Save BIG on Think Big Baltimore

June 30, 2011

Leave a Comment » | Entrepreneurship, Events, Small Business Development, Students | Permalink
Posted by Bobbie Laur

Going On a Mission: Governor Martin O’Malley’s Asia Trade Mission

June 20, 2011

Clay

Developing personal relationships is crucial for success when doing business in the Asian region, and that means spending quality face-to-face time on the ground.  In an effort to encourage foreign investment, stimulate economic development, strengthen commercial ties, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley led a trade mission to Asia May 31-June 11.  Towson University Interim President Marcia Welsh, Asia Studies Director Stephen Phillips, and I were privileged to be among the 68 people chosen to represent the State on this productive trip through China, South Korea and Vietnam.

This 11-day trip was the perfect opportunity, not only to improve existing relationships, but to showcase what Maryland and Towson University have to offer and how our ties can benefit all parties.

During our travels through Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing, Seoul, and Hanoi, we attended some key events like the 13th Shanghai Bio-Forum, BioCapital Leadership’s Luncheon, the Maryland-Jiangsu Partnership Banquet, and the Vietnam-Maryland Cooperation Ceremony and Luncheon. Shanghai’s Tasly Group announced a $40 million investment in Maryland, the largest direct investment ever in our state by a Chinese company.

Additionally, Marlin Steel Wire, a Baltimore steel wire basket manufacturer, signed a collaboration agreement in Vietnam with a state-owned steel production firm.  AmeriSure Pharmaceuticals, a Rockville based company, signed an agreement to collaborate with one of Vietnam’s largest state-owned pharmaceutical firms. In addition, the Vietnam Natural Resources and Environmental Corporation agreed to promote Ellicott City’sBlue Wing Environmental Solutions & Technologies floating island products.

Towson University representatives (Steve Phillips, Clay Hickson, Ohoe Kim, and Marcia Welsh, 2nd – 5th from left, respectively) and Inha University representatives, Incheon, South Korea

Not to be left out, Towson University also signed three MOUs in Shanghai to provide faculty training and school management services programs in the Pudong area.  Two other Towson representatives also joined us for parts of the trip.  Alexandria Liu, a Towson University student interning at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, participated in the China leg of the trip, and Mathematics Professor Ohoe Kim was in Korea helping to arrange meetings with various partner universities there.

To develop opportunities for TowsonGlobal Business Incubator and its member companies I met up with representatives of Shanghai Juke Biotech Park, an incubator specializing in helping biotech SMEs.  I also met with Ningxia Yinxing Energy Co., which focuses on green technologies and is exploring expansion to the US.  In Beijing, I met with Xin Feng Zhuoqun Technology Co., a professional circuit board processor that may be able to support current members.   These meetings were important steps to open doors for future collaborations between Asian enterprises and TowsonGlobal.

Despite a few hurdles – our bus got stuck on a mound of dirt and broken asphalt – we also had the opportunity to visit historic landmarks like the Presidential Palace in Nanjing and the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, to go hiking in Seoul, and to tour around the city of Hanoi.

Clay Hickson (center) and delegation members at the Presidential Palace, Nanjing, China

Clay Hickson and Marcia Welsh at the Great Wall, Beijing, China

I was honored to be a part of such significant efforts to bring Asia and Maryland together.  Being a part of the Governor’s delegation offered business and educational professionals opportunities to expand their networks and strengthen existing ties while gaining credibility.  The mission brought many opportunities for technology development and economic growth to our state.  Maryland’s future in these foreign markets looks bright, but success will all depend on the efforts we make to continue building ties in the region.

2 Comments | Business Analysis, Education, Entrepreneurship, International Business Development, News, Small Business Development | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Clay Hickson

Baltimore “Thinks Big”

June 6, 2011

Clay

Baltimore’s time to think big has arrived! TowsonGlobal and Baltimore area innovators are organizing the first annual Think Big Baltimore, an educational forum where entrepreneurs and investors get together to discuss ideas and opportunities for growth.

This day-long event, hosted at Towson University, will feature expert panel discussions, keynote speakers, and in-depth educational sessions.  Attendees also will have the opportunity to generate new connections, catch up with other entrepreneurs, and share ideas over cocktails and appetizers in a powerful networking session the evening before. Finally, guests will participate in CrowdPitch, an event where selected pitching companies will present in front of a panel of experts and an audience.  Audience attendees will receive $100 of fun money which they can “invest” in their favorite pitching company.   The winner will be selected based on who receives the most “money”.

