The StarTUp

Abstract

The StarTUp at the Armory was established with a vision to catalyze Towson University’s (TU) entrepreneurship and economic development efforts both within the university and throughout Maryland. The StarTUp is strategically positioned to be the off- campus “front door to the university” that is easily accessible to the public, and is a physical representation of TU’s presence in Greater Baltimore. The vision for the StarTUp is to cultivate new ventures that will stimulate and strengthen the innovation of existing businesses while providing the infrastructure and knowledge to establish a start-up. By providing these resources and a location at the StarTUp that enables interactions and partnerships between entrepreneurs, mentors, angel investors and capital partners, educational institutions, and others, TU has created a unique initiative that joins together both innovation and place.

The two-story, 26,000-square-foot StarTUp building is located a half-mile from campus and offers a business resource center, co-working space, and meeting rooms where Greater Baltimore’s entrepreneurs and executives can connect with each other and to TU’s programs and people. This 6,000-square-foot co-working space is accessible for free to members of the public, businesses, and government, and offers a place to develop a network of relationships and a culture of innovative creators. The StarTUp is also the headquarters for an eight-week Accelerator program that targets both TU-affiliated and non-affiliated ventures aiming to grow their businesses. Additionally, the Accelerator includes programming for the entire campus, alumni, and the broader community seeking opportunities to learn, conceive, collaborate, launch, and lead in new endeavors.