Secretary of Business and Economic Development Christian Johansson headlined the second annual Entrepreneur Expo as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in the state of Maryland. Organized by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the expo gathered more than 350 aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders for informative discussions as well as an Entrepreneur Office Hours session, which allowed entrepreneurs to make connections and meet potential mentors.

“Maryland’s second annual Entrepreneur Expo allowed the region’s top entrepreneurs to come together and further the conversation about growing Maryland’s innovation economy,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “Today’s event provided unique programming that catered to the needs of start-up and early-stage companies, and allowed attendees to connect face-to-face with entrepreneurs to share important business practices.”

Eight companies with the highest scores from Startup Maryland’s Pitch Across Maryland contest, otherwise known as the “Great 8,” each presented a 4-minute pitch to the audience. These finalists, out of a field of more than 150 companies, competed to win a collection of valuable offerings and services from Pitch Across Maryland tour leaders, sponsors, affiliates and participants. The winner of the contest was CoFoundersLab.

Participants also took part in the Dare to Fail session, where they heard about failures and what businesses can learn from mistakes, as well as the region’s famed TechBreakfast, which showcased local technology innovators. Other programming included discussions and breakout sessions regarding successful tech transfers between labs, how to grow and market start-ups, how to become a well-rounded entrepreneur and how companies can secure additional funding.

Expo participants heard from a variety of industry experts, including James Beard Award and Top Chef finalist Bryan Voltaggio, executive chef and owner of VOLT restaurant and Family Meal in Frederick, Md., and Elianne Ramos, principal and CEO of Speak Hispanic Marketing, vice-chair of Marketing/PR for Latinos in Social Media (LATISM), and a contributor to The Huffington Post and NBC Latino.

The Entrepreneur Expo was led by TEDCO and supported by a number of regional entrepreneurs and stakeholders, including the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Miles & Stockbridge P.C., Rosenberg Martin Greenberg LLP and SocialToaster.

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