MBA alum and former Dingman Scholar Matt Fleischer put passion into promise to create a successful beer company Zoey Rawlins, founder of Shop DC and former Dingman Scholar, launched her business by following trends in the marketplace Run by students, The Smith Store offers promotional branded apparel, accessories and gifts The Dingman Center supports entrepreneurs throughout the Washington D.C. Metro Area and beyond The Dingman Center is located at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland

Seed Stage Funding—Smith E-Fund

The Dingman Center assists University of Maryland students, faculty, and staff with expertise, resources, and funding. As part of the center's mission to nurture regional entrepreneurship, members of the UMD community are eligible to apply for seed stage funding per year. Investment is determined on a case-by-case basis with a maximum investment of $30,000 over two years.

“This seed funding provides a great opportunity for students to take the required steps towards becoming successful entrepreneurs,” said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center. “Too often people associate entrepreneurs with the Bill Gates of the world and that can be intimidating. The Dingman Center is singular in its commitment to providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need and in recognizing entrepreneurship as a key driver of the global economy.”

Find out how the Dingman Center gave this microbrewery a boost up.