Resource Roundup: Made in Baltimore’s Home Run Accelerator is helping product businesses scale up

It’s Monday, a time to dig out your inbox and seek out fresh opportunities in a new week. 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.

---

Camden Yards isn’t the only place where home runs are making a spring debut this April. A new accelerator program is looking to help entrepreneurs take their businesses from the home to commercial space.

Maker and manufacturer-focused support org Made in Baltimore is launching the Home Run Accelerator, a five-month small business development program that is specifically for physical product-based businesses.

The curriculum for the program consists of two parts. First is a “strategy school,” which is a virtual, eight-week program from small biz consulting firm Twilight Quest that helps with foundations of operations, marketing and business development. Additionally, entrepreneurs will be paired with mentors that have scaled business from their homes, who will offer three months of support. And staff from Made in Baltimore will provide technical support throughout.

The program begins May 15. Upon completion, entrepreneurs can receive up to $10,000 to support expansion into a product space.

Applications are due by midnight on April 18. Here’s more info and application info.

Philanthropy Tank supports student-led programs

Here’s an opportunity for student entrepreneurs: Philanthropy Tank Baltimore is returning for its second year, with mentorship and up to $15,000 for social impact programs.

The program originally started in Palm Beach, Florida, before expanding to Baltimore in 2020 and funding eight programs. It has support from founding partners including Alliance Bernstein, Allegis Group, David and Beth Swirnow, Fader Innovation Center, Footlick Family Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation and Whiting Turner. Additionally, A&R Development CEO Theo C. Rodgers is returning as what the program calls a “philanthropist investor” to fund student projects.

Applications are now open through Aug. 1 to Baltimore City students in grades 8 through 12 who can submit a program idea that addresses a social issue in the city. The ventures can be led by an individual or team of up to four people.

Once the application window closes, finalists are selected through two rounds by business and nonprofit community leaders. Teams who are deemed finalists then work alongside a team of coaches on presentations, and pitch to receive funding and mentorship.

Halcyon House fellowship

D.C.’s Halcyon House has been a short-term home for many Baltimore entrepreneurs seeking to grow social impact-driven startups.

Applications are now open for the Halcyon Incubator’s fellows program, which is the flagship program at the Georgetown property. Through the program, fellows receive a $10,000 stipend, rent-free housing, mentoring, one-on-one leadership coaching, and 100+ hours of advice from leaders in Halcyon’s network.

Applications are open through April 9.

And a quick update on federal small biz aid

The Paycheck Protection Program is officially extended. President Joe Biden signed legislation on March 30 that will provide another two months of time to apply for the forgivable business loans. Now, the deadline for businesses will be May 31. Then, the federal government will have until June 30 to process any backlogged apps.

This comes after the program was relaunched in 2021, with the opportunity for businesses to get a second loan.

“PPP has supported millions of small businesses through the pandemic, and it is clear that the program must continue to be a lifeline for small businesses and nonprofits,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), who chairs the U.S. Senate’s small business and entrepreneurship committee. “It is vital that we in Congress continue working in a bipartisan manner to fine-tune PPP in the weeks ahead to make the program more fair and equitable.”

It also has tweaks aimed at making the program more accessible to women and people of color.

“We’re pushing lenders to raise their game and provide more help to … small businesses. As you know, particularly Hispanic, as well as African American small businesses are just out of business because they got bypassed the first time around,” Biden said at a signing ceremony last week.

Here are a few reminders on deadlines we’ve passed along in recent weeks:

• The Gula Tech Foundation has a new round of grant funding for nonprofits educating the public on cybersecurity. Applications are open until April 9.
• TEDCO launched the Agriculture and Rural Rebuild (ARR) Challenge to provide $200,000 grants for Maryland technology supporting agricultural and rural-based businesses. Apply by April 30.
• The Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator and Mtech Ventures are launching the Climate Tech Pre-Accelerator at University of Maryland College Park in June. Apply to be in the first cohort by April 30.