The Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (RCCE) proudly celebrated the 10th cycle of the UP/Start Venture Competition this past Friday at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
The event kicked off with the Creative Entrepreneurship Expo, a dynamic gathering that welcomed members of the MICA and greater Baltimore communities. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with local organizations offering valuable resources, guidance, and support to aspiring creative entrepreneurs.
The celebration continued in Falvey Hall with the UP/Start Finale, where the top seven ventures delivered compelling three-minute pitches for their innovative business ideas. After careful deliberation, four ventures were awarded funding to support the next phase of their development. In addition to financial support, each winning team will receive the opportunity to host a pop-up event in MICA’s CEINNOV Lab.
This milestone event underscores MICA's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the creative economy.
Congratulations to our 2025 winners and to the entire cohort for the persistent work and dedication they put in since December.
If you’re interested in more creative entrepreneurship connections, save the date for our Creative Entrepreneurship Social Innovation Conference & Expo on October 10th-11th.