Want to keep up with local life sciences events, funding opportunities, and more? The Maryland Department of Commerce creates a monthly newsletter featuring a variety of opportunities for local life sciences businesses.

Past issues

• October 2024 
• September 2nd Edition 2024 
• September 2024 
• August 2024 
• June 2024 
• May 2024 
• April 2024 
• February 2nd Edition 2024 
• February 2024 
• December 2023 
• November 2nd Edition 2023 
• November 2023 
• October 2023 
• September 2nd Edition 2023  (bi-weekly update)
• September 2023 
• August 2023 
• July 2023 
• June 2023 
• May 2023 
• April 2023 
• March 2023 
• February 2023 
• January 2023 
• December 2022 
• November 2022 
• October 2022 
• September 2022 
  

Maryland offers a wide range of opportunities to the life sciences community. Check out the latest list of programs, competitions, financial incentives, and more to see which you can leverage on your path to success!

• SBIR and STTR Funding Opportunities 
  • SBIR and STTR grant funding opportunities offer small business entrepreneurs a chance to obtain non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development.
• Promoting Diversity in SBIR/STTR 
  • The NIA SBIR/STTR programs offer administrative supplements to further support your journey to commercialization. The Diversity Supplement is designed to provide support for research and entrepreneurial experiences for individuals from the diverse backgrounds throughout the continuum from undergraduate to the faculty level.
• Techstars Accelerators 
  • In each three-month program, Techstars helps entrepreneurs find product-market fit, get traction, and access capital and mentorship. Small class sizes and a world-class network is a proven model that’s better for founders. Explore programs and start your application today.
• Request Your Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Needs Assessment Report 
  • Recent Phase I SBIR or STTR awardees (grant, contract, or Fast-Track) of NIH, FDA, or CDC, can request a free, third-party assessment of a Phase I project’s progress in technical and business areas that are critical to success in the competitive healthcare marketplace.
• FY25 MBIA Commercialization Innovation Grant 
  • Apply by December 13
    The goal of this grant program is to provide strategic benefits to aid in the entrepreneurial advancement and commercialization efforts of promising innovative companies and propel success and growth in Maryland. The program is a competitive process intended to reward the most impactful use of funds that will have the most significant and positive outcomes on Maryland’s innovation ecosystem and economy by promoting the use of Maryland-based vendors and service providers. Grant funds should be directed to Maryland-based companies with innovative or disruptive, technology-enabled business models.
• STARTUP Accelerator Program 
  • Apply by December 13
    Are you ready to take your business to the next level and become investment-ready? STARTUP Accelerator is a 14-week, virtual program designed to place you in the best possible position to grow a highly successful company and raise outside capital. Powered by Maryland entrepreneurs and backed by bwtech@UMBC, Startup Grind Maryland, and FounderTrac, this program is your launchpad to growth. It offers the tools, support, and resources required for success through the acclaimed FounderTrac process, with expert guidance from experienced mentors.
• TEDCO's SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab 
  • Apply by December 13
    For Maryland life science and technology businesses with a compelling innovation, the TEDCO team offers decades of experience in writing, reviewing, and winning SBIR/STTR and other federal grants and contracts. This lab's mission is to position your company for up to $305,000 of non-dilutive Phase I funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Before the official start of the virtual SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab, participants will receive a comprehensive set of training materials designed to prepare them for success.
• I-Corps Cohort Workshop 
  • Apply by January 1
    The regional UMD I-Corps Customer Discovery Workshops introduce teams and individuals with innovations to the concepts of business models and customer discovery. The I-Corps Prep mini course is the required first step of participating in I-Corps. It is self-paced, and allows you to enroll and complete it at any time. The workshop begins Jan. 10.
  • Also, a new version of the workshop for participants not likely to be working on commercializing university research is available. Enrollment is always open, classes occur every two weeks, and the schedule is a lot less onerous (a 90 min session at lunch or the end of day compared to 3 hours on successive Friday mornings). It is meant for people with full time jobs, full school/course loads, families, etc.
• SCALEUP Maryland Cohort 9 
  • Apply by January 10
    SCALEUP Maryland is a four-month, weekly, virtual program, developed by bwtech@UMBC in partnership with TCV Partners. The program, taught by seasoned entrepreneurs and business development professionals, covers topics based on the five key elements of scaling a company: sales and marketing, finance, operations, human capital, and leadership. It promotes in-depth, individualized, and targeted strategies for growth to help C-level leaders create executable strategic growth plans.
• Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund  
  • Apply by January 13
    MSCRF offers seven programs to accelerate discovery and commercialization of human stem cell-based technologies. 
    • Clinical  - Intended for companies or Universities/Research Institutes that wish to conduct human stem cell-based clinical trials in the State of Maryland. 1:1 match of non-state money is required. IND required
    • Commercialization  - Intended for start-up companies or established companies developing new human stem cell-based products
    • Validation  - Intended for faculty at Maryland-based Universities/Research institutes (not federal labs) with IP for human stem cell-based technologies that require additional validation before creation of start-up companies.
    • Launch  - Intended for new faculty (within 5 years) or researchers, of any rank, who are new to the field of human stem cell research at Maryland-based Universities/Research Institutes (not federal labs). The applicant should not have been previously funded by any of the MSCRF programs.
    • Discovery  - Intended for faculty at Maryland-based Universities/Research Institutes (not federal labs) with innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures
    • Post-Doctoral Fellowship  - Intended for exceptional post-doctoral fellows who wish to conduct human stem cell research in academia or in industry in the State of Maryland. The applicant must have completed the doctoral degree within the past 3 years.
    • Manufacturing Assistance  - Intended for organizations that wish to advance GMP production of their stem cell therapy products in the State of Maryland. 1:1 match of non-state money is required.
• MedTech Innovator 2025 Cohort
  • Apply by January 15
    The MedTech Innovator suite of programs is the world’s largest and highest-performing accelerator of medical technology. They offer unparalleled access to top-tier mentoring, coaching, and education in a four-month program tailored to help innovators address obstacles and maximize opportunities to bring their products to market quickly and effectively.
    • MedTech Innovator (MTI)  - For medical devices, diagnostic, and digital health companies entering the US market.
    • BioTools Innovator (BTI)  - For life science tools and enabling technologies.

Maryland’s incubators and accelerators offer early stage companies shared resources, business assistance, and access to equipment and facilities.

Use the Maryland Entrepreneur Hub to explore available incubators  and accelerators .