Maryland Momentum Fund

Overview

The Maryland Momentum Fund is a venture capital fund established by the University System of Maryland (USM) to support early-stage companies affiliated with its institutions. The fund focuses on investing in technology ventures that have the potential to drive economic development and technology commercialization within Maryland. By providing late seed funding, the fund aims to bridge the gap between initial grant funding and larger Series A investments, thereby accelerating the growth of promising startups. The fund's investment strategy encompasses a wide range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, food safety, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. It targets companies at various stages of development, from pre-seed to late-stage, with investments typically ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. To be eligible for investment, companies must be affiliated with USM through their founders, intellectual property, or location within USM research parks or incubators. Since its inception, the Maryland Momentum Fund has invested in numerous startups, contributing to the commercialization of research and fostering innovation within the state. The fund's portfolio includes companies such as MF Fire, NextStep Robotics, the North American Wave Engine Corporation, Zest Tea, PaverGuide, Retrium, Veralox Therapeutics, Gemstone Biotherapeutics, Neoprogen, Minnowtech, ARMR Systems, Infercabuary, Datakwip, pathOtrak, KaloCyte, miRecule, N5 Sensors, VisiSonics, Voxy EnGen, Dynamhex, TargetDocs, and Qualytics. Through these investments, the fund continues to support the growth and success of USM-affiliated startups, contributing to Maryland's economic development and technological advancement.

Investment Focus

• Company must be located in Maryland
• Company must be affiliated with a USM institution
• Company must secure equal or greater investment by a third party investor at the same commercial terms as the Momentum Fund

Portfolio Companies