Friday, March 30, 2012 | Noon - 4 p.m.
Stamp Student Union
University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland Entrepreneurship Invitational is the annual marquee event of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. The center has been a driver of regional innovation and business development for more than 25 years. The event includes the Cupid’s Cup Business Competition and BB&T Business Invitational.

Cupids Cup Business Competition

Zombie Run Organizer Wins 7th Annual Cupid’s Cup Business Competition
An adventure race that has zombies chasing participants to the finish line might not be everyone’s idea of a good time. But the business certainly has legs -- race organizers Reed Street Productions took home $17,500 as the top winner at the seventh annual Cupid’s Cup business competition.
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Cupid's Cup, a business competition for student and alumni entrepreneurs, began in 2006, due to the vision and generous support of Kevin Plank ’96, founder and CEO of Under Armour. The competition is designed to identify and support students and young alumni who have already started their own businesses. Five finalists will pitch their businesses to Kevin Plank and a panel of veteran entrepreneurs for $25,000 in prizes. Martin O’Malley, Governor of the State of Maryland, will provide a keynote address.

Cupid’s Cup Finalists:

  • 10G Systems, a supplier of web-based transportation software to small to mid-size shippers.
  • Food Safety Administration, provider of online courses for food service professionals required to earn food and alcohol safety certifications
  • Reed Street Productions, operators of Run for Your Lives, a zombie themed adventure race attracting thousands of participants
  • Route One Apparel, an e-commerce platform for creative apparel designed by students
  • Visisonics, a UMD spinout that enables realistic 3D audio for music, movies and gaming in standard headphones

BB&T Business Invitational

BB&T Business Invitational is an invitation-only showcase of University of Maryland companies, regional startups, and campus and regional resources for entrepreneurs. Attendees have the opportunity to network with UMD students and alumni, local entrepreneurs and investors, and business leaders from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Sponsored by BB&T, prize money is awarded to top exhibitors as voted on by event attendees.

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