gallery.bestcolleges_mbas.fsb/19.html

Dingman Center students and staff visit China! In the wake of several U.S. recalls involving products made in China, twelve Dingman students, staff, and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence are traveling in China through Sept. 11, 2007 to get an up-close look at manufacturing in that country. Thus far, the delegation has visited factories for Siemens, the global electronics and engineering company, Mary Kay cosmetics, and Ting Hsin International, China’s largest manufacturer of instant noodles, bottled water and biscuits. The Dingman trip, which includes stops in Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai, concludes in Beijing, where the delegation will attend the final round of the Smith School’s annual China Business Plan Competition.

Students, Get your pitches ready for the kick-off Pitch Dingman. Interested in Social Ventures? Come hear from 2nd year MBAs about their SV consulting experiences. Also, mark your calendars for the first Pitch Dingman $500 Competition, a talk by Roger Frock, first general manager and COO of FedEx, followed by the Dingman Center Open House! Also, come hear Mike Chasen, President and CEO of Blackboard. Check out the Dingman Center in print in the August issue of Washington SmartCEO. Want to help determine the fate of a Dingman Center portfolio company? Check out North Star Games' product at Target!

Venture Capitalists, are you working on your golf swing? Because the 15th Annual Entrepreneur Invitational Golf Tournament is scheduled for October 10th! Help support the Dingman Center and enjoy a round of golf with us. Check out the Dingman Center in print in the August issue of Washington SmartCEO. Want to help determine the fate of a Dingman Center portfolio company? Check out North Star Games' product at Target! Need to network? Attend the Greater Baltimore Technology Council's TechNite.

Entrepreneurs, Looking for Capital? Apply to our Capital Access Network. Also, mark your calendars for the Dingman Center Open House! Come learn about the tremendous resources available, network and enjoy some good food. Check out the Dingman Center in print in the August issue of Washington SmartCEO. Want to help determine the fate of a Dingman Center portfolio company? Check out North Star Games' product at Target! Need to network? Attend the Greater Baltimore Technology Council's TechNite. Also, be sure not to miss the many Dingman partner events like the National Association of Women MBA's Conference & Career Fair.

The Dingman Center is proud of its Mentor Program. Dingman Center staff and experienced mentors are available every Tuesday from 8 - 11 am to provide support and resources to help your company make a leap forward in its business. Appointment required. Contact Melissa Carrier for an appointment.

Other interesting links:

Our Fall 2007 Calendar is ready, mark your calendars!
Buy your Smith-Branded merchandise for departmental speakers and conferences at the Smith Store.

Upcoming Events

Pitch Dingman

Pitch Dingman launches its new season on September 14th at 11 am. Join us every Friday, no appointment necessary. Your next opportunity to win $500 at the Pitch Dingman Competition resumes on September 28th at 11 am in 3570 Van Munching Hall. Please note that registration is required for the Pitch Dingman Competition dates. For more information, e-mail PitchDingman@rhsmith.umd.edu.

Capital Access Network

In partnership with tech councils, incubators, and state-funded institutions, the Capital Access Network (CAN) enables entrepreneurs of start-up companies in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and Delaware to connect with active, accredited angel investors. The purpose of the Capital Access Network (CAN) is to provide open and efficient access to early-stage capital for entrepreneurs in the DC Metro area. To apply for mentorship sessions and potential exposure to capital, email Melissa Carrier. The first CAN Breakfast is September 26th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Mentor Day

The Mentor Program at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is an innovative consulting service for entrepreneurs and small-medium businesses that assists companies in identifying solutions to business problems with the support of experienced, senior management professionals. Office hours are every Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Contact Melissa Carrier for an appointment, to set up a session, or for more details. Additionally, consultative services will be available for select companies looking for longer-term support from mentors at $250/hour payable to the Dingman Center.

Social Ventures

The Social Ventures Program at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is an opportunity to consult for non-profit organizations from every industry including education, technology, healthcare, and micro enterprise. According to mutual interest and skills, students pair up with non-profits to complete necessary deliverables in a three-month time period. Deliverables can be marketing plans, cost-benefit analyses, board assessment, or a financial strategic plan. The kickoff meeting will be on September 17th from 11:45 am - 1 pm in VMH 3570. Contact Melissa Carrier for more information.

Dingman Center's Open House

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is opening its doors to all those interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and the Dingman Center’s resources. Did you know the Dingman Center can help launch a business idea into a successful venture? Did you know the Dingman Center has a Mentor Program to assist in every phase of development? Did you know there is a Smith E-Fund that makes investments from $500 - $30,000 in student developed business ideas? These are just a few of the offerings of the Dingman Center. Stop by and meet the full time staff of the Dingman Center, Dingman Scholars who have started and launched their very own businesses, and our exceptional Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. It will be held in 3570 VMH on Friday, September 28th from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Learn about our many programs and opportunities the center offers to undergrads, grads, and alumni alike. Come and enjoy good food, networking and a chance to win a $100 gift card!

