The Maryland Smith Blockchain Accelerator is pleased to announce that it has accepted eight ventures into its Spring 2023 cohort.

Following the success of its inaugural spring 2022 cohort, the Maryland Smith Blockchain Accelerator is once again ready to help early-stage companies that are developing apps find ways to leverage blockchain technology.

Extreme weather that has increasingly hammered factories, rail lines, ports and highways is expected to intensify as the globe continues to warm. Across industries, leadership teams have awakened to the high degree of financial risk posed by this climate change.

Blockchain technology has gained prominence in recent years with the rise of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), but its potential to impact the business world has yet to be fully realized. This impact will touch existing enterprises and propel the launch of many new businesses as well. That’s where Maryland Smith comes in.

Beginning in January 2022, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is launching the Blockchain Business Imperative, a six-week synchronous online certificate program on blockchain technology and its potential economic impact across industries.

Not to stress you out, but if you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, you’re way behind. Thanks to manufacturing holdups, shipping delays and labor shortages throughout the supply chain, it’s going to take longer – and cost more – for retailers and consumers to get the items they want this year. The best way to tackle this year’s Christmas list is to shop as early as possible, and with an open mind and an open wallet, say Maryland Smith experts.

Labor Day weekend shoppers might have a little extra money to spend, but they will have to work harder to find discounts this year. Supply chain disruptions caused by the continuing pandemic and a series of severe weather events have had retailers struggling to maintain inventories and subsequently less-incentivized to discount items in stock – even for the usual Labor Day sales bonanzas on appliances, mattresses and autos, said Maryland Smith marketing experts Amna Kirmani and Jie Zhang.