UM-BILD provides seed investments of up to $75,000 and development resources to support the translation of basic science research projects into commercial products that will advance patient care.  

Investigators working on technologies in the therapeutic, medical device, diagnostic, and digital health areas – particularly those that have the potential to address healthcare disparities or otherwise benefit residents of Baltimore – are encouraged to apply for funding. Experience with entrepreneurship is not required; entrepreneurial education and mentorship will be provided as part of the program.

UM-BILD Accelerator is accepting funding applications through March 30, 2024.

1. Letter of Intent Submission
   Investigators interested in receiving funding must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI). Submissions for the September 2024 award cycle are due by March 30, 2024.   
2. Letter of Intent Review
   The UM-BILD team will review LOIs on a rolling basis and select projects for consideration. 
3. Project Pitch and Application
    Selected teams will be invited to give a five minute pitch for their project and to submit a full application. At this point, teams will be matched with project managers, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and subject-area experts that can assist in crafting an effective, realistic proposal for final application. Project milestones and other details will be jointly determined by the project team and UM-BILD.  

The first step to apply for funding is to submit a Letter of Intent. To be considered for the September 2024 award cycle, an LOI must be submitted by March 30, 2024.

A one-page Letter of Intent must be submitted with the following information:  

1. Name of all team members 
2. Description of the technology and all relevant IP and/or IP disclosure(s) information
3. Explanation of the healthcare problem that the technology could help to solve. What could your product or service be? Who would be its customers? 
4. A sketch of the current status of the project. (Is the biochemical pathway identified? Have in vivo proof-of-concept experiments been run? Have you built an initial prototype? Clinical validation?) 
5. A brief outline the key milestones of a year-long project with a $75,000 budget.
6. 2 to 8 references (as hyperlinks) to PubMed or a patent archive (such as USPTO.gov). 

Additionally, the following formatting must be used: 

• Margins at 0.5 inches (all around) 
• 11-point type, single spacing 
• A single image or figure can be included, with the legend at 10 points or larger  

Submissions must be emailed (with the LOI attached as a .pdf, .docx, or .doc) to UM-BILD@umaryland.edu.  

• Teams must include faculty or staff from one of the partner institutions (listed below). 
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
    
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
    
  • Morgan State University (MSU)
    
  • University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP)
    • For UMCP teams, the Intellectual property (IP) must be jointly owned with UMB and UMB must be managing the IP. Prior to writing the LOI, please email UM-BILD@umaryland.edu to discuss.
      
  • Faculty at other Baltimore City public universities may also qualify.
    
• Technologies must be disclosed to the Technology Transfer Office at the principal investigator’s university (UMB, UMBC, MSU, or another Baltimore City public university).
  • By the LOI submission deadline, the technology should be assigned to the university or subject to university ownership.
  • A technology whose development has been funded by a Sponsored Research Agreement may be “encumbered” – that is, the sponsor may have an ownership interest. If this may be the case, prior to writing the LOI, please email UM-BILD@umaryland.edu to discuss eligibility.
• Projects based on early-stage technologies are acceptable.  
• Familiarity with entrepreneurship is not required. 

Step 1: Application and Initial Engagement  
2 - 3 months  

Step 2: Pre-award Planning  
1 - 2 months 

Step 3: Monthly Reporting  
5 months  

Step 4: Six Month Evaluation Meeting  
Occurs at the 6 month mark 

Step 5: Closeout Presentation and Report 
Occurs at the 12 month mark

Step 6: Year 2 Application and Year 2 Funding 
Occurs at the end of the first year 

Step 7: Post-award Reporting 
Annually for four years following investment 

For questions, please contact UM-BILD@umaryland.edu.