Events like Think Big Baltimore keep entrepreneurial spirit alive, create more jobs, generate opportunities for start-ups and small businesses, encourage innovation, and promote competition—all necessary for the Greater Baltimore area’s growth and success. Do not miss out on the opportunity to receive valuable advice from experts, or network with peers and investors.  Regardless of the stage a business is in, whether it is just an idea or a reality, Think Big Baltimore will be place to be!

The event will start with a networking reception on Tuesday, July 12th at 6:00 pm, followed by a day-long conference on July 13th, 2011, at Towson University. Use TowsonGlobal’s code 07132011 when you register, to get a special discount.  For more information, please visit http://www.thinkbigbaltimore.com/

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Posted by Clay Hickson

PureBang Games and My Hopeful Journey Announced as the Winners of TowsonGlobal’s Business Plan Competition

April 14, 2011

Clay

TowsonGlobal’s first Business Plan Competition has found a winner… Two, in fact!   On April 11 five finalists—Hem of His Garment, My Hopeful Journey, Knight Protection Inc., PubRaiders.com, and Pure Bang Games—presented in front of a panel of distinguished judges over the course of three hours.  After careful consideration, Pure Bang Games and My Hopeful Journey were selected as winners.

Each entrant had fifteen minutes to present their business plans, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.   The finalists were eloquent, confident and most importantly, very passionate about their ideas.  During the discussions, the judges provided insightful financial, marketing and management advice.

The competition was stiff, and in the end, there was a tie between the innovative ideas of PureBang Games and My Hopeful Journey.

Pure Bang Games Website

Pure Bang Games is a social game company poised to grab a chunk of the $1B social games market by creating fun, innovative social games aimed at women and tweens.  Their first title, My Pet Rock, is live on FaceBook and they are raising capital for marketing.

My Hopeful Journey's Website

My Hopeful Journey Website

My Hopeful Journey is a web-based application, much like a personal organizer, that changes the way women integrate infertility treatments into their lives.  It includes a calendar, task list and journal all in one application.   It is highly flexible and is accessible from any computer, phone or other device that has internet access.

Each winner will receive a prize package valued at $7,250, which will include the facilities, mentoring and networking assistance of a three-month Resident Membership in TowsonGlobal, promotional products and services from X-Sell Promotions, and a monetary prize of $2,000.

The support of sponsors has helped make TowsonGlobal’s competition a great success.  Thanks to Katz Abosch, Score of Greater Baltimore, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, X-Sell Promotions, Kevin Botsford of Merrill Lynch, Vince Talbert of PayPal, and YouNoodle.

TowsonGlobal’s latest effort in encouraging and strengthening entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in the Baltimore area has surpassed expectations.  The response for the competition has been gratifying and shows the great potential of entrepreneurs in our region.

Look for the next competition in the fall!

Leave a Comment » | Business Analysis, Community Outreach, Entrepreneurship, International Business Development, IT, News, Projects, Small Business Development, TU Faculty & Staff | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Clay Hickson

Business Plan Competition: Meet The Judges!

April 5, 2011

Clay

We are only a few weeks away from the final round of TowsonGlobal’s first Business Plan Competition.  On April 11, finalists will make oral presentations in front of a panel of judges, who will then select the winner.  The judges, many of them Towson University alums with entrepreneurial backgrounds, have diverse expertise in a variety of industries, ranging from advertising to commercial lending and information technology.

So let’s meet them:

CallahanMr. Ed Callahan, Creative Strategist & Co-Founder, Planit
Edward Callahan is the creative leader and cofounder of Planit.  With more than 15 years of industry experience, he has worked with clients including CitiFinancial, Crayola, Under Armour, National Geographic, and a variety of other local, regional, and national brands. Recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal as one of “40 under 40” rising stars.  Mr. Callahan is a graduate of Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in visual communications.

Mr. Larry Fiorino, CEO & President, G.1440
Mr. Fiorino has over 20 years of experience in the information technology industry.  He was named in the Baltimore Business Journals “40 under 40″ listing and serves on numerous boards including the Emerging Technology Centers, and Towson University’s College of Business and Economics. He also sits on the University of Baltimore’s Entrepreneurship Board.  Mr. Fiorino is a graduate of Towson University, with a Bachelors degree in Accounting, has an MBA from Loyola College and is a CPA in Maryland.

