Celebrate Business Appreciation Week 2026:

Schedule Your Ambassador Visit

Howard County businesses are invited to participate in Business Appreciation Week 2026, an annual initiative celebrating the companies that drive our local economy and make Howard County a great place to do business.

Throughout the week, Ambassador teams made up of Howard County department heads, elected officials, community partners, and Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) staff will visit local businesses to learn more about their successes, opportunities, and the challenges they face.

Each participating business will receive:

• A personal visit from a Howard County Ambassador team
• A Certificate of Appreciation
• Photos featured on the HCEDA Flickr account and/or social media

These conversations help us better understand the needs of our business community while identifying ways to strengthen Howard County's business climate. Your feedback plays an important role in shaping future programs, resources, and initiatives that support local businesses.

Space is limited and registration closes Monday, August 31. Reserve your visit today and help us celebrate the businesses that make Howard County thrive.

Applications Now Open for Cyber Howard Accelerator Cohort IV

Have an innovative cybersecurity solution ready to grow? Applications are now open for Cyber Howard Accelerator Cohort IV.

This 12-week accelerator is designed for early-stage, product-focused cybersecurity companies ready to move from concept to commercialization. Participants receive expert mentorship, hands-on support in product development and go-to-market strategy, compliance guidance, access to testing environments, and connections to industry leaders, government partners and potential investors.

Applications are open through September 1, 2026, with cohort activities beginning September 15, 2026.

If your company is building the next generation of cybersecurity solutions, now is the time to apply.

MIC Member Beyond Commissions Featured by Technical.ly

Congratulations to Beyond Commissions, a Maryland Innovation Center member, on being featured by Technical.ly for its innovative software platform that helps financial services firms automate complex commission calculations.

Founded by Nigel Knowles and headquartered in Columbia, Beyond Commissions helps life insurance, wealth management and banking firms replace manual spreadsheet-based processes with a configurable software solution that improves accuracy, reduces risk and saves valuable time.

The company's journey highlights the strength of Howard County's growing technology ecosystem and the innovative companies choosing to build and scale their businesses here.

Climate Startups: Apply for Up to $300K Through Exelon's 2c2i Program

Exelon, the country's largest public utility, and the non-profit Exelon Foundation are seeking promising climate-focused startups for their Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i).

This program provides funding and support to startups addressing any aspect of sustainability/climate resilience that could benefit one of Exelon's markets (Chicago, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Wilmington, DE). Exelon's 2c2i has invested in 35+ diverse startups since 2019, and applications for the next round are open now thru 9/27. 

2c2i applications are open to any US-based climate startup (pre Series B). The Exelon Foundation will provide up to $300k of equity investment per selected company, and Exelon Corporation and their utilities (PECO, BGE, ComEd, PEPCO, Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power) will provide additional in-kind services to support the startups' growth and impact.

Stop Guessing: Find Out What's Actually Working in Your Marketing

Watch startups get their marketing audited live and learn exactly what to look for in yours.

Most small business owners and startups are running a dozen marketing activities at once and can't tell which ones are working. In this live session, marketing strategist Moni Oloyede audits real businesses' marketing — goals, audience, message, content, channels, and offer — and spots the gaps in real time. You'll walk away with a clear framework to pressure-test your own marketing and a sharper sense of what to fix first.

This is the launch of the MIC Marketing Lab — a monthly, hands-on series that pairs a core marketing concept with a live audit of real work you can learn from.

Build Smarter: Turn Your Idea Into an MVP That People Actually Want

A 2 hour hybrid session on planning, designing, and building a startup app the right way.

Most founders build the wrong thing first — burning months and money on features nobody asked for. In this hybrid session, MOS Creative CEO Max Kryzhanovskiy breaks down how to plan, design, and build an MVP that actually tests your idea. You'll leave with a clear framework for your next build, plus a look at the AI-assisted workflows speeding up development right now.

Recent Highlights: What You Need to Know

• Howard County Government Seeks Applicants for Newly Formed Data Center Task Force. Learn More
  
• New Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) resources available. Learn More
• Attend Hutch Launch: Lab to Founder | A Bootcamp for Scientists & Researchers on July 29, 2026. Learn More
• Howard County Executive Ball Urgently Seeks Professional and Public Members for County Electrical and Plumbing Boards. Learn More