MSU-EDAC Small Business. Big Impact. Business Summit 2026

Small businesses are no longer just transactional—they are lifelines that sustain our communities, create opportunities, solve problems, and bring people together in a rapidly changing world.

Join us for the Small Business. Big Impact. Business Summit 2026, a high-energy, results-driven experience designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and emerging founders who are ready to grow with intention and impact.

Hosted at Morgan State University’s EDAC Center, this summit brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, funders, procurement professionals, and resource partners for a day of strategy, collaboration, and opportunity.

Whether you are launching, growing, or positioning your business for contracts and long-term sustainability, this conference is designed to help you move from ideas to execution.

What to Expect

✅Interactive Workshops & Business Clinics
✅On-Site Certification Support
✅Procurement & Contracting Opportunities
✅Networking & Collaboration Experiences
✅Access to Business Resources & Industry Experts
✅Strategies for Growth, Positioning & Sustainability

Explore the evolving role of small businesses in today’s economy and why positioning, collaboration, and readiness matter more than ever.

Learn how to strengthen your capability statement and position your business for visibility, partnerships, and growth opportunities.

Discover how cooperatives, partnerships, and community-centered collaboration can create sustainable growth and collective impact.

Gain insight into federal, state, and GSA contracting opportunities and learn how to position your business to compete in today’s procurement landscape.

This summit is designed for:

• Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners
• Startups & Emerging Founders
• Women Entrepreneurs & Women Veterans
• Procurement-Ready Businesses
• Creatives, Consultants & Service Providers
• Students Exploring Entrepreneurship
• Funders, Buