Latest Grants from USM Launch Fund Boost Maryland Entrepreneurs, Spur Research and Innovation
BALTIMORE (Feb. 23, 2026) — The most recent grants from the University System of Maryland (USM) Launch Fund to USM-affiliated researchers and entrepreneurs are helping them develop startup businesses, gain access to early capital, and nurture new, innovative partnerships.
Established as a pilot program in 2023, the USM Launch Fund is administered by the USM Office of Research and Economic Development. Awardees can be students, alumni, staff, faculty, startups whose ventures are based on USM intellectual property, or startups located in places affiliated with USM universities.
“These grants provide essential early capital for our startups, but they do more than that,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “They create a community of innovation. The program has helped new entrepreneurs find mentors. It’s helped young founders and companies connect with others. Nurturing these networks is how you build an entrepreneurial economy that benefits Maryland and its people.”
Maryland is full of potential business owners with bold ideas, but access to early capital is often a missing ingredient. With that in mind, the USM Board of Regents authorized the USM Launch Fund pilot program to distribute up to $600,000 in grants to USM ventures and an additional $100,000 in microgrants (funded by the USM Foundation) over three years. In 2023 and 2024, the fund distributed $280,000 and $260,000 respectively, and this third round of grants and microgrants totaled $100,000.
One recipient in this round, Elastic Energy, is developing batteries based on tree sap. “Our ambition goes far beyond building a company,” said co-founder Samuel Bendek. “We strive to leave a meaningful and enduring impact on the planet, one that continues to thrive long after we’re gone.”
The latest round of funding, delivered in the second half of 2025, is supporting a veteran, a young mother and numerous first-generation college students. The USM Launch Fund has identified opportunities to support innovators who may have faced historical barriers or other obstacles as they have pursued their creative endeavors.
“I realized there weren’t enough community safe spaces or support systems designed specifically for young moms like me: moms who are determined to succeed but often overlooked or overwhelmed,” said Loren Nelson, founder of the Glow Forward Foundation, which aims to connect young and single mothers to college, career, and community resources.
One outgrowth of the pilot has been Launch Fund Nexus, which develops student-startup-industry trios, each working on a collaborative project that helps move a startup forward. Industry partners add their expertise and gain the opportunity to interact with potential employees and innovative partners.
Unlike a traditional internship, where students may contribute to various tasks, Nexus trios focus on a single, well-defined concept. “During this pilot, we have seen that our startups appreciated not only the capital, but also the productive connections to driven, creative students,” said USM Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Michele Masucci. “As we plan for the evolution of the Launch Fund, we aim to emphasize and support this kind of collaboration between students and entrepreneurs as a key component.” One microgrant in this round of funding will support a new competition in which teams of students from any USM institution(s) will build business cases related to institution-owned intellectual property.
Among those provided capital by the USM Launch Fund in this round:
Apparel and Beyond
Apparel and Beyond (https://www.abdirectprints.com/) is based in Montgomery County. It is a veteran-owned custom apparel and art printing business that offers sustainable, high-quality printing services, upcycled fashion, and a creative retail space for community artists.
Contact: Andrew Bird, abglobalmd@gmail.com. Andrew is an alumnus of the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Elastic Energy
Elastic Energy (https://elasticenergy.co/) is based in Baltimore County. This startup has developed a tree-sap-based battery that, compared to traditional battery systems, is 40 percent more cost-effective, lasts three times longer, and is sustainable — providing a safer, longer-lasting alternative to lithium batteries.
Contact: Samuel Bendek, samuel.bendek@elasticenergy.co. Samuel is an undergraduate mechanical engineering major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Expora
Expora Therapeutics (https://exporatx.com/) is a biotech startup based in Frederick County focused on healthy bacteria — the kind in probiotics meant to improve gut health — and chemicals they release through external “bubbles” that directly deliver the benefit of the probiotics. Expora’s tech can mass-produce these bubbles, known as bacterial extracellular vesicles. This enables accelerated research and commercialization of therapeutics and consumer health products because it eliminates the need to depend exclusively on live bacteria, which are unstable and show inconsistent health benefits from person to person. This startup has emerged from research at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Contact: Nick Pirolli, npirolli@exporatx.com. Nick earned a bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Glow Forward Foundation
The Glow Forward Foundation (https://www.theglowforwardfoundation.org) is a Baltimore City 501(c)(3) supporting young and single mothers through college, career, and community resources. Founded by Loren Nelson during her USM Langenberg Legacy fellowship, it was the first nonprofit funded by the USM Launch Fund. Programs include monthly meetups for mothers, scholarships, childcare stipends, mentorship, and the new Nana’s Corner intergenerational program. In its first scholarship cohort, 9 of 10 recipients were USM students; a second cohort will launch in mid-2026.
Contact: Loren Nelson, info@theglowforwardfoundation.org. Loren earned a bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Baltimore and is now pursuing her doctorate in public administration at UBalt.
Reclaim
Reclaim (https://reclaimsearch.com/) is based in Baltimore County and offers an AI-driven lost-and-found solution that automates reporting, matching, notifications and analytics, reducing process time while eliminating landfill waste across campuses, airports, hotels, and stadiums.
Contact: Kumlachew Hirgeto, khirgeto@norad.co. Reclaim is based in Towson University’s StarTUp at the Armory.
Contact: Beau Boughamer
Phone: 410.576.5732
Email: bboughamer@usmd.edu
