![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmd.edu\/launch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø-Logo-CMYK-1024x209.jpg\"){kind=logo}
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Launch Fund<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Launch Fund<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Launch Fund Nexus<\/strong><\/h1>\nSupported and coordinated by the Launch Fund<\/a>, Launch Fund Nexus <\/strong>connects (1) startups<\/strong> with (2) students<\/strong> drawn from across those 170,000 enrolled at the 12 institutions and 3 regional higher education centers of the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø (ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø) across the State of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø and (3) industry experts<\/strong>. It creates benefits for all three stakeholders while contributing to ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø’s long-term strategic vision for inclusive economic growth through the creation of supporting infrastructure assets, resources, and a diverse workforce that builds the strengths of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLaunch Fund Nexus features student-startup-industry trios, each working on a collaborative project that helps move a startup forward. <\/strong>Unlike a traditional internship, where students may contribute to various tasks, Nexus trios focus on a single, well-defined collaborative project.<\/p>\n**This is just one way students can connect with startups and other partners across the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø. See related programs here<\/a>!**<\/h4>\n <\/div>\nStudents<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt all starts with you! You can sign up here to be notified of the next deadline and hear from ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø-affiliated startups about similar opportunities<\/a>.***<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Give:<\/strong> Their time and expertise on the project. Expectations:\n
\n- Commit to the collaboratively decided upon meeting schedule and asynchronous project time (as will be defined in the joint application)<\/li>\n
- Exercise professional workplace conduct<\/li>\n
- Treat any confidential material properly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Get:<\/strong>\n
\n- Mentoring from the startup<\/li>\n
- Experience growing skills and applying them<\/li>\n
- Exposure and network connections to two different workplaces<\/li>\n
- Monetary award (if selected; approximately $2,000, after a successful mid-point check-in)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/h3>\nStartups<\/strong><\/h3>\nϡȱÁÔÆæÍø-affiliated startups can sign up here to be notified of the next deadline and see a pool of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø students interested in similar opportunities<\/a>.**<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Give<\/strong>: Their time to manage the project and mentor the student. Expectations:\n
\n- Provide a warm, welcoming environment for the student. Exercise professional workplace conduct.<\/li>\n
- Treat any confidential material properly<\/li>\n
- Make time for the collaborative project (as defined in the joint application)<\/li>\n
- Make time for additional mentoring (as defined in the joint application)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Get:<\/strong>\n
\n- To “own” the project, which will help move their venture forward<\/li>\n
- Connected to a student as a potential future hire<\/li>\n
- Connected to the industry partner as a potential future partner, service provider\/supplier, or client.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/h3>\nIndustry Partners | Industry Partner Signup Form<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Give:<\/strong> Their time and expertise on the project. Expectations:\n
\n- Commit to 15 hours of pro bono advising on the project, which can be split among more than one employee<\/li>\n
- Exercise professional workplace conduct<\/li>\n
- Treat any confidential material properly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Get:<\/strong>\n
\n- Connected to a student as a potential hire<\/li>\n
- Connected to a startup as a future potential partner, service provider\/supplier, or client<\/li>\n
- Exposure to entrepreneurial activity<\/li>\n
- Opportunity for visibility to the entire Nexus community by providing an educational session<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Additionally, Launch Fund Nexus includes training and capacity-building<\/strong>, with workshops on innovation topics and project management that are accessible to students, entrepreneurs, and industry mentors alike. These virtual trainings will be led by startups, industry experts, and university personnel.<\/p>\n**We recognize that students may have their own startups. And startups may be interested in being an industry partner. Applicants may apply from more than one perspective (e.g., as a student and as a startup founder). However, for any project receiving student funding, individuals or organizations may only participate in one role\u2014student, startup, or industry partner. For example, a student with their own venture cannot be funded to work on that venture, and a startup cannot also serve as the industry partner on the same project.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\nAnticipated Timeline<\/h2>\n\n- October <\/b>– <\/b>Students Submit Interest Form<\/li>\n
- November <\/b>– Due Date for Joint Applications from students and startups<\/li>\n
- December <\/strong>– Additional time for Industry Partner recruitment<\/li>\n
- January <\/strong>– Virtual Kickoff<\/li>\n
- February<\/strong> – Virtual Midpoint<\/li>\n
- April\/May<\/b> – Closing Event (virtual or hybrid)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n
<\/strong><\/h1>\nPortfolio Projects<\/strong><\/h1>\nCongratulations to the inaugural cohort of Nexus teams!<\/i><\/p>
<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
## Just Us: AI-Driven Social Media System Architecture<\/p>\n
Chibunkem Asuzu, a graduate student from the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Eastern Shore, collaborated with Just-Us and industry partner Shulman Rogers.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
## UCleaner Water Flosser Head Prototyping & Pilot Program<\/p>\n
Robsun Gina, an undergraduate at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, College Park, worked with UCleaner<\/a> and Harbor Designs & Manufacturing<\/a>.<\/p>\n—<\/p>\n
## Budget Your Way Website Redesign for Impactful Engagement<\/p>\n
Portia Ogbuja, an undergraduate in Computer Science at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Eastern Shore, partnered with Budget Your Way LLC<\/a> and Brady UX<\/a>.<\/p>\n—<\/p>\n
## 2026 Strategic Rollout Blueprint for Jay’s Watermelonade<\/p>\n
Evelyn Murphy and Vivian Ebisike, students from the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, College Park (undergraduate and graduate, respectively), collaborated with Jay’s Watermelonade<\/a>, Northstar Network, and Sweet Maddie’s Cookies on Demand<\/a>.<\/p>\n—<\/p>\n
## Amplify MedTech Fundraising Intelligence Database Tool<\/p>\n
Prathyusha Harish Kumar, a graduate student at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, Baltimore County, worked with Amplify MedTech<\/a> and SmartLogic<\/a>.<\/p>\n—<\/p>\n
## Maison\u00e9: Student-First Equity Housing for HBCUs<\/p>\n
Micah Smith, an undergraduate at Coppin State University, collaborated with Maison\u00e9 Blu and EBless Finance<\/a>.<\/p>\n—<\/p>\n
## AI-Edumate: Personalized Digital Learning Twin Prototype<\/p>\n
Javed Tamboli, a graduate student at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, Baltimore County, partnered with AI-Edumate<\/a> and Mind Over Machines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Launch Fund Nexus features student-startup-industry trios, each working on a collaborative project that helps move a startup forward. <\/strong>Unlike a traditional internship, where students may contribute to various tasks, Nexus trios focus on a single, well-defined collaborative project.<\/p>\n Additionally, Launch Fund Nexus includes training and capacity-building<\/strong>, with workshops on innovation topics and project management that are accessible to students, entrepreneurs, and industry mentors alike. These virtual trainings will be led by startups, industry experts, and university personnel.<\/p>\n **We recognize that students may have their own startups. And startups may be interested in being an industry partner. Applicants may apply from more than one perspective (e.g., as a student and as a startup founder). However, for any project receiving student funding, individuals or organizations may only participate in one role\u2014student, startup, or industry partner. For example, a student with their own venture cannot be funded to work on that venture, and a startup cannot also serve as the industry partner on the same project.<\/p>\n Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of Nexus teams!<\/i><\/p> <\/p>\n ## Just Us: AI-Driven Social Media System Architecture<\/p>\n Chibunkem Asuzu, a graduate student from the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Eastern Shore, collaborated with Just-Us and industry partner Shulman Rogers.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## UCleaner Water Flosser Head Prototyping & Pilot Program<\/p>\n Robsun Gina, an undergraduate at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, College Park, worked with UCleaner<\/a> and Harbor Designs & Manufacturing<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## Budget Your Way Website Redesign for Impactful Engagement<\/p>\n Portia Ogbuja, an undergraduate in Computer Science at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø Eastern Shore, partnered with Budget Your Way LLC<\/a> and Brady UX<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## 2026 Strategic Rollout Blueprint for Jay’s Watermelonade<\/p>\n Evelyn Murphy and Vivian Ebisike, students from the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, College Park (undergraduate and graduate, respectively), collaborated with Jay’s Watermelonade<\/a>, Northstar Network, and Sweet Maddie’s Cookies on Demand<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## Amplify MedTech Fundraising Intelligence Database Tool<\/p>\n Prathyusha Harish Kumar, a graduate student at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, Baltimore County, worked with Amplify MedTech<\/a> and SmartLogic<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## Maison\u00e9: Student-First Equity Housing for HBCUs<\/p>\n Micah Smith, an undergraduate at Coppin State University, collaborated with Maison\u00e9 Blu and EBless Finance<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n ## AI-Edumate: Personalized Digital Learning Twin Prototype<\/p>\n Javed Tamboli, a graduate student at the University of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø, Baltimore County, partnered with AI-Edumate<\/a> and Mind Over Machines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t**This is just one way students can connect with startups and other partners across the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø. See related programs here<\/a>!**<\/h4>\n
Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n
It all starts with you! You can sign up here to be notified of the next deadline and hear from ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø-affiliated startups about similar opportunities<\/a>.***<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/h3>\n
Startups<\/strong><\/h3>\n
ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø-affiliated startups can sign up here to be notified of the next deadline and see a pool of ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø students interested in similar opportunities<\/a>.**<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/h3>\n
Industry Partners | Industry Partner Signup Form<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/h2>\n
Anticipated Timeline<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/strong><\/h1>\nPortfolio Projects<\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/i><\/p>\n
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