What's going on in the Maryland Ed-Tech world? What opportunities exist? What's trending?
We're going to find out all of the interesting and exciting developments as we host Frank Bonsal (Director) and David Cross (Asst. Director) of Venture Creation with the Towson University Incubator, the region's premier program focused on driving technology and new ventures in the education space.
TU Incubator supports the largest hub of ed-tech companies in Maryland and the Capital Region. Under Frank and David's leadership the TU Incubator has become recognized as one of the top education innovation clusters in the U.S. Since inception, TU Incubator has supported over 100 companies, created over 1,000 new jobs, attracted more than $30 million of outside capital, and produced a regional economic impact of more than $150 million.
In addition, we'll be wrapping up our contest on the Treble Network and announcing the winners of an Amazon Dot and an Amazon Echo. The member making the most Treble Invites will receive an Amazon Dot. Plus, the member achieving the highest Treble Score within the Startup Grind Columbia group will receive an Amazon Echo. Login to the Treble Network today, download the app and start connecting and granting wishes. See who you might be able to help and who might be able to help you.
Frank Bonsal is a contrarian educator working at the nexus of impact, efficacy, and economic upside. He is a pioneer in the field of education technology and investment. He has 25 years of experience advancing efficacy, innovation, and productivity in and around education and the knowledge economy. As Director of Venture Creation at Towson University, venture capitalist, and angel investor, Bonsal has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs. His direct investment experience includes over 25 education companies, half realized with tens of millions positively impacted. His specialties and expertise include: education, entrepreneurship, education technology (edtech), social entrepreneurship, startups, strategy, venture capital, business development, leadership, due diligence, strategic partnerships
In early 2014, under Bonsal’s direction, TowsonGlobal was renamed the Towson University Incubator (TU Incubator) and re-positioned with an industry focus on education technology and a recalibrated support of entrepreneurs within a new unit called 'Venture Creation'. The unit designed, implemented, and proved out over two academic calendars a program called Student Launch Pad, now part of TU's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
TU Incubator supports the largest hub of edtech companies in Maryland and the Capital Region, from the Baltimore metro, one of the top education innovation clusters in the U.S. Since inception, TU Incubator has supported over 100 companies, induced over 1,000 new jobs, attracted over $30 million of outside capital, and yielded a greater than $150 million in economic impact; these incubator companies have utilized the support of over 150 student interns and dozens and dozens of mentors and advisors.
Frank is also Founder and Partner of Bonsal Capital which makes investments in early stage technology, particularly technology-enabled services in education and healthcare including multiple IPO's acquisitions, and mergers. Prior to Bonsal Capital, Frank was co-founder and general partner of New Markets Venture Partners, a major mid-Atlantic venture capital organization.
Prior to joining Towson, David served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism. In this capacity, David was responsible for developing and teaching the graduate level Media Entrepreneurship course as well as teaching undergraduate media entrepreneurship.
Davids, specialties include: Economic Development, Innovation, Project Management, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Education.
David holds both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business from the University of Georgia.
