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Yesterday, the SCALEUP Maryland Program enjoyed the privilege of having the amazing Diane Devaney of Devaney & Associates, Inc. lead an enlightening discussion on enhancing Go-to-Market strategies. Key takeaways from the session: ?? Innovative approaches to market entry and expansion ?? Tailoring your marketing message for maximum impact ?? Leveraging data-driven insights to refine your strategy ?? Building strong customer relationships from day one A huge thank you to Diane for sharing her wealth of knowledge and to all our participants for their engaging questions and contributions. These sessions continue to demonstrate the power of collaboration and shared learning in our entrepreneurial community. Looking forward to seeing how our SCALEUP MD cohort applies these strategies to accelerate their growth! We are grateful for the support of our wonderful sponsors! Maryland Department of Commerce, T. Rowe Price, Baltimore County, and University of Maryland Baltimore County Aaron Miscenich Marjie Cota Douglas Zeisel, MSF, CTP Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Jason Mah Justin Fidler Mandy Memmel Melissa Wesner Asmerom M. Gilau Ekaterina Vert-Wong, PMP, EVP, Marhawe Asmerom Jacob Heisler Shiri Sharvit, PhD TCV Growth Partners #SCALEUPMaryland #GoToMarket #EntrepreneurialGrowth #MarketingStrategy #StrategicPlanning #StrategicGrowthPlan

We are excited to share insights from last night's?Maryland NEW VENTURE session on #CustomerDiscovery, led by the brilliant Dr. Chuck Montague!?Our Cohort 5 Entrepreneurs dove deep into: ?? Redefining value propositions for maximum impact ?? Understanding the critical importance of Customer Discovery ?? Identifying benefits vs. features in your solution ?? Leveraging the Business Model Canvas for strategic planning Dr. Montague's expertise brought these concepts to life, equipping our entrepreneurs with invaluable tools for market validation and business growth. Their?next task is to?conducting?10 customer interviews in the next 3 weeks! Huge thanks to Dr. Montague for sharing his knowledge and to our engaged participants for their enthusiasm! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to empower Maryland's next generation of innovators. ?? SAVE THE DATE ?? Maryland NEW VENTURE #PitchNight?? ?? Monday, May 12??5-8:30 PM??bwtech South?? Aaron Miscenich Marjie Cota Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Chris Haug Chris Ewing Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Christina Wrobel-Holt Hillel Glazer Chris White Sam Negahban Teka Farquharson Ali Chamani Adegboyega Akinsiku, Ph.D. Vinod Akunuri, PMP, CSM, Logan Cundiff Patrick Greene Tiara J. Rudolph Park Mantej Singh Hamza Umar Saif Islam Matthew Lowinger Bei Ma Donna Ruginski Ali S. I.B Olajide #MDNEWVENTURECohort5 #EntrepreneurialSuccess #InnovationLeadership #MarylandInnovation #Entrepreneurship #CustomerDiscovery

The SCALEUP Maryland Program is in full swing! Last night, Cohort 9 completed Session 5 on Identifying the #ValueProposition with a lively discussion led by Rob Meissner of TCV Growth Partners. Key Takeaways: ?? A strong value proposition is crucial for any successful business, clearly articulating why customers should choose your product or service. ?? It's not just about features, but about the unique benefits and solutions you offer to your target market. ?? Your value proposition should guide all your marketing and business development efforts. Why It Matters: ?? A well-crafted value proposition helps you stand out in a crowded market and attract the right customers. ?? It forces you to deeply understand your customers' needs and how your offering uniquely addresses them. ?? A clear value proposition aligns your team and focuses your resources on what truly matters to your customers. Thank you, Rob, for sharing your expertise and guiding our cohort through this critical aspect of business development. We're looking forward to applying these insights as we continue to refine our business models and strategies. Thank you to our sponsors - University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore County, T. Rowe Price, and Maryland Department of Commerce- for supporting this program! Stay tuned for more updates from SCALEUP Maryland and learn more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/e4pn96qR What's your experience with developing a value proposition? How has it impacted your entrepreneurial journey? Share your thoughts below!? Marjie Cota Douglas Zeisel, MSF, CTP Aaron Miscenich Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Jason Mah Justin Fidler Mandy Memmel Melissa Wesner Ekaterina Vert-Wong, PMP, EVP, Marhawe Asmerom Asmerom M. Gilau Jacob Heisler Shiri Sharvit, PhD #SCALEUPMaryland #EntrepreneurialGrowth #StrategicPlanning #MarylandInnovation #ValueProposition #Entrepreneurship #StartupGrowth #TCV #TCVGrowthPartners

