Last week, the family of late EcoMap Technologies founder Pava LaPere got to see her vision for supporting emerging entrepreneurs come to life, alongside members of the ecosystem she spent her life championing.

They all came to the University of Maryland BioPark's shiny new 4MLK building to watch student entrepreneurs from local universities present their innovations at the first-ever Maryland Student Venture Showcase. Supported by earmarked funding from the state government, the gathering celebrated these founders' receipt of $50,000 grants for new tech in industries as varied as beauty, education and renewable energy. 

“We’re living in a time of historic challenge and uncertainty,” said Francesca Ioffreda, the state's first chief innovation officer. “But here in Maryland, we run towards big challenges — not away from them — and we do that together.”