Loyola Maryland awards $25K at Baltipreneurs Accelerator’s Demo Day

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Loyola University Maryland’s Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship awarded a total of $25,000 to four ventures that participated in the center’s Baltipreneurs Accelerator during its Demo Day event March 19 at the university’s McGuire Hall.

Demo Day was the culmination of the accelerator’s four-month part-time program supporting startup businesses and social ventures with training, technical assistance, mentorship, networking and access to capital. The event allowed participants to showcase their ventures in a pitch competition and network with attendees.

This year’s cohort consisted of three Loyola students, six women founders or co-founders, and 14 who identify as people of color. In addition to the award recipients, the cohort included Ballmecca Inc., BLYNK Inc., Dental Desires, Fair Winds Candle Co., Ikonic Visions Multimedia Group, Inferno Streetwear, The ContractHer and VijoGeo.

Award winners included:

Iyonna Woods of Fancy Free Hair and Skin, who received the $5,000 Hustle Award, which recognizes the entrepreneur who achieved the most during the program.

Araba Maze of Storybook Maze, who received the $5,000 Impact Award, which recognizes the entrepreneur most likely to achieve the greatest social and environmental good in Baltimore, and the $5,000 Audience Choice Award, chosen by attendees to the program’s Demo Day for strongest pitch presentation.

Loyola seniors Andrew Schmutter and Declan Budnitz of S&B Commerce who received the $5,000 Peerless Award, which recognizes the entrepreneurs who best used the program to build a network and find and provide support to others.

Rafael Casas, Ph.D., of SpringWear, who received the $5,000 Greyhound Award, which recognizes the entrepreneur most likely to achieve significant growth.

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