The next 1 Million Cups event is TOMORROW?at 8:45am OCA Mocha?in Arbutus. Entrepreneurs presenting are: ?? Jose-Luis Gallagher, Founder and CEO, Rip Current Sports LLC ?? Deepak Saluja, M.D., CEO, Clinibooth, Inc. Join Us! Each founder will present for six minutes, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session, ending with the question; “what can we as a community do to help you?”. 1 Million Cups Baltimore?is a national program to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs and help build and support startup communities at a grassroots level. Anyone interested in presenting their company should go to the website and click on “Apply to Present”: https://lnkd.in/e3XBKbex bwtech is a proud sponsor of 1 Million Cups, Baltimore. We hope to see you tomorrow and please share with others that might be interested! #1MillionCups #InnovationCommunity #CoffeeCommunicationCommunity #1millioncupsbaltimore #entrepreneurs #innovators #startups Aaron Miscenich Marjie Cota Maureen Pugh Hillel Glazer David Fink Chris Haug Chris White Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Ewing Fehmida Kapadia, PhD Richard Chipkin Will Anderson University of Maryland Baltimore County Kevin Fulmer

We are excited to share key takeaways from Session 5 of the Maryland New Venture Program, featuring Diane Devaney of Devaney & Associates, Inc. on the critical topic of #ValueProposition! Key Learnings: ?? A strong value proposition is the cornerstone of any successful business, clearly articulating why customers should choose your product or service. ?? It's not just about features, but about the unique benefits and solutions you offer to your target market. ?? Your value proposition should be the guiding light for all your marketing and business development efforts. Why It Matters: ?? A well-crafted value proposition is crucial for standing out in a crowded market and attracting the right customers. ?? It forces you to deeply understand your customers' needs and how your offering uniquely addresses them. ?? A clear value proposition helps in aligning your team and focusing your resources on what truly matters to your customers. Connection to Customer Discovery: The value proposition is intrinsically linked to customer discovery. Through the customer discovery process, you: ?? Validate assumptions about your target market's pain points. ?? Refine your understanding of what customers truly value. ?? Iterate on your value proposition based on real customer feedback. Remember, your value proposition isn't set in stone – it should evolve as you learn more about your customers and market! ? What's your experience with developing a value proposition? How has it impacted your entrepreneurial journey? Share your thoughts below! Huge thanks to Diane for sharing her expertise with us, and to our sponsors - University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore County TEDCO - for their support in making the Maryland NEW VENTURE Program possible! To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/e6VqMEqp Aaron Miscenich Marjie Cota Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Chris Haug Chris Ewing Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Christina Wrobel-Holt Hillel Glazer Chris White Sam Negahban Teka Farquharson Ali Chamani Adegboyega Akinsiku, Ph.D. Vinod Akunuri, PMP, CSM, Logan Cundiff Patrick Greene Tiara J. Rudolph Park Mantej Singh Hamza Umar I.B Olajide Saif Islam Matthew Lowinger Bei Ma Donna Ruginski Ali S. #MDNEWVENTURECohort5 #EntrepreneurialSuccess #DevaneyandAssociates #InnovationLeadership #MarylandInnovation #TEDCO #MDNewVenture #Entrepreneurship #CustomerDiscovery