For more information please contact Melissa Carrier.

Roger Frock, first General Manager and COO of FedEx

Interested in the trials and tribulations, the highs and the lows of running a Fortune 100 company? Come hear Roger Frock, a member of the founding group of FedEx and author of Changing How the World Does Business: Fedex's Incredible Journey to Success - The Inside Story speak on Friday, September 28th from 12 pm - 1 pm. Mr. Frock served as FedEx chief operating officer and president from 1971-1981 and has an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Currently, he is President of Annapolis, Md.-based supply chain management consulting firm Quest Management Inc. The rise of FedEx from a fledgling start-up with an innovative idea to a company with annual revenues of $30 billion is a model of entrepreneurial success against the odds. In this memoir, Mr. Frock describes how the leaders and employees of FedEx pulled together in the early years to overcome a series of legal, financial, and operational crises. He also recounts the company's development into a mature organization and analyzes its corporate culture. For more information please contact Melissa Carrier.

Michael Chasen, President and CEO of Blackboard

Check out how an Internet technology business improves the educational environment worldwide for thousands of students like you. How does such a business keep up with the latest techno trends? Come hear it from the CEO's perspective on Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 pm. Michael Chasen has served as CEO of Blackboard, Inc January 2001, as president since February 2004 and as a director since founding in 1997. From June 1997 to January 2001, Mr. Chasen served as president. Before co-founding Blackboard, from May 1996 to June 1997, Mr. Chasen was a consultant with KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint, Inc.) serving colleges and universities. Mr. Chasen received a BS degree from American University and a MBA degree from Georgetown University School of Business. For more information please contact Melissa Carrier.

Entrepreneur Invitational Golf Tournament

Wednesday, October 10th

Waverly Woods Golf Club in Marriottsville, MD

October 10^th Event to Include Exciting Pro-Am Format and $1 Million Shootout!

Get ready for the 2007 Entrepreneur Invitational, the fifteenth golf tournament to support entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, benefiting the Lamone Entrepreneur Scholars Program.

Recognizing the popularity of golf and the benefits of doing business on the golf course, the Entrepreneur Invitational will take place on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the beautiful Waverly Woods Golf Club in Marriottsville, Maryland with close proximity to the Greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area. As the name implies, invitations to the Entrepreneur Invitational are extended to presidents and CEOs of high-growth venture businesses, as well as principals of firms that provide services to entrepreneurs. This exclusive event is the fifteenth golf tournament to support entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, benefiting the Lamone Entrepreneur Scholars Program.

An incredible day of golf and corporate hospitality has been planned for sponsors and guests, including an exhilarating 18 holes of championship golf, cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. Each corporate foursome will be paired with a professional golfer in an exciting pro-am format, where each amateur foursome will have the unique opportunity to watch and learn from pros.

Participants will enjoy the opportunity to gather at a beautiful golf setting, while creating and enhancing business and social associations with each other. All guests will be provided with a memorable golfing and corporate entertainment experience, while benefiting the Lamone Entrepreneur Scholars Program. The event begins at 11:30 AM and concludes with Dinner and Awards program.

Sponsorships are limited and sell-out quickly, so please respond as soon as possible to reserve participation in this unique and exciting event. For more information about sponsorships and to register, please visit www.EntrepreneurInvitational .com, or contact Phil Bundy, Tournament Founder and Director, at Phil.Bundy@EntrepreneurInvitati onal.com or 301.514.7080.

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SmartCEO Article

The Dingman Center focuses on finding students with sharp ideas for new businesses and providing them with the advice, mentorship and even some of the funding it takes to get going. "We're trying to become the #1 Entrepreneurial Center in the world," says Asher Epstein, "It is our belief that entrepreneurship and small business will be the drivers for business in the 21st century." The Dingman Center has fostered many successful businesses over the past few years. Zoey Rawlins, for instance, who started ShopDC says, "If it wasn't for the Dingman Center's ability to give me the connections, consulting, and business know-how to make sure the plan was moving forward as we anticipated, it wouldn't have happened." For more of the SmartCEO article, click here.

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Fall 2007 Calendar

Open House
This annual event is open to all students and regional entrepreneurs. It is an opportunity to hear about the programs and events which the Dingman Center is planning for the upcoming year, to meet the Dingman Center staff, EIRs and new Dingman Scholars, and to get involved with our activities right from the beginning.

