University System of Maryland Momentum Fund
Venture capitalBaltimore · Seed · 20 people tracked
Investment thesis
The Maryland Momentum Fund invests in early-stage companies affiliated with the University System of Maryland to promote entrepreneurship, drive economic development, and support technology commercialization within the state. It targets companies transitioning from grant funding and angel investment toward a Series A, typically writing checks of $150,000 to $250,000 (up to $500,000) via equity purchases or convertible notes. The fund is sector-agnostic but requires companies to be Maryland-based, provide positive economic impact to the state, be USM-affiliated, and secure at least equal matching investment from a third party at the same terms.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 20 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 5 of 10 portfolio companiesDeep Tech ×2Impact & Social Good ×2AI & Machine Learning ×1Biotech ×1Climate Tech ×1EdTech ×1Fintech ×1GovTech ×1
HQs:United States×6Canada×1
Investments · 10 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathCompany that the Momentum Fund joined in a seed financing round alongside Blackbird Labs and Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund.
Blackbird Laboratories is a nonprofit life sciences incubator that translates university research breakthroughs into venture-ready biotech companies focused on developing new medicines and enabling technologies.
BiotechDeep TechBaltimore, US
Ben Leventhal(Executive Officer, Director)Matt Tremblay, PhD(Chief Executive Officer)inEddie Cherok, PhD(Chief Business Officer)in
BoardFred Wilson(Director)inMo Koyfman(Director)Marguerite Mariscal(Director)
Co-investorsUnion Square Ventures (USV)
Delaware-based causal AI company building causal AI decision engines; raised additional seed funding.
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a global startup program for seed-stage, science-based companies that pairs founders with experienced entrepreneurs, angel investors, economists, and scientists through an objectives-based mentoring process.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEdTechSector AgnosticToronto, CA
Ajay Agrawal(Founder)Sonia Sennik(Chief Executive Officer, CDL-Global)
Co-investorsBeyond Earth VenturesHEC Paris IncubatorScale AI
District Angels is a volunteer-led angel investing community in the Washington, D.C. capital region that facilitates startup investments through pooled SPVs, with AI-assisted diligence tools and a focus on dual-use & defense, cyber, biotech, health tech, climate, and fintech sectors.
FintechWashington, US
Co-investorsArbor Ventures UK
An angel investment community that coordinates early-stage and growth capital for entrepreneurs building businesses to address the climate crisis.
Climate TechImpact & Social Good
TEDCO is a Maryland-based economic development organization that supports technology development and entrepreneurship in the state, hosting events such as the Entrepreneur Expo.
GovTechImpact & Social Good
Co-investorsTEDCO
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has University System of Maryland Momentum Fund made?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund has 10 tracked investments.
- What stage does University System of Maryland Momentum Fund invest at?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund invests at the Seed stage.
- What is University System of Maryland Momentum Fund's typical check size?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund typically writes checks of $150K – $500K.
- What sectors does University System of Maryland Momentum Fund focus on?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is University System of Maryland Momentum Fund located?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund is headquartered in Baltimore, US.
- Who does University System of Maryland Momentum Fund co-invest with?
- University System of Maryland Momentum Fund most often shares deals with Arbor Ventures UK, Beyond Earth Ventures, HEC Paris Incubator, among 6 tracked co-investors.
Similar investors
83North is a global venture capital firm that invests in and helps entrepreneurs build large, category-defining companies, backing startups across multiple stages and sectors.
8VC is a venture capital firm investing across logistics, life sciences, healthcare, IT infrastructure, and government/defense, guided by its Smart Enterprise thesis focused on data integration and platform network effects.
Accel is a venture capital firm that partners with exceptional teams, positioning itself as a first partner to founders globally.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, known for pioneering the platform model with a large team of operators supporting founders across stages.
Aspect Ventures is a venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs to build transformative businesses across sectors including security, fintech, and workforce technology.