? Unconference 2025: Rethink AI—What a Success! ? At this dynamic event hosted by bwtech last Thursday, Feb 20, 2025, the energy was high, the conversations were dynamic, and the learning was entirely participant-driven—true to the UnConference spirit! After a lovely lunch and opening remarks from event organizer and bwtech EiR, Hillel Glazer, attendees formed groups and dove into deep, collaborative discussions. With a mix of experts, newcomers, and everyone in between, the exchange of ideas was rich and diverse. Topics ranged from AI tools, integration, and compliance to security, privacy, IP, ethics, and forward-looking “what-if” scenarios. As the photos show, the engagement was incredible—everyone learned, shared, and connected in meaningful ways. To check out more event photos and explore the programs and opportunities at bwtech, visit https://lnkd.in/eHSnsRGE A huge THANK YOU to all who attended and co-created this experience with us, and special appreciation to our sponsors for making it possible!?Entinex, Incite Automation, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, and University of Maryland Baltimore County. Cyrus Etemad-Moghadam Chuck Montague Ed Mullin Dustin Sitton Rose Thun Melissa Wesner Michael Taylor, PMP, CSCP, CSM, ITIL, Michael Antone, Stephanie Brandford, Colleen Emar Baker, Mike Rolfes, Justin Carlson, April N. Richardson Esq., Karen Zanetti Bipendra Basnyat, P.E, PhD, Neil Konstantoulas, Ben Crozier, Carlo Manabat, Sarah Janowitz Sedlak, Michael Galiazzo, Jeanette Ortegon, Servant Leader, Martin C., Sharissa Epps, Adrienne G., Agnes Kibirige, MBA Robert Kirby, Josh Mull, Patti Ordó?ez, Milind Rampure, Jon Tarrant Valancius-Ditman Denise Anurag Varshney, MSc, PMP?, CSPO? Tara Woodfin M. James Faison Kent Malwitz Bill Pritchard Thom Probus #UnConference2025 #technology #leadership #machinelearning #AI #digitaltransformation #artificialintelligence #marylandinnovation

A big THANK YOU to Vivienne Pham and Joe O'Rourke, CFP? from JPMorganChase, for an engaging and insightful bwtech Lunch & Learn! Last Friday, February 21st, our bwtech community had the privilege of learning from these industry experts about the latest trends shaping the intersection of technology and business. We appreciate Vivienne and Joe sharing their time and expertise. Your contributions are fueling innovation and growth in our ecosystem. Looking forward to more exciting collaborations and learning opportunities ahead! Marjie Cota Aaron Miscenich Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Benjamin Broedel Christopher Davis Aristotle Kalivretenos Daniel Nothaft I.B Olajide Ajibike Salako-Akande M.D., M.Ed., R.C. Jeanette Ortegon, Servant Leader Kathleen Turano Qing W. Zhiyong Yang Rui Zhang Rui Zhang RD Vispute University of Maryland Baltimore County #bwtech #DisruptiveTech #Innovation #JPMorganChase #TechAndCommerce #ContinuousLearning

