September 11, 2009 —

College Park: The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship started 2009-2010 school year with a successful Dingman Jumpstart program. Twenty-four students from various UMD schools and colleges spent two weeks of their summer vacation learning what it takes to be an entrepreneur and working hard on launching their own ventures. The main goal of the Jumpstart program was to teach students how to think like an entrepreneur and how to run a business like one. Entrepreneurial skills and thinking are indispensable whether one is running their own business or a department within a larger company.

The program was structured around the Dingman Process and included workshops, lectures, and one-on-one sessions lead by successful regional entrepreneurs, investors, lawyers, and Smith School faculty. The students had a rare opportunity to learn from the advisors’ extensive real-life experience as well as make important networking connections.

On the final day of the program, a panel of the Dingman Center’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, staff, and investors watched ten student teams present impressive results of their hard work.  The program’s success was evident from excellent presentations and from students’ determination to continue working on their projects after the program ended.

“The Jumpstart program is completed, and I had a great experience,” said James O’Connor, founder of Tailgate Specialists, a company offering customers an all-inclusive, hassle-free tailgate experience by taking care of the preparation, setup, and cleanup. “I learned a lot, I met a lot of great people. I am greatful I did it and I am happy that programs like this exist.” O’Connor will be launching his services shortly at one of the upcoming University of Maryland football games.

“I came to this program with my idea of Chesinah, which is an apron business,” said Juliet Serem, graduate architecture student and founder of Chesainah, which produces unique, high quality, handcrafted kitchen aprons made by economically disadvantaged women in rural parts of Kenya. “I’ve learned so much from the Jumpstart program. I had all these creative ideas, but having them all written down and starting to think about the business plan and business structure—this has been the most defining moment.”

“I am always amazed at how many resources are available here, all the speakers were fantastic. These two weeks during my summer was definitely time well-spent!” said Zoe Pagonis, co-founder of GaZo, a gift shop selling movie memorabilia to students.

The Dingman Center keeps working the student teams helping them launch, grow, and scale their businesses.  The short-term goal is to get these teams ready for Cupid’s Cup UMD Business Competition in April.  This is a unique competition where students must have an operating business with at least $5,000 in revenue to compete.

About the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship:
Founded in 1986, the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is a top-tier entrepreneurial institute recognized around the world as a leader in enterprise creation. Forward looking and community focused, the Center actively encourages a real-world business culture that innovatively bridges the theoretical with the practical.