Chesapeake Innovation Center has a new startup competition

The Chesapeake Innovation Center is offering half a year of free help for startups in a new competition.
The CIC Challenge, which is funded through a Maryland Department of Commerce grant, is offering a chance for selected companies to receive six months in the Anne Arundel County incubator.
CIC Executive Director Michael Tentnowski called it a scholarship program for startups. Along with potentially including office space, the membership includes access to programs, mentors and advisors, as well as networking opportunities through both CIC and the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council. A pitch event is also planned.
Apply by June 15
Located near Fort Meade in Odenton, where the national cyber command and other agencies are headquartered, CIC has strengths in cybersecurity and big data. They also help companies in IoT and health IT.
“Being right outside the gates of Fort Meade gives us some advantages,” Tentnowski said. He points to tech companies in the federal contracting space.
Applicants are required to have an established business entity in Maryland, and must have at least a preliminary business plan.