This week, SCALEUP Maryland had an engaging and insightful Session 3 on #Leadership with Karen Falkler of Falkler Wellness & Advisory. The cohort delved deep into various leadership styles, exploring the attributes that define effective leaders and the tangible benefits they bring to organizations. THANK YOU, Karen! Key takeaways from the session: ?? Explored diverse leadership types and their impact on team dynamics ?? Discussed essential attributes of successful leaders in today's business landscape ?? Analyzed the far-reaching benefits of strong leadership on organizational success Looking ahead: Next week, our cohort is gearing up for an exciting session on Validating Value Propositions with Rob Meissner of TCV Growth Partners. This promises to be another meaningful step forward in refining our entrepreneurs' business strategies. Stay tuned for more updates from SCALEUP Maryland and learn more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/e4pn96qR We're continually amazed by the growth and insights our SCALE UP MD participants are gaining. Here's to building stronger, more resilient businesses in Maryland! ?? ?? ?? Marjie Cota Aaron Miscenich Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Jason Mah Justin Fidler Mandy Memmel Melissa Wesner LifeSpring Counseling Services Ekaterina Vert-Wong, PMP, EVP, Nostopharma LLC Marhawe Asmerom Asmerom M. Gilau Epsilon Innovation Group Inc. Jacob Heisler Heisler Semiconductor LLC Shiri Sharvit, PhD Sona Systems THE WELL / Hon's Honey University of Maryland Baltimore County T. Rowe Price Baltimore County Douglas Zeisel, MSF, CTP #SCALEUPMaryland #EntrepreneurialGrowth #StrategicPlanning #LeadershipDevelopment #MarylandInnovation

We are exciting to share an inspiring experience from our Maryland NEW VENTURE program session last night. The incredible Ellington West, CEO of?Sonavi Labs, Inc., graced us with her brilliance, delivering a powerful presentation on Entrepreneurial Stories and Elevator Pitches. Ellington's journey is nothing short of remarkable: ?? Local and global pitch competition winner ?? Innovator behind Sonavi Labs, revolutionizing respiratory health technology ?? Esteemed judge for our program in 2023 ?? Co-winner of the program in 2024 Her return as a session presenter was a full-circle moment, embodying the spirit of giving back to the entrepreneurial community. Ellington's enlightening insights on crafting compelling stories and delivering impactful elevator pitches were invaluable to our cohort. We're immensely grateful for leaders like Ellington who continue to inspire and elevate the next generation of innovators. Her success story and willingness to share her expertise exemplify the collaborative spirit that drives innovation in Maryland and beyond. Thank you, Ellington, for your dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and for being a shining example of what's possible with vision, perseverance, and innovation! To learn more about our Maryland NEW VENTURE Program, visit: https://lnkd.in/e6VqMEqp Aaron Miscenich Marjie Cota Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Chris Haug Chris Ewing Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Christina Wrobel-Holt Hillel Glazer Chris White University of Maryland Baltimore County Sam Negahban Teka Farquharson Ali Chamani Adegboyega Akinsiku, Ph.D. Vinod Akunuri, PMP, CSM, Logan Cundiff Patrick Greene Tiara J. Rudolph Park Mantej Singh Hamza Umar I.B Olajide Baltimore County #MDNEWVENTURECohort5 #EntrepreneurialSuccess #SonaviLabs #InnovationLeadership #MarylandInnovation #WomenInTech #TEDCO #BaltimoreCounty?

Exciting progress in our SCALEUP Maryland program!?Cohort 9 is making great strides, diving into the details of creating their Strategic and Quarterly Action Plans. These entrepreneurs are laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and measurable success. It's inspiring to see the dedication and growth of these innovative Maryland businesses! We're looking forward to more transformative sessions ahead! Stay tuned for more updates from SCALEUP Maryland and learn more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/e4pn96qR Marjie Cota?Aaron Miscenich Will Anderson Maureen Pugh Christina Wrobel-Holt Chris Haug Chris Ewing Chris White Richard Chipkin Fehmida Kapadia, PhD David Fink Jason Mah Justin Fidler Mandy Memmel Melissa Wesner LifeSpring Counseling Services Ekaterina Vert-Wong, PMP, EVP, Nostopharma LLC Marhawe Asmerom Asmerom M. Gilau Epsilon Innovation Group Inc. Jacob Heisler Heisler Semiconductor LLC Shiri Sharvit, PhD Sona Systems THE WELL / Hon's Honey University of Maryland Baltimore County T. Rowe Price Baltimore County Douglas Zeisel, MSF, CTP TCV Growth Partners #SCALEUPMaryland #EntrepreneurialGrowth #StrategicPlanning #LeadershipDevelopment #MarylandInnovation