Start-Up Zone Criteria and Application
Applications CLOSED for MD Data Center Summit and for the Bio Innovation Conference. Applications still open for the Technology Transformation Conference.
Eligibility Criteria
Geographic Requirement
Companies must be headquartered in Maryland or have a major operational presence in the state.
Stage of Business / Revenue Threshold
Eligible companies should be early-stage with less than $200,000 in annual revenue. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for companies in capital-intensive industries such as biotech.
Age of Company
Companies must have been in operation for five years or fewer. Biotech companies may qualify if they are pre-FDA approval or within two years post-approval.
Innovation Focus
Applicants must be offering an innovative product, service, or technology. Traditional service providers (e.g., IT staffing or consulting without a proprietary offering) would not qualify.
Sector Alignment
Companies should be aligned with sectors relevant to the conference them, such as life sciences, data infrastructure, energy, cybersecurity, health tech, or advanced manufacturing.
Application
Company Information
Company Name
*
Company Contact
*
First Name
Last Name
Email
*
example@example.com
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.
Website
Founding Year
*
Number of Employees
Which industry best describes your company?
*
Life Sciences
Technology
Data Center / Infrastructure
Other
Stage of Company
*
Concept Stage
Pre-Seed Stage
Seed Stage
Early Stage
Growth Stage
Annual Sales
Which MTC conference do you think is the best fit for your company?
*
CLOSED for applications - Maryland Data Center Summit (August 28, 2025, MD Live Hotel and Casino)
CLOSED for applications - Bio Innovation Conference (September 4, 2025, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center)
Technology Transformation Conference (March 12, 2026, Maryland Live Hotel and Casino)
Are you available to exhibit on the date of the selected conference?
*
Yes
No
Product/Solution Overview
What product or solution will you be showcasing?
0/200
What problem does your product or service solve?
0/200
What is your value proposition?
0/200
What stage of development is your product?
*
Concept
Prototype
Minimum Viable Product
First Version Ready for Sales
Initial Sales
Scaling
Who is your target market, and how are you currently or planning to reach them?
0/100
Current Funding Questions
What is your current funding status?
*
Bootstrapped (self-funded)
Friends & Family Round
Pre-see funding raised
Seed funding raised
Series A or beyond
Other
How much total funding have you raised to date? (include all types)
*
None
Less than $100,000
$100,0000 - $500,000
$500,000 - $1M
Over $1M
Prefer not to say
What types of funding have you received? Check all that apply.
*
Non-dilutive grants (e.g. SBIR/STTR, state/federal programs)
Angel Investment
Venture Capital
Crowdfunding
Convertible Notes/ SAFEs
Other
Are you currently raising capital or planning to raise soon?
*
Yes, actively raising now
Planning to raise in the next 6-12 months
Not currently raising
No
Strategic Value for the Conference
What are you hoping to gain by exhibiting at the conference? (e.g. visibility, feedback, partnerships, funding)
*
0/150
Demo Day
As part of the Start-Up Zone, we request that the chosen exhibitors for each conference participate in a culminating event called Spring Demo Day. While this event is currently being developed, it will include product/exhibit demonstrations and pitches.
Are you willing to participate in a Spring Demo Day? (free for start-up)
Yes
No
Maybe
Have you presented at a similar event before? If yes, briefly describe the experience.
Upload your one-pager, product sheet or pitch deck. (Non-Confidential Materials Only)
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*All decisions regarding qualification are at the discretion of the Maryland Tech Council.
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