Maryland Innovation Lab Launches Second Cohort Focused on Decarbonization and Affordability
BALTIMORE, MD – May 28, 2025 – The Maryland Department of Commerce, in collaboration with BGE, Capital Logistics and Pompeian, today launched the second cohort of the Maryland Innovation Lab. This year’s Lab will focus on finding and implementing innovative solutions to help drive decarbonization and affordability in Maryland through a 10-week lab program.
Launched in 2023, the Maryland Innovation Lab, a pioneering public-private partnership from corporate innovation leader L Marks, the World Trade Center Institute, and the Maryland Department of Commerce, aims to draw entrepreneurial ventures from around the world to Maryland, cultivate a local innovation ecosystem, bolster regional industries and businesses, and discover and implement cutting-edge solutions from around the world. The successful inaugural cohort focused on driving innovation in the food sector and now moves its focus to decarbonization and energy affordability.
This year, the program welcomes two new Maryland-based sponsors: Capital Logistics and BGE, as well as Pompeian Olive Oil, who return as founding partners from the first cohort. These leading companies will collaborate with startups to pilot solutions that advance their individual and Maryland’s broader sustainability objectives while also promoting affordability.
“We are excited to kick off this second cohort, which will bring Maryland companies together with companies from around the globe to help navigate some of the most pressing issues in our world today,” said Maryland Secretary of Commerce Harry Coker, Jr. “There is power in partnership and we are excited to see the great things that come from these targeted collaborations that will help keep Maryland’s economy competitive and drive investment in our communities.”
The program structure is tailored for intensive collaboration and development, starting with a competitive pitch day to be held in Baltimore, Maryland in August where 20-25 startups from around the world will pitch their solutions to partnering companies for the chance to join the program. Beginning in September, selected startups will proceed to the 10-week mentorship-driven collaboration program, culminating in a demo day where startups and corporate partners will celebrate their joint innovations.
BGE, Capital Logistics, and Pompeian are seeking solutions in the following critical areas:
- Net-Zero Logistics & Freight: Solutions focused on improving granular emissions tracking, exploring cleaner fuels, optimizing route planning, and advancing commercial EV transportation to deliver affordable and sustainable logistics to facilitate the transition to sustainable transportation.
- Sustainable Operations: Technologies that help increase energy efficiency through automation, real-time monitoring, and smarter control of equipment and systems, as well as tools that digitise manual workflows to enable faster decision-making that supports sustainability goals across operations
- Adding Value For Our Customers: Cutting-edge solutions that empower customers to participate in an accessible and affordable energy transition. These include tools that improve customer understanding and engagement, alongside technologies and models that accelerate the safe and scalable deployment of energy storage and behind-the-meter solutions.
- Wildcard: An open call for transformative solutions in any area that may have an indirect yet meaningful contribution to broader decarbonization efforts and unconventional ways to drive affordability for the people of Maryland.
“The Maryland Innovation Lab has become a proven model to support local industry leaders in harnessing global innovation talent and driving their businesses forward. With Maryland advancing bold decarbonization and affordability goals, this next cohort is more critical than ever. We are excited to leverage the Maryland Innovation Lab initiative and partner with a group of corporate leaders and startups to address challenges in this sector and deliver meaningful impact across the state.”
Daniel Saunders, CEO of L Marks
“Having three WTCI members join the second cohort of the Maryland Innovation Lab, including Pompeian’s return after their outstanding inaugural experience, validates what we’ve seen firsthand – this initiative is becoming a cornerstone for Maryland’s economic growth and innovation ecosystem.”
Eddie Resende, CEO of WTCI
“Pompeian sees the Maryland Innovation Lab as a strategic opportunity to drive transformative growth and create competitive advantage. We are motivated to contribute to initiatives that push the boundaries of our core business, leveraging emerging technologies, customer insights, and cross-functional collaboration. We are excited to join the Maryland Innovation Lab on decarbonization and see it as a structured environment designed to ideate, prototype, and implement new solutions aimed at reducing or eliminating carbon emissions.”Alex Blahus, Director of IT at Pompeian
“At Capital Logistics, we are committed to driving progress in our industry through sustainability and innovation. Joining this Innovation Lab cohort, centered on decarbonization, was a natural fit for our mission. Our goals were clear: accelerate the deployment of forward-thinking solutions, gain insights through mentorship and collaboration, and build meaningful relationships with startups and fellow partners. We’re excited to carry the momentum forward and turn these connections and ideas into real-world impact.”
Gloria Baldwin, CEO of Capital Logistics
“Exelon and BGE are committed to advancing innovation by fostering regional partnerships with the Maryland Innovation Lab (MIL) to build and scale impactful solutions, addressing complex challenges in the energy transformation. This collaboration focuses on affordability, reliability, and sustainability, uniting corporate partners and community leaders to deliver solutions in Central Maryland. We hope through this initiative to not only partner with MIL to uplift Maryland communities and enhance local economic opportunity, but also to lead in innovation and support the state’s ambitious decarbonization efforts.”
Divesh Gupta, director of Clean Energy Solutions for BGE
For more information about the Maryland Innovation Lab, please visit: www.marylandinnovationlab.com