Maryland Momentum Fund

The University System of Maryland (USM) is the state’s public higher education system, comprising 12 institutions and 3 regional centers.

Maryland Momentum Fund Is Accepting Applications for Investment

About this Program

The University System of Maryland (USM) is the state’s public higher education system, comprising 12 institutions and 2 regional centers.

Our Investment Focus

The Momentum Fund helps companies move beyond grant funding and early stage seed investors to position themselves for commercial launch or to reinforce commercialization at the early revenue stage. This “late seed” stage funding anticipates a serious round of financing – an A round – often within twelve to twenty-four months. In most cases, the Momentum Fund will make investments in the range of $150K to $250K, with a maximum of $500K. These investments are equity purchases or notes that are convertible into equity.

In all cases, the financing provided by Momentum will require a 1:1 match by a third party investor at the same terms. In many, if not most, instances the company will not yet have all of the matching funding available and will find value in the commitment from the Momentum Fund in raising the additional funding.

The eligibility for funding by the Momentum Fund requires some meaningful connection to USM, but that definition is rather inclusive. Eligible companies must be located in Maryland and affiliated with a USM institution in one of the following ways:

• Based on USM intellectual property that is licensed to the company


• A founder or inventor is a USM faculty member, staff member, student, or graduate


• The company is located in a USM research park or incubator or in a RISE zone

Claire Broido Johnson (cbjohnson@usmd.edu) is the Director of the Fund. To initiate a conversation, complete the interest form found at momentum.usmd.edu. 

We look forward to getting to know your companies and your management teams.

• Maryland, USA