Can community colleges be hubs for business innovation?

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) opened its doors in 1957 with the aim to inspire Marylanders to strengthen their lives and careers. Building on this legacy, CCBC’s Center for Business Innovation has been driving entrepreneurial spirit and fostering innovation among students and community members alike. This commitment led to the creation of the B’more BOLD Conference for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, which enters its third year on June 11 and 12.

The conference takes place during those two dates at the Maritime Conference Center, which is located near BWI airport in Linthicum Heights. This event provides a platform for industry professionals, thought leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs to come together, engage in meaningful discussions and explore emerging trends in entrepreneurship and innovation. Led by the Center for Business Innovation (CBI), the B’more BOLD Conference has become a hub of creativity and collaboration. It serves as a catalyst for inspiring ideas and cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial community in Maryland.

Sessions and speakers

According to information on the B’more BOLD website, a special “pre-conference summit” takes place on June 11. This summit will provide a platform to address pressing issues and opportunities faced by different business communities. Specifically, the pre-conference summit will delve into such topics as the challenges and prospects for women-owned businesses, strategies for accessing capital and resources for minority-owned tech businesses and how military veterans can initiate and cultivate their ideas as veteran-owned enterprises. These three constituent community-focused summits are hosted by Maryland Small Business Development Center Baltimore City/County Regional Director Jennifer Smith-Funn, UpSurge Baltimore Chief Ecosystem and Relationship Officer Kory Bailey and Next Steps BDC Director Brenda Dilts, respectively.

Moreover, local tech sector leaders like EcoMap Technologies CEO Pava LaPere, Latimer Ventures Managing Partner Luke Cooper and TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall will speak and present during the event. And they’re just the tip of an iceberg that includes a myriad of regional finance, education, media, technology and innovation mainstays — including at least one “Shark Tank” competitor — on the featured speakers list.

Last year’s conference included a pitch competition in which three entrepreneurs from the Baltimore and DC areas won a total of $10,000 in prize money. This year’s features a so-called “5 x 5,” in which owners of five small businesses “have just five minutes each to share their single, best idea that would have the most dramatic impact on businesses today,” according to the conference program.

Overall, this conference offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights, network with like-minded professionals and stay at the forefront of the Baltimore regional market.

Learn about the speakers and RSVP