Date: Friday, September 28

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

3570 VMH

Dingman Process Workshop
This informative 75 - 90 minute workshop explains the Dingman Process, which consists of Ideation, Assessment, Implementation, and Iteration. The most successful entrepreneurs are not necessarily those with the most innovative ideas, but those who can find gaps in the market and develop products to meet consumers' needs. The Dingman Process helps entrepreneurs systematically analyze and develop businesses based on this concept. This workshop is presented once each academic year, and this year it will be held at College Park as well as at each of our satellite campuses for our part-time MBA students.

Dates: September 18^th – 22^nd

Pitch Dingman

Students are invited to pitch their ideas to the Dingman Center every Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Each student will have 5-10 minutes to give an overview of their business idea and Dingman Center staff/EIRs will provide immediate feedback. Business ideas found viable will find further support in the Dingman Center.

Every Friday
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm

3570 VMH

Pitch Dingman Competition
Similar to the Pitch Dingman reviews. Business ideas found viable will find further support in the Dingman Center.

Friday, September 28 1:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm	3570 VMH
Friday, October 26 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm	3570 VMH
Friday, November 30 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm	3570 VMH
Friday, December 14 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm	3570 VMH

Dingman Day Lunch
These catered luncheons are open to all University of Maryland students. Successful entrepreneurs will talk about their experiences and answer questions from the audience.

Friday, September 28 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Friday, December 7 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

CAN Breakfast (invitation only)
The CAN Breakfasts are by invitation only to angel investors who are qualified investors in the CAN network. Investors will have an opportunity to hear a 10 minute presentation from approximately four start-up entrepreneurs who are seeking funding for their business. For more information on the CAN Program and to participate, contact Melissa Carrier.

Wednesday, September 26 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 am
Wednesday, November 7 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 am
Wednesday, December 12 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 am

CAN Review Day
Students and faculty are invited to hear start-up companies present to our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and Dingman staff as they prepare for Capital Access Network angel investor presentations. Listen to feedback by our experts, give some advice of your own, and learn about some of the new businesses being started today. It's a great experience for everyone!

Wednesday, August 22 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm	2511 VMH
Wednesday, October 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm	2511 VMH
Wednesday, November 14 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm	2511 VMH

Tech Visionary Panel (invitation only)
See what's on the horizon in the world of technologies. These panel discussions will look at some of the cutting edge trends and innovations to come to market. Learn how these technologies are going to affect healthcare, entertainment, financial services, defense, media, and the entire range of human interaction.

Wednesday, October 24
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Mentor Day

The Mentor Program is an innovative consulting service for entrepreneurs and small-medium businesses that assists companies in identifying solutions to business problems with the support of experienced, senior management professionals.

Every Tuesday beginning September 18
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

3570 VMH

Social Venturing

Advancing the social welfare of our community is a critical component of being a successful business leader and students seek this experience during their educational years. The Social Venturing Program's focus is on the nexus between businesses and non-profit organizations. Through this program, the Dingman Center is offering an array of programs that benefit the public and private sectors, students and the broader community.

Learn more on Monday, September 17
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 pm

3570 VMH

Roger Frock, First General Manager and COO of FedEx

Roger Frock, a member of the founding group of FedEx and author of Changing How the World Does Business: Fedex's Incredible Journey to Success - The Inside Story is speaking on the rise of FedEx from a fledgling start-up with an innovative idea to a company with annual revenues of $30 billion is a model of entrepreneurial success against the odds. In this memoir, Frock describes how the leaders and employees of FedEx pulled together in the early years to overcome a series of legal, financial, and operational crises. He also recounts the company's development into a mature organization and analyzes its corporate culture.

Friday, September 28
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Michael Chasen

Check out how an Internet technology business improves the educational environment for thousands of students like you, worldwide. How does such a business keep up with the latest techno trends? Come hear it from Michael Chasen's perspective who has served as CEO of Blackboard, Inc January 2001, as president since February 2004 and as a director since founding in 1997. From June 1997 to January 2001, Mr. Chasen served as president. Before co-founding Blackboard, from May 1996 to June 1997, Mr. Chasen was a consultant with KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint, Inc.) serving colleges and universities.

Tuesday, October 2
7:00 pm

Partner Events

25th Annual National Association of Women MBAs Conference & Career Fair

November 2 & 3, 2007, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Join us at the Smith School of Business for Take the Lead: Globalization, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (GET). Explore how GET shapes the business place now and continues to change every day. Discover how women are successfully taking the lead in our global economy through innovation while embracing emerging technologies.

