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UBalt's AI-Enabled Business Incubator

Welcome to the University of Baltimore's AI-Enabled Business Incubator, an innovative program designed to bridge critical gaps in Baltimore's entrepreneurial and commercialization ecosystem. This initiative empowers a diverse range of founders, including underrepresented entrepreneurs such as women, minorities, and veterans, by equipping them with essential knowledge, tools, and networks to launch and scale AI-enabled businesses.

The UBalt AI-Enabled Business Incubator is not an AI R&D lab or a technical training program focused on developing AI technologies. Instead, it helps founders and business executives understand and adopt AI as a practical tool for improving operations, marketing, decision-making, and product offerings, making artificial intelligence accessible and actionable for real-world business growth.

 

Building on the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's (CEI) successful track record of providing startup capital, coaching, and programming for inclusive entrepreneurship, this program leverages the unique assets of UBalt's Merrick School of Business, which pioneered Maryland's first Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business. UBalt's approach emphasizes accessibility, applied learning, and community impact, targeting main street entrepreneurs and early-stage founders often excluded from tech ecosystems.

 

The program has received an Entrepreneurship Commercialization, Programming and Infrastructure Award as part of the Baltimore Innovation Initiative, funded by TEDCO's Maryland Innovation Initiative. This funding specifically supports an equitable innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem within higher education institutions in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area, aiming to advance technology toward commercialization and bolster support for entrepreneurs developing technology-based ventures.

 

Empowering Entrepreneurs

Goals

  • Empower Diverse Entrepreneurs: Provide underrepresented and other founders with the skills and knowledge to leverage AI in their businesses.
  • Foster AI Integration: Facilitate the adoption of AI technologies in various business functions to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
  • Promote Economic Growth: Support the development of scalable, AI-enabled businesses that contribute to Baltimore's economic development.
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Program Components

The AI-Enabled Business Incubator is a four-month, part-time accelerator consisting of integrated components designed to accelerate business growth and commercialization:
  • Curriculum Development: A modular, practical "AI for Business" curriculum developed by UBalt faculty and AI industry professionals, covering topics such as AI for operations, predictive analytics, generative marketing content, and ethical use of AI tools.
  • Mentorship Opportunities: Participants are paired with mentors from CEI's network, including Innovation Works, UpSurge, and CEI entrepreneurs-in-residence, who provide tailored commercialization coaching.
  • Workshops and Applied Learning: In-person and virtual workshops support venture development, covering business modeling, AI tool demonstrations, and customer discovery strategies.
  • Technology Transfer and IP Support: Through collaboration with the Merrick School and industry advisors, participants receive support in identifying protectable assets and exploring go-to-market strategies.
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Team

The success of the AI-Enabled Business Incubator is driven by a dedicated team:

  • Henry Mortimer: Director of UBalt's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with a decade of experience in leading CEI, supporting entrepreneurs, and managing ecosystem partnerships. He oversees program delivery, external partners, and commercialization planning.

  • Dr. Mikhail Pevzner: Professor and EY Chair in Accounting at UBalt, instrumental in launching Maryland's first M.S.in Artificial Intelligence for Business program.

  • Other UBalt Faculty: Experts in entrepreneurship education and startup advising, guiding curriculum development and serving as advisors for AI startup projects.

  • Industry Partners Advisory Board:

    • Delali Dzirasa: Founder/CEO of Fearless.

    • Nick Culbertson: Managing Director, Techstars AI in Healthcare.

    • Smitha Gopal: COO at EcoMap.

    • Philip Niedermair: Chairman of the Technology Assessment Center (TAC).

    • Ken Malone: Co-founder of Early Charm Ventures.

These leaders advise on the curriculum, serve on the Inucbator's advisory board, and provide mentorship and funding pathways to AI-enabled ventures.