Mr. Jack Lewin, Vice President, M&T Bank, Commercial Banking
Mr. Lewin is a senior relationship manager for commercial lending at M&T Bank in Baltimore, where he manages approximately $400MM in bank exposure to commercial companies.  He serves as a director of The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).  Mr. Lewin also serves as on the board of TowsonGlobal Business Incubator. He received his MBA from University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and received his BA cum laude with distinction from The Colorado College.

ParedesMs. Lissell Paredes, B.A. in International Business, Towson University (July 2010)
Lissell Paredes is a recent graduate of Towson University, with a Bachelor of Science in International Business, received in July 2010. She currently serves as a Junior Research Assistant at Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute assisting with marketing and research activities. During her studies, she started as a marketing and research intern at TowsonGlobal Business Incubator, where she conducted market analysis for its member companies. She also attended Universidad Del Pacifico in Peru, where she was an economics major, before transferring to the United States to pursue a business degree.

ParekhMr. Eric Parekh, Vice President, Evergreen Advisors, LLC
Mr. Parekh is a Vice President in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice of Evergreen Advisors.  He has a diverse background in middle market investment banking and brings a breadth of transactional experience to the practice.  Mr. Parekh has an MTS from Urshan Graduate School of Theology in St Louis, Missouri, and a BS in Economics from Texas A&M University.  He is actively pursuing an MBA with a concentration in accounting at Loyola University in Maryland. Mr. Parekh holds his Uniform Combined State Law Series 66 and his Series 7 General Securities Representative Licenses.  He serves on the board of the Towson Global Business Incubator.

Mr. Vince Talbert, Vice President of Merchant Services, PayPal – eBay, Inc.
Mr. Talbert has 20 years of marketing, Internet and credit card experience. Currently, he is the VP of Merchant Marketing at PayPal, an eBay company.  He joined eBay through the acquisition of Bill Me Later, Inc. where he was the VP of Marketing.  Bill Me Later was acquired by eBay for $1 billion. As a founding member and member of the executive team, Mr. Talbert was a key participant in the fund raising activities of the company which raised over $300 million in private equity. He earned his MBA from The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and his BS in Economics and Finance from Towson University.

TowsonGlobal launched the Business Plan Competition precisely because our purpose is to strengthen long-lasting entrepreneurial spirit and to support innovation across the Greater Baltimore Region that ultimately create a more vibrant economy.  The panel of judges for this first competition embodies that vision by providing today’s innovators with real and useful feedback from successful entrepreneurs and other experienced business people.

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Posted by Clay Hickson

Cyber Security, STEM Education Partnerships, Great Networking, and more!

March 28, 2011

Bobbie

With just over three weeks to go before the 4th annual Solutions Showcase on April 13th I wanted to share a couple of the event’s highlights with our readers.

First, our Exhibitors! This year we are so excited to have 15 exhibitors representing Towson’s most exciting research and educational programs in the area of technology, STEM, and community outreach.  Here are just a few:

Adolescent and Adult Language and Literacy Clinic (ALL)

  • Provides spoken and written language assessments to adolescents and adults struggling with speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
  • Offers intervention services to individuals with spoken and written language disorders including dyslexia
  • Provides a unique professional preparation opportunity for graduate students training to become speech-language pathologists

Center for Applied IT & MAISA

  • Cyber security consulting and seminars
  • External graduate assistantship program for business
  • Research partnerships in information assurance and applied IT

Bioscience Education and Outreach Program

  • Field-trip destination, providing hands-on, inquiry based bioscience lab activities to Maryland’s secondary science students
  • Providing a variety of professional development opportunities to teachers throughout Maryland
  • Equipment loan program to assist Maryland educator’s in delivering high quality, hands-on bioscience laboratory activities in their own classroom

Showcase 2010 Exhibitors

Second, our Speakers! This year the Showcase will feature two fantastic keynote speakers.  Ms. Kathleen Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent for Maryland, responsible for Career Technology and College Readiness, will highlight educational and outreach programs that are focused on regional workforce needs and provide opportunities for business, government, and education to work together to meet those needs. Mr. Dickie George, Senior Technical Director for Information Assurance with the NSA, will discuss the changes in Information Assurance in the last forty years, what the challenge is, how the cyber cold war compares to the cold war of the 1960’s, what skills are sought after in new hires, and opportunities at the Agency.

