MIC Founders Win Big at AWS AI Pitch Competition

We proudly hosted the Amazon Web Services AI Pitch Competition at the Maryland Innovation Center alongside Maryland Small Business Development Center. Sponsored by Amazon Web Services and PREDICTif Solutions, the event brought together founders using artificial intelligence to solve real business challenges.

Finalists took the stage and pitched AI-driven business concepts to a panel of judges, presenting solutions focused on growth, efficiency, and innovation. MIC members KLEENUP and Express Underwriter earned spots among the finalists, highlighting the strong entrepreneurial talent growing within our innovation community.

🥇 1st Place: Virtual Guardian AI won $50,000 in professional service credits through AWS and nCloud.

🥈 2nd Place (Tie): MIC companies KLEENUP and Express Underwriter each won $25,000 in professional service credits through AWS and nCloud.

🥉 3rd Place: Visurraga Enterprise earned recognition for its innovative pitch.

We’re proud to host opportunities like this at the Maryland Innovation Center and help founders turn bold ideas into growing businesses.

Explore Local Farms and Earn Rewards with the Digital Farm Passport

The Earth Day Celebration at Clarksville Commons brought together environmental nonprofits, local farmers, green-minded businesses, and community members for a day focused on sustainability and green living.

A highlight of the event was the digital Open Rewards Farm Passport, which invited attendees to visit local farms, check in digitally, and earn rewards while exploring Howard County’s agricultural community. The program offers a simple, interactive way to support local farms and connect with the businesses helping grow a more sustainable local food system.

The Banner’s InnovateHER: All speakers are announced!

The Banner’s InnovateHER will convene bold, forward thinking women for thoughtful conversations about leadership, cultural influence, and the realities of ambition today. Through candid interviews and onstage conversations, attendees will hear personal stories about the paths these women have taken, including the pivots, setbacks, risks, and decisions that shaped their careers. The focus is not just on success, but on how they got there.

Export Week Opens Doors to Global Growth

World Trade Month is here, and Export Week runs May 4–8. In celebration, the U.S. Commercial Service is hosting a series of export-focused sessions designed to help businesses expand into global markets.

Led by public and private sector experts, these programs cover practical trade strategies, industry-specific opportunities, and resources to support international growth. Many sessions are offered at no cost, and businesses can attend as many as they’d like throughout the week and beyond.

Whether you're exploring exporting for the first time or looking to scale internationally, Export Week offers valuable insights, connections, and tools to help grow your global sales.

A Four-Day Experience Built for Growth-Minded CEOs

The CEO Accelerator is an intensive four-day experience designed for growth-minded business owners ready to work on their business—not just in it.

Through guided strategy sessions, hands-on exercises, and peer collaboration, participants will develop the mindset, systems, and tools needed to drive sustainable profitability, empower teams, and scale effectively.

Prepare for Funding: Build a Stronger Loan Application

Learn how to build a strong small business loan application and better position your company for funding. This session covers SBA requirements, what lenders look for, and how separating personal and business finances can strengthen your request.

We’ll also walk through the documentation to prepare, how to present financials clearly, and best practices for protecting personal credit while positioning your business for growth.

Led by Rosa Scharf of Fulton Bank, this program delivers practical guidance to help you submit a complete, well-structured funding application.

Recent Highlights: What You Need to Know

• Howard County Veterans Foundation holds monument opening on May 14th. Learn More
• The Maryland Workforce Association (MWA) is anchoring a new registered cybersecurity apprenticeship that builds on the state’s partnership with BCR Cyber. Learn More
• Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence Announces BRIDGE Program Cohort at University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Learn More