Resource Roundup: Check out funding opportunities for Baltimore startups, makers and community builders

We’re past the midway mark of the month and as the end of September fast approaches, so does the closing of many applications and opportunities for entrepreneurs from Baltimore and around Maryland looking for grants and funding to turn their grand business plans into a reality. The best part of these resources below is even if you don’t receive the funding, the experience from the pitch competitions are what’s going to streamline and improve a business.

EnterpRISE

Station North makerspace Open Works is looking for the best product-based business ideas that can benefit from its resources to grow.

It’s the fourth year for the business competition, which has awarded 20 companies with funding and membership to the space. Of the winners, 14 were founded by people of color and 11 were founded or cofounded by women, according to Open Works.

Applications are open to any product- or manufacturing-based company through October 8. An initial, panel-judged process will narrow the field down 10 finalists. Those finalists will go on to receive six weeks of business workshops, pitch coaching, and shop classes before a final live pitch on Zoom on December 2. Prizes are:

• 1st place: $10,000
• 2nd place: $5,000
• 3rd place: $1,000
• 7 runners up: $250 along with all finalists receiving 6 months of free “Pro” membership from January-June, 2022.

Meet one of the judges for EnterpRISE 2021, Susan Clayton of @Runmitts, winner of EnterpRISE 2020. Do you have a product you want to bring to production? Learn more about EnterpRISE 20201, our Judges and how to apply (by Oct 8) in bio link.#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur#Maryland pic.twitter.com/x6svkJQ61t

— OpenWorksBmore (@OpenWorksBmore) September 20, 2021

Shore Hatchery

Salisbury University’s business plan competition for mid-Atlantic startups is offering a slice of its $200,000 annual allocation at a pitch competition coming up next month. For startups, registration closes on Monday, September 27, at 11:59 p.m. with the pitch competition taking place on October 29.

If you have a great business idea, you could win your share of $200,000 to start it! SU’s @PerdueSchool Ratcliffe Shore Hatchery entrepreneurship program is back and open for applications. Participants will pitch their ideas on Fri., Oct. 29.

Learn more: https://t.co/DeWESuilXl pic.twitter.com/NLZM8iuAkd

— Salisbury University (@SalisburyU) September 3, 2021

Elevation Awards

The brainchild of the Baltimore Corps, this program highlights people of color who are Baltimore City residents piloting novel approaches to strengthen Baltimore communities. It provides planning grants of $10,000 and personalized support to awardees. Applications are open through October 22.

We're looking for bold thinkers with innovative ideas that will improve their community. Are you one of them?

Apply for Elevation Awards, a social entrepreneurship program that provides $10,000 grants & expansive programing.

Start your application at https://t.co/ErxyPmw3yi pic.twitter.com/iHQ3z9sk1p

— Baltimore Corps (@BaltimoreCorps) September 15, 2021

Innovation Works’ Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI) Boost

Baltimore social entrperenuership resource network Innovation Works is set to hold its multi-day entrepreneurial workshop series from Nov. 29-Dec. 2.  It’s designed to help leaders of nonprofits, for-profit businesses and hybrid social enterprises learn business basics, and articulate a plan that balances business growth, impact and long-term susntainability. Apply by October 4.

Homecoming Hero Awards

Baltimore‘s alumni event will be back in 2022.

Baltimore Homecoming announced plans this month for its three day event, called Amplify 2022. Save the date: May 4-6.

The idea is to bring some of the city’s big-name and highly-accomplished natives back to Baltimore to see what’s going on today.

For the locals, the organizers are now accepting nominations for the Homecoming Hero Awards. Plus, it’s taking proposals from nonprofits to serve as “field trip” sites for the visitors. Let’s show ’em what we’re building. Maybe they’ll want to stick around.

Do you know someone who works tirelessly to create a new narrative for the city? #HomecomingHero nominations for Amplify 2022 are live and 5 winners will receive a cash prize of $3000 each! Nominations close on October 15, nominate now!https://t.co/7EJ8p41ydy

— Baltimore Homecoming (@BMoreHomecoming) September 20, 2021

Here are a few more reminders about upcoming deadlines we’ve noted in past roundups:

• The DataTribe Challenge has applications open for cyber and data science companies through Oct. 1.
• Baltimore-based accelerator Conscious Venture Lab has applications open for a new cohort of impact-focused businesses through Oct. 15.
• The Howard County-based Gula Tech Foundation has $1 million in funding available for “confidence in data care.” Applications will be open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15.