Entrepreneurial Spirit / February 1, 2012

Tech Startup Workshops: Successful D.C. Entrepreneurs to Share Expertise, Bolster UMD Pledge to Create Companies

Recently, the University of Maryland at College Park pledged to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to create 100 new tech companies based on UMD-owned intellectual property (IP). The promise is in an April 2011 letter co-signed by more than 130 other national research institutions.

Helping launch UMD on this ambitious path, the Robert H. Smith School of Business and the A. James Clark School of Engineering, will team up with nationally respected IP experts, entrepreneurs and angel investors – Andrew J. Sherman, Tien Wong and John May -- to deliver a late spring workshop series in downtown Washington, D.C., for local high-tech innovators.

"I like to help the innovator community and stay in touch with new and unique ideas, and I rate entrepreneurship education from Smith and the University of Maryland right up there with the best business schools. Plus, high-energy, passionate people doing great things get me excited,” said Wong, Lore Systems CEO and longtime investor, on why he has joined a stable of world-class professors and nationally respected entrepreneurial figures to deliver the 2012 Certificate in Innovation Management (CIM) series.

The program -- which takes place alternate Fridays from April 13-June 22, 2012, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center -- features sessions on growth strategies, customer-centric marketing, negotiation/partnerships, project management and raising capital and is limited to 40 entrepreneurs.

Wong, a 2001 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Greater Washington, has invested in 15 companies, mostly in the high-tech arena. He will join a session on customer-centric marketing, taking questions on outreach issues that keep small business owners awake at night. "People can ask me anything and I will do my best to help," he said. “I know the energy it takes to build and manage contacts and to orchestrate effective campaigns."

Sherman, a partner with Jones Day, has represented companies from early startup to the Dow 30 and between, and has been recognized nationally by Inc. magazine and Fortune Small Business for his expertise in entrepreneurship and legal and strategic issues facing small and growing companies. He is the author of Harvesting Intangible Assets and says he feels passionate about developing the area's high-tech businesses.

"I can help participants focus on the five critical issues that investors want to see covered in business plans, and I'll help entrepreneurs determine equity and debt strategies for their capital formation plans,” said Sherman, who has provided commentary for the likes of CNBC's “Power Lunch,” CNN’s “Day Watch,” CNNfn’s “StreetSmarts” and Bloomberg’s “Small Business Weekly.”

Sherman will lead a daylong session on “Raising Capital” and be joined by a locally based thought leader on angel investment, John May, managing partner of the New Vantage Group. "John is one of the leading minds on the planet in this area," Sherman said. "(May) works with angel investors and organizations, and for angel investors, all over the globe... We'll help participants focus on driving value out of intangible and technological assets.”

James V. Green, director of entrepreneurship education for UMD’s Clark School, is the the architect of the series. Green has a long history of working with startups, having provided business development and product management to a company called WaveCrest Laboratories (acquired by Magna International) developing electric and hybrid-electric technology. Earlier, he served in operations, client services and product development at cybersecurity software startup Cyveillance (acquired by QinetiQ).

To learn more about the Certificate in Innovative Management, go to: http://www.execed.umd.edu/

Greg Muraski, Office of Marketing CommunicationsPublished: February 21, 2012

Media Contact

Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283  
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu 

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

Back to Top