Loyola accepts nine entrepreneurs for Baltipreneurs Accelerator

Loyola University Maryland’s Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship accepted nine new participants for the center’s 2022-23 Baltipreneurs Accelerator, a four-month part-time program supporting startup businesses and social ventures with training, technical assistance, mentorship, networking, and access to capital. 

This year’s Baltipreneurs founded startups to help build more efficient, sustainable buildings. They plan immersive virtual events and inclusive group travel experiences. They help students choose historically Black colleges and universities. They design and facilitate educational experiences for children in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, and they manufacture award-winning drinks, among other ventures. 

“We have a stellar group of entrepreneurs this year who already contribute so much to this city through their creativity and business generation. It’s an honor for us to work with them and learn from them by supporting their growth,” said Wendy Bolger, founding director of the Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “This year we’ll have more students than ever engaged in experiential learning with the Baltipreneurs, which is a win for all of us.” 

The Baltipreneurs Accelerator cohort consists of five women founders and six Black founders, the most diverse cohort in the program’s history. The selection committee chose the nine entrepreneurs out of 62 applicants. The participants are:

• Ina Kovacheva of Arch Dash, which enables architects to make data-driven decisions that will result in healthier, more efficient, and sustainable buildings
• Bianca Jackson of BrickRose Exchange, which helps organizations host immersive in-person and virtual events
• Jen Fry, Ph.D., of Coordle, an inclusive group travel app
• Paula Dofat of Cut College Costs doing business as HBCU Money Guide, a software-as-a-service with a database of tuition, fees, and scholarships granted by historically Black colleges and universities
• Matt Barinholtz of FutureMakers, a learning company that designs and manufactures hands-on, educational activities in science, technology, education, art, and math
• Nina Guise-Gerrity of GFTD, a wish list and gift-giving app that streamlines sending and receiving gifts
• Donta Henson of Los Hermanos Tequila, an award-winning, small-batch tequila
• John Matthews of The Barrage, a patented, ergonomically designed, virtual reality-compatible entertainment device
• Todd Sheridan of Treehouse Juicery, a cold-pressed juice manufacturing company

The Baltipreneurs Accelerator will provide $40,000 in total funding to the participants. They will attend 10 sessions from December 2022 through March 2023, culminating in a Demo Day showcase at Loyola on March 21. Throughout the program, mentors, instructors, coaches, and consultants will provide guidance customized for each participant, and participants will collaborate with each other.