The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has found a unique way to inject entrepreneurial spirit into campus activities with a Dingman Center Bootcamp. In January 2009, under the Dingman Center's initiative, 28 University of Maryland students from diverse majors gathered at the Smith School to bring their business ideas to life in less than three weeks.

College Park, Md. – December 9, 2008 – The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is helping to fuel State of Maryland leadership in technology innovation and development. As case in point, two portfolio companies from the Dingman Center were announced among the five winners at the final round of the National University Startups Competition on December 2.

“This has totally changed my life,” exclaimed one student winner of the Young Entrepreneurs Award in the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ China Business Plan Competition in Beijing this past October. He was beaming with emotion as he received his Olympic-esque medal and $1,000 cash award — one of 10 such awards — for his five-minute business pitch in the competition, hosted by Smith’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

It's that time of the year again -- time to start shopping for holiday gifts! Instead of heading to big department stores, support University of Maryland entrepreneurs by buying unique presents from our own student and alumni entrepreneurs. Come tomorrow to the University of Maryland Holiday Marketplace and you will:

Beijing, China & College Park, Md. – October 29, 2008 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced the final winners of the fourth annual China Business Plan Competition. The announcement puts a cap on the year-long contest, which began with more than 200 entries that judges narrowed to 20 semi-finalists before selecting five finalist teams. Robert Krapfel, associate dean of MBA programs at the University of Maryland’s Robert H.

Students across campus will soon have a chance to join millions of other young people all over the world in a quest for new ideas and new venture creation!

College Park, Md. – October 2, 2008 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced its “Global Week of Entrepreneurship” from the school’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship highlighting leading global entrepreneurship research and practices. A series of events – starting in Shanghai, on Oct. 23 and ending in Beijing on Nov. 2 – will engage and benefit Smith students, entrepreneurs and alumni, as well as their counterparts based in China, with a lineup designed to build knowledge and connections.

College Park, Md. – Sept. 11, 2008 – The Dingman Center at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced it has expanded its Capital Access Network (CAN), a pipeline for connecting startups with investors, to include inventors and entrepreneurs working with Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer.

For an aspiring entrepreneur ready to take a business to the next level capturing the attention of an investor is critical. For the investor, finding investment-worthy prospects is also a quarry that can be elusive. How does a successful match get made?

The Dingman Center at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business recently expanded its Capital Access Network (CAN), a pipeline for connecting startups with investors, to include entrepreneurs working with the Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer Office.