2021 Pitch Finale

The MEIA Pitch Finale was held on June 16th.  Read the blog by clicking here to find out who won. It was a real nail biter.  See you next year!

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The MEIA Pitch Finale on Wednesday June 16 from 3pm to 5pm is the culmination of work by teams participating in the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator’s latest cohort. The winner of this pitch competition will receive $1,000 sponsored by the Maryland Department of Commerce.  We'll be joined by guest speakers Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz and clean energy economic development champion Delegate Lily Qi (Rockville-15), as well as Maryland Clean Energy Center Board Chair Geoff Oxnam.  This event features four startups:

• Aqualith (www.aqualith.net) is commercializing the work of UMD Professor Chunsheng Wang to develop a ultra-high energy cathode, a novel silicon anode, and an aqueous electrolyte. The cathode was recently awarded the 2021 UMD Invention of the Year.
• HighT-Tech (www.hight-tech.com) has developed an ultra-high temperature catalyst manufacturing technology to create high entropy alloys.
• InventWood (www.inventwood.com) is an innovator of advanced wood materials that offer better performance, lower costs, and greater environmental sustainability over commonly-used alternatives.
• Manta Biofuel (www.mantabiofuel.com) has developed a cost-effective, distributed model for algae farming and transformation into crude oil that will provide renewable fuels.

Our esteemed judges include:

Theresa Christian - Exelon Corporation

Michael Kearney - The Engine

Cyril Yee - Third Derivative  

The Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA), a program of the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC), is a venture development and advancement program focused on commercializing advanced energy and climate technologies developed at Maryland-based businesses, universities, and federal laboratories. MEIA uniquely blends the “pull” of an early-stage venture development program with the “push” of accelerating existing pre-revenue businesses to create investible companies that will become the foundation of Maryland’s newest economic cluster.

MEIA wants to thank our sponsors Exelon, Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, Banner Witcoff, Clark Hill, Paley Rothman, Points North Studio, Snyder Cohn, and Whiteford Taylor Preston.