All the entrepreneurs in the class participated in an elimination round pitch competition to determine 5 finalists which included: 

• Natoya Reid, DMD, LLC | 1st Place | $15,000 | Healthcare
• American Bully Manufacturing LLC | 2nd Place | $5,000 | Manufacturing
• AppleCore’s Bake Shoppe | 3rd Place | $5,000 | Retail
• The Eudaimonia Center 
• Vine Technology Solutions   

Over the past 10 weeks, entrepreneurs followed a curriculum curated by M&T Bank, the region’s top small-business lender. The curriculum included lessons from a diverse set of presenters on legal business formation, obtaining certifications, developing business plans, managing business and personal finances, sourcing capital, pricing strategies, risk management and business insurance, marketing strategies and more. 

“Congratulations to another successful cohort of small business owners will investing in the future of their business,” said HCEDA CEO Larry Twele. “The partnership with M&T Bank is another great program offered at the Maryland Innovation Center to help grow business in Howard County.”