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Startup Shell
Also known as: UMD Startup Shell, Shell
University of Maryland, College Park · College Park, MD
Student-run nonprofit incubator and co-working space at UMD. Founded 2012 from a storage closet. Located in the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory at 4462 Stadium Drive. Provides space, resources, and network for student entrepreneurs to explore ideas, collaborate, and scale ventures.
Quick fit check
- Indirect support only
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
—
Equity
None
Application
Semiannual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-06-24
High confidence
Application and Timing
Year-long membership cycle. Applications open each semester (spring and fall). Process includes application review, interviews, and final selection. Events: Grind Night (Wednesdays), founder chats, skill workshops.
Participants
Open to all UMD undergraduate and graduate students. Two tracks: founders (venture-based) and fellows (individual-based). ~30 accepted per semester. 600+ member community.
Funding and Equity
$100K+ in founder resources (AWS, Square, Snapchat credits, and other digital tools). No direct equity taken. Non-dilutive grants possible through corporate sponsorships. Membership is free.
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Ambrook
University of Maryland, College Park
Farm management software; Startup Shell alumni.
BloxBiz
University of Maryland, College Park
Gaming platform; Startup Shell alumni.
Imperfect Foods
University of Maryland, College Park
Grocery delivery venture; Startup Shell alumni.
Korion Health
University of Maryland, College Park
Digital health venture; Startup Shell portfolio.
Mindgrasp AI
University of Maryland, College Park
AI learning platform; Startup Shell portfolio.
Upright Labs
University of Maryland, College Park
Resale technology; Startup Shell alumni.
Activity & Impact
300+ ventures since 2012. $2B+ aggregate venture value. Notable portfolio: Imperfect Foods, Ambrook, BloxBiz, Upright Labs, Mindgrasp AI, Korion Health, CallCode. Hosted US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Senator Chris Van Hollen. 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Notes
- One of the most successful student-run incubators in the US
- Strong alumni network and corporate sponsor relationships
- Separate from Dingman Center and Mtech but partners on events
- Portfolio companies visible at startupshell.org/ventures
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Startup Shell at University of Maryland, College Park.
1 source
