Building a Future of Innovation and Inclusivity

2GI is a disability-led business incubator/accelerator that offers community meetups, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, and tailored business development education to empower disabled founders. Their mission is to connect disabled entrepreneurs with the resources needed to thrive and to challenge the entrepreneurial ecosystem by viewing disability as a competitive advantage. 2GI hosts pitch competitions for disabled founders in the manufacturing and production fields, with a chance to win $10,000, while benefiting from the knowledge and mentorship of seasoned professionals. Additionally, 2GI seeks to form new partnerships to expand its support for entrepreneurs with disabilities, and through the Growth Accelerator partnership, aims to connect with Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) that share this vision.

The Maryland SBDC’s Technology Support Center provides specialized services to researchers, entrepreneurs, and firms focused on engineering, biosciences, IT, agriculture, and other high-tech sectors, helping them develop and commercialize their technologies. They offer no-cost, one-on-one counseling to science and engineering firms involved in R&D, technology transfer, and government contracts, including SBIR/STTR proposals. By partnering with organizations like UM Ventures and Maryland Innovation Center, they guide clients through proposal preparation, technology licensing, and collaborations. Through the Growth Accelerator Partnership, Maryland SBDC aims to expand its reach to individuals with disabilities, fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that enhances small business growth and supports Maryland’s manufacturing sector.

TEDCO is Maryland’s premier economic development organization, dedicated to funding and supporting early-stage, technology-based businesses, while facilitating technology transfer and commercialization from the state’s universities and federal labs. Their mission is to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem, with a focus on growing technology companies throughout Maryland. As a FAST awardee, TEDCO leverages decades of expertise in securing SBIR/STTR grants, boasting a 40% success rate for inaugural Phase I awards, with a remarkable 58% success rate for women-owned businesses. Through the Growth Accelerator Partnership, TEDCO aims to expand its resources to better support entrepreneurs with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and inclusion are central to its mission of serving all entrepreneurs statewide.

Ceemo.ai helps underrepresented founders, including those with disabilities, by removing early-stage barriers in entrepreneurship through innovative branding and marketing solutions. Their Brand Quiz generates smart, data-backed brands that include a logo, color scheme, and font suite, applied across all key business assets such as marketing materials, business plans, and pitch decks, all of which are WCAG and ADA compliant. Ceemo.ai has supported its clients in raising over $40 million, and the Growth Accelerator Partnership will further empower underserved STEM/R&D entrepreneurs with disabilities by providing them with the tools needed to secure additional capital. Through the partnership, Ceemo.ai aims to strengthen collaboration with other partners and enhance support for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Founded in 2002, MBIA represents over 40 incubators, innovation centers, accelerators, and coworking spaces, offering resources such as grants, strategic connections, and unique programming to support entrepreneurial companies in Maryland. MBIA’s mission is to advance innovation and economic development by providing programs, breaking down barriers, and amplifying the innovation story in Maryland, while facilitating the commercialization of promising companies. By partnering with NDI, MBIA aims to enhance educational resources around accessibility, disability sensitivity, and gather disability data to better serve entrepreneurs with disabilities. Through the Growth Accelerator Partnership, MBIA seeks to build a more diverse and inclusive innovation community, using data to advocate for increased funding and support for disabled entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector.