We're excited to invite applications for the Spring 2026 Cohort of the Entrepreneurial Learning Lab (ELL)—a hands-on program where students build entrepreneurial skills, earn internship credit, and work with UMBC faculty to assess the commercial or social-impact potential of their research.

ELL is a semester-long, cohort-based experience that teaches core innovation and entrepreneurship fundamentals, then puts them into practice through faculty research evaluations. It's a great fit for students interested in product development, consulting, research, design, entrepreneurship, or innovation in any field.

Students who complete the program earn internship credit and a $250 stipend, with an additional paid summer opportunity (up to $1,000) to continue project work.

Offered in partnership with the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ABCEI) and the Engineering and Computing Education Program (ECEP), ELL helps students build real-world skills valued by employers and graduate programs.

What You'll Gain

-Students participate in interactive workshops covering eight key entrepreneurial competencies: opportunity recognition, customer discovery, market analysis, problem/solution fit, product/market fit, demand validation, value delivery, and pitching/storytelling.

By the end of the program, students will:

-Work in teams to evaluate UMBC research for commercialization or community impact

-Create and deliver a professional pitch deck

-Build résumé-ready project experience

-Strengthen communication, problem-solving, and innovation skills

Eligibility

-Open to undergraduate and graduate students from all majors

-Commitment to all workshops and project work

-No prior entrepreneurship experience required

Important Notes

-This is an in-person program; full attendance is required for credit

-Application Deadline: Tuesday, December 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM

-Applicants will be notified in early January

Questions?

-Dr. Jamie Gurganus – jgurganus@umbc.edu

-Kevin Fulmer – kevinf@umbc.edu

We encourage students passionate about innovation and hands-on experience to apply. We hope to see you in the Spring 2026 ELL cohort! Click here to apply!