TechNite

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Baltimore Convention Center

TechNite has become Greater Baltimore's premiere night out for the business and technology communities. Now in its 17th year, the evening includes a high powered program, dinner, and intensive networking. With almost 1,000 attendees representing one-person start ups to the Fortune 500 businesses found in our region, TechNite is the place to be. It's fun, it's high energy, it will make you proud to do business here.

Attend TechNite and receive a discounted rate of $170 (a savings of $15 over the non-member rate). When you register, enter "dingman" as the Promotion Code to receive the reduced price.

For more information, go to www.gbtechcouncil.org/technite2007.

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Buy Your Smith-Branded Merchandise for Departmental

Speakers and Conferences at the Smith Store

Your VIP visitors and departmental guest speakers should leave Smith with an elegant Smith-branded gift as a thank you for their visit, and The Smith Store is THE place to go for these items. The Smith Store has been working hard to develop a selection of high-quality merchandise that will be appreciated, displayed and used back in your visitor's home or office. With two weeks notice, the "sky is the limit" in terms of item selection. If you are short on time the Smith Store has in stock.

There are a few great products in stock now, ranging in price. The Smith Store has newly designed T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, coffee mugs, coffee thermoses, wine openers and many more items to come. Always available from The Smith Store is the Smith polo shirt, available for $25.00, or brown leather money clip wallets for $15.00.

Questions? Contact Tarak Dave at tarakd@umd.edu.The Smith Store is located in 3570-U, in the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. The hours of the Smith Store vary and appointments are always available to meet your needs.

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North Star Games Shines Bright

WITS & WAGERS Board Game Goes National at Target

North Star Games is a board game company that was incubated in the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. Over the past 3 years, the Dingman Center provided assistance in the form of advice, business contacts, and a small equity investment. Starting this week, their latest award-winning party game, Wits & Wagers, will be stocked at all 1,550 Target locations.

Getting into a large national outlet like Target is transformational for a small start-up company. Sales for North Star Games will increase by over 600% this year. Wits & Wagers is guaranteed shelf space until the 2007 holiday season, but Target will decide whether to keep the product for 2008 depending upon the first six weeks of sales. So, while North Star Games will be profitable for the first time in three years, the long-term fate of the company is still unknown.

The success of North Star Games is now dependant upon their ability to quickly build a brand name for their game. Winning 11 prestigious industry awards has made that job easier (Cranium only won 2 awards). More importantly, Wits & Wagers was dubbed “the latest in living-room play” by Time Magazine and the best trivia game of all time by About.com.

What is the game’s secret? Wits & Wagers is trivia for people who don’t know stuff. The twist is that you can bet on the answers provided by other players, making the game more social and exciting than other trivia games. Another important factor is that Wits & Wagers can be taught in 2 minutes, played in 25 minutes, and enjoyed by up 20 people, which makes it a great activity for outdoor picnics, holiday gatherings, and large parties.

So the next time you are in Target, think of someone who could use a fun gift and pick up a copy of Wits & Wagers. You’ll be helping to determine the fate of a Dingman Center portfolio company and providing your friends with hours of great entertainment.

You can learn more about Wits & Wagers at www.NorthStarGames.com.

About North Star Games:

Founded in 2004 by two University of Maryland MBA students, North Star Games is a living room startup run by Dominic Crapuchettes and Satish Pillalamarri. Their goal is to inspire creativity, laughter and cheering through designer games that engage and enrich the mind. The company prides itself on bringing innovation to an increasingly stagnant party game market that relies on Hollywood licenses instead of fresh game ideas.

One of North Star Games’ most popular innovations is removing turns from their games. “Waiting for your turn is boring,” says Crapuchettes, “so our games don’t have them. Instead, we find activities that are inherently fun and build a game around that activity, so that everyone is always participating in the action.”

To discover more about North Star Games, please visit www.NorthStarGames.com.

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THE DINGMAN CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Founded by Rudy Lamone in 1986, the Dingman Center was one of the first of its kind in the country and has emerged as a top-ranked entrepreneurship center. Thanks to initial funding with a generous grant from Michael D. Dingman, founder of the Signal Corporation (now part of Honeywell International), the Dingman Center continues to grow as a regional and national catalyst in the field of entrepreneurship. The Center is now aggressively evolving, and in some areas, is expanding its services to further its role as a leader in the student, regional, and academic entrepreneurial communities.

The Dingman Center is currently led by:
Asher Epstein, Managing Director

Melissa Carrier, Associate Director
Mr. John LaPides, Chairman of the Board and Entrepreneur In Residence
Dr. Scott Koerwer, Associate Dean, Professional Programs and Services

Please visit our website at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/dingman.

Past Newsletters:

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