This free event is the best opportunity for business, education, and government partners interested in working with Towson University faculty, researchers, and professional outreach centers to meet the right people and identify opportunities for collaboration!

1 Comment | Community Outreach, Education, Entrepreneurship, Events, Mapping, News, TU Faculty & Staff | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Bobbie Laur

TowsonGlobal Business Plan Competition Announces Six Finalists

March 7, 2011

Clay

After much anticipation, the six finalists for TowsonGlobal’s first Business Plan Competition have been selected.  A number of diverse entrants submitted their executive summaries on February 7, and the final six were chosen from these by a panel of experienced business professionals, economic development personnel, and faculty.

They are:

  • Hem of HIS Garment, provider of customized fashion apparel and alterations for women
  • Knight Protection, Inc., provider of unique tactical protection services that enhance the overall security industry
  • Mocha, learning management system that delivers content logically, through an easy to use and dynamic web portal
  • My Hopeful Journey, web-based application that helps women manage their infertility treatment programs
  • PubRaiders.com, developer of mobile phone technology that allows bar patrons to purchase items through their smart phones
  • Pure Bang Games, developer of  Facebook games

TowsonGlobal’s goal is to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation, so all entrants received constructive feedback from the judges.  Finalists will be able to integrate that input into their full business plans, which will be due by March 11.

Since a strong “pitch” is vital to a startup’s success, each company also will have the opportunity to present in front of a panel of university and business experts, on April 11. The winner will be selected that day and will receive free 90-day Resident membership with the incubator (valued at $5000), along with a cash prize!

The business plan competition is a great reflection of the diversity and innovative spirit in the Baltimore area.  TowsonGlobal is happy to be a part of these ventures’ road to success and is looking forward to giving the finalists all the support they need throughout the competition.

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Posted by Clay Hickson

Getting it Right: How to Write a Winning Executive Summary

February 9, 2011

Clay

Research shows it only takes about 17 seconds to make a lasting impression. When you first meet someone, you only get a few glimpses of their personality, but it is enough to make you either want to learn more or to make you lose interest.

The Executive Summary works in a similar way.  It is the very first impression you give to a potential investor and the most important part of a business plan. So, how do you write a winning executive summary?

The main purpose of an executive summary is to explain your business in a clear and concise way.   Investors, CEOs, and lenders are busy and the executive summary may be the only thing they will ever read.  Tell the reader where your company is and where it’s headed, but most of all, show why you think your business will succeed.  Do not explain your entire plan, but highlight the key points.  Providing meaningless details is a mistake that small businesses often make.  Also, clear your vocabulary of superlatives and clichés; avoid using terms like “the best,” “groundbreaking,” “cutting-edge,” and “world class.”  Investors see these words too often; they hold no value and might make your project’s weaknesses much more evident. Be straightforward.

Photo credit: SXC, Brian Griesbaum

To make a powerful argument, you have to structure the summary in an organized way. A successful executive summary should have the following key elements:

  • a description of your company, including your products and/or services
  • your mission statement
  • your business’s management/the team
  • the market and your customer
  • marketing and sales plans
  • your competition
  • your business’s operations
  • financial projections and plans

To write the executive summary for your business plan, start by following the list above and writing one to three sentences about each topic.

Trying to describe your entire business in only a few pages isn’t easy, but if you wait until you have finished the business plan, the executive summary will practically write itself. Once you’re done, ask a friend or someone else to review it.  If they seem bored, or have no idea of what your business is about, then it will probably have the same effect on investors.

To view executive summary templates, and for additional information, visit TowsonGlobal’s Entrepreneurs Portal.

Leave a Comment » | Business Analysis, Education, Entrepreneurship, Events, International Business Development, Small Business Development, Students, Training | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Clay Hickson

VIDEO: Towson Global Helps Entrepreneurs Bring Dreams to Reality

February 2, 2011

Clay

TowsonGlobal-Business Incubator was featured earlier this week in a news segment on WJZ. The segment emphasized that despite the tough economic climate for starting a business, Towson University’s incubator makes it easier for entrepreneurs to gain access to the resources needed. The new Business Plan Competition was highlighted as was new member, Keffa Coffee. If you are interested in participating in the Business Plan Competition, don’t forget that Executive Summaries are due on February 7th.

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Posted by Clay Hickson

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