You’re BRITE.
We’re committed to developing you—and your bold ideas.
The BRITE Program
The Business Revitalization Initiative Through Entrepreneurship program—or BRITE—accelerates the journey from innovation through commercialization. From mentoring to marketing, product development to pitching, BRITE provides early stage startups and seasoned businesses in Howard County with direct pathways to entrepreneurial success.
If you’re an idea-stage or growth-stage company, BRITE provides you with the support to scale when the time is right. From talent acquisition to partnerships, strategic planning to brand management, BRITE points you to the most appropriate path forward.
Diverse perspectives drive solutions to the marketplace, so inclusivity and innovation go hand in hand. Women-owned, veteran-owned, service disabled veteran-owned, minority-owned, LGBT-owned, small disadvantaged, and historically underutilized businesses shape our community narrative. BRITE provides the space to thrive.
Our entrepreneurship support stewards your trajectory to the marketplace. Equipping you with the tools, the connections, and the language of entrepreneurship, BRITE is a place where lateral thinking is standard and alternative approaches are applauded. Together, we take your passions and create powerful products and services.
Be the first to know about upcoming program details!
Fill out this form indicating which programs are of interest to you, and we’ll send you an email when more information is available.
Programs Available
Be the first to know about upcoming program details!
Fill out this form indicating which programs are of interest to you, and we’ll send you an email when more information is available.
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Offerings include:
Description
Cheer on Howard County startups as they pitch their offerings with energy and impact. This competition-style format celebrates the art of the pitch, demanding style, substance, and storytelling in four minutes or less. $7000 available in prizes, $3000 of which goes to the overall first-place winner. Applaud the verbal finesse and vision of our aspiring entrepreneurs at the Pitch and Mingle! $35 per person and $15 for MIC Circle Members.
Description
The network that you build drives your business to the top. This five-week program, offered in partnership with Social Capital Builders, Inc. (SCB), helps you leverage social capital to grow your connections, reach, and profit margins. Experts in marketing, sales, contract procurement, law, accounting, business development, hiring, and financing will provide the resources to support your growth.
The program welcomes 20 participants per cohort. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $25 for Howard County residents, $100 for Maryland residents, and $20 for MIC Circle Members.
Description
This six-session program informs and improves your sales goal-setting strategy. Topics include:
- Setting Sales Targets
- Value Statements
- Setting Appointments
- Objection Handling
- Qualifying and Forecasting
- Negotiating and Closing
The program welcomes 15 participants per cohort. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $15 for Howard County residents, $30 for Maryland residents, and $10 for MIC Circle Members.
Description
You have an inspired idea, but will it resonate within the marketplace? With affordability and analytics guiding our approach, Design Thinking will take your idea from concept to opportunity. From aesthetics to adaptability, consumer demand to competition, many factors determine your position in the marketplace. This four-part program will help you refine your product or service, determine its viability, test it with target consumers, and tap into the small business resources for success.
The program welcomes up to 20 participants. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $25 for Howard County residents, $50 for Maryland residents, and $15 for MIC Circle Members.
Description
If you struggle to tell customers why you do what you do, telling your story well has brand-boosting benefits. Whether you’re building your business from scratch or hoping to expand your market share, this four-session course will equip you with the brand assets, evaluation methods, and tools to grow your business in the digital age. Business owners, digital marketers, and other professionals in creative fields will benefit from this hand-on course curriculum.
The program welcomes up to 20 participants. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $25 for Howard County residents, $100 for Maryland residents, and $20 for MIC Circle Members.
Description
If you struggle to tell customers why you do what you do, telling your story well has brand-boosting benefits. Whether you’re building your business from scratch or hoping to expand your market share, this four-session course will equip you with the brand assets, evaluation methods, and tools to grow your business in the digital age. Business owners, digital marketers, and other professionals in creative fields will benefit from this hand-on course curriculum.
The program welcomes up to 20 participants. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $25 for Howard County residents, $100 for Maryland residents, and $20 for MIC Circle Members.
Rethinking Your Business in 2023: Kauffman FastTrac®
New dates coming soon.
Description
If you’re starting a business, this 10-session program provides you with a framework for success. The curriculum follows the Kauffman FastTrac® program and includes:
- Explore Your Innovative Business Idea
- Identify & Meet Market Needs
- Set Financial Goals
- Plan Your Products/Services
- Research & Analyze the Market
- Discover Your Competitive Advantage
- Build Your Own Organization & Team
- Plan for a Profitable Business
- Understand Cash Flow & Acquiring Funds
- Implement Your Business Plan
The program welcomes up to 16 participants per cohort. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $25 for Howard County residents, $100 for Maryland residents, and $15 for MIC Circle Members.
Driving Revenue for Businesses: Leveraging Technology to Capture Clients
New dates coming soon.
Description
If you’re a founder, owner, or CEO, do you tap into technology capabilities to boost your sales? If not, you let countless opportunities slip through the cracks. Packed with information, spirited conversation, and Q&A, each 90-minute session will help you optimize your process and maximize your profitability. Complementing Exceeding Sales Goals’ focus on soft sales skills, this program introduces the technical tools to manage accounts, relationships, and your customer pipeline. Move the needle on your sales goals with clear metrics in five weeks’ time.
Topics include:
- One Page: Marketing Tool
- Contact Relationship Manager: HubSpot Focused
- Pipeline Management: Maximize Your Revenue
- Account Management: Maintaining Your Tribe
- Quarterly Business Reviews: Staying on Target
By the end of the program, you’ll have a sales operations plan specific to your offering.
The program welcomes 15 participants per cohort. There is a fee to participate. A generous tuition subsidy is available to encourage Howard County residents and businesses to participate; $15 for Howard County residents or businesses, $30 for Maryland residents or businesses.
CEO Accelerator
New dates coming soon.
Description
Learn how to build a plan that will profoundly boost your business. Join us at the MIC for CEO Accelerator, a two-day retreat covering everything from how to continuously improve operations to developing the systems that will help you increase profits and thrive. You’ll also gain tips on how to keep your employees inspired and engaged in the process.
The program is $95 for accepted Maryland businesses and residents, and a $400 scholarship for up to 24 participants is offered through the BRITE program. The retreat is $495 for out-of-state businesses and residents.
Mentoring and Coaching
Virtual Program Dates:
- January 25 – March 1, 2022 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm EST
Description
Your concept is unique and your business challenges are, too. We offer individualized support to help entrepreneurs address specific topics. Mentoring areas include but are not limited to: legal, sales, marketing, cyber, and IT. Contact us for details.
HoCo Higher: Accelerator Business Program with M&T Bank
New dates coming soon.
Description
The path to entrepreneurship is challenging on its own, but historically underrepresented entrepreneurs encounter added barriers to success. Sponsored by M&T Bank, this free, 10-session program equips early-stage entrepreneurs with the essentials for achievement. From business planning to financial management and operations, credit building to digital communication, this virtual program helps you lead with intention. Top business mentors and subject matter experts will serve as your guides, and your confidence will follow. Interested? To qualify, applicants must have at least two years of successful business operations and have gross revenues of $150,000 or more. In addition, applicants must be Howard County-based businesses in good standing. If this describes you, register!
