Resource Roundup: Plug into the community with these Baltimore business and career-building programs

It’s Monday, a time to dig out your inbox and seek out fresh opportunities in a new week. So Technical.ly is bringing a few new chances to plug into the tech and entrepreneurship community with Resource Roundup. It’s a look at open applications for business and career-building programs around the region.

Want to tell us about a program or new opportunity for entrepreneurs and technologists? Email us at baltimore@technical.ly.

Let’s start with a couple of accelerators with deadlines fast approaching:

Conscious Venture Lab applications open

The impact-minded accelerator Conscious Venture Lab has applications open for a new cohort of startups. The 16-week program has room for 40 mission-driven companies from June through September.

As we reported, the company shifted to a virtual format last year, allowing it to move from 10 companies to 40. It resulted in a cohort that had companies 15 states and 13 countries. Plus founders were 70% women and people of color. In February, it turned demo day into a full week of virtual pitches.

Deadline is April 5.

StarTUp Accelerator

As we first mentioned in the daily Technical.ly Baltimore newsletter last week, Towson University’s StarTUp Accelerator is accepting applications for its latest cohort.

The eight-week program is for startups who have started to introduce a product or service into the market. It includes a $10,000 stipend, and welcomes startups to take up residency in StarTUp at the Armory, the program’s new entrepreneurship space in downtown Towson.

The accelerator launched last year, and included companies that earned a mention on our annual RealLIST Startups, like Lockbox Adventures and Flave.

Apply by March 21. Per TU, selected founders will be announced by March 29.

Call for Speakers: Beyond a Dream Youth Conference

If you want some practice explaining what you do to a 12-year-old, you’re in luck: Baltimore youth development nonprofit The Be.Org is seeking speakers for its annual event, the Beyond a Dream Youth Conference.

Held virtually on Saturday, April 17, the conference is set to host students in grades 6 to 12 and their parents from around the region.

The programming is centered around exploring careers and preparing for college, so organizers are seeking industry experts to speak at the event. They’re seeking pros to join as a speaker, workshop facilitator and/or career panelist. It’s focused in the following areas:

• Health professions
• Finance and entrepreneurship
• STEM
• Digital arts, communication and marketing
• Additional sessions will be held for parents and professional development

Interested in speaking? Fill out this form by Friday, March 19.

Kiva info session

Bringing crowdfunding to the community level, Kiva Baltimore offers zero-percent interest, no-fee business loans of up to $15,000 for Baltimore entrepreneurs.

According to stats on its website, the program supported 27 Baltimore-based business owners during the pandemic with microloans, with 90% of the capital raised funding Black and minority-owned businesses.

On March 25, a virtual information session will offer a chance for business owners to learn more about the program and get info about applying.

Register here.