StarTUp Accelerator 2027

About

An eight-week summer fellowship at Towson University’s StarTUp at the Armory supports early-stage founders with a $10,000 equity-free stipend, workshops, coaching, and regional connections; the 2027 cohort runs June–July 2027 with applications due 7 March 2027.

Benefits

• 💰$10,000 equity-free stipend
  Accepted ventures receive a $10,000 equity-free stipend designed to support their participation and venture development during the Accelerator
• 🛠️ Hands-on workshops
  Accepted founders receive hands-on workshops focused on building and growing a stronger business
• 🧭Individual coaching and expert access
  Accepted founders receive individual coaching and access to experienced entrepreneurs and subject matter experts
• 👥Founder cohort
  Accepted founders join a cohort of founders who provide accountability, feedback, and support
• 🌐Regional ecosystem connections
  Accepted founders receive connections to the Greater Baltimore and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem
• 🏢Dedicated workspace
  Accepted founders receive dedicated workspace and resources at the StarTUp at the Armory
• 🎤Showcase presentation
  Founders have the opportunity to present their venture at the annual StarTUp Accelerator Showcase

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: primary founder must be able to participate fully in required in-person programming and milestone activities
• Mandatory: founders must be able to commit meaningful time to their venture throughout the eight-week program
• Mandatory: founders must be willing to actively participate in a cohort and contribute to other founders’ progress
• Mandatory: founders must be ready to set measurable goals and be accountable for achieving them
• No Towson University affiliation is required; open to Towson University affiliates and entrepreneurs from the broader community
• Preferred: early-stage founders who have launched or are actively building a venture
• Preferred: founders who have begun validating a real problem and target customer
• Preferred: founders who have demonstrated some evidence of traction, customer discovery, or market demand
• Preferred: founders ready to test assumptions and make changes based on what they learn
• Preferred: solo founders and founding teams
• Preferred: founders building venture-scale, innovative or disruptive businesses with potential for meaningful market growth

Participation Commitments

• Applications for the 2027 cohort officially open on November 2, 2026
• The 2027 cohort takes place June–July 2027
• Apply by March 7, 2027
• Review the program dates, attendance expectations, and eligibility requirements before applying
• The primary founder must be able to participate fully in required in-person programming and milestone activities
• Required programming typically takes place two to three days per week, with additional meetings, office hours, and activities scheduled as needed
• Founders participate in regular cohort check-ins, pitch practice, and milestone reviews
• Participants are expected to complete venture-building work outside scheduled programming
• Founders establish measurable goals at the beginning and regularly assess progress
• The StarTUp Accelerator Showcase is a mandatory event following the summer program
• The application is estimated to take 25–35 minutes to complete

Target Region

No explicit applicant geographic or nationality restriction is stated; the program is open to Towson University affiliates and entrepreneurs from the broader community. The primary founder must be able to participate fully in required in-person programming and milestone activities at the StarTUp at the Armory in Towson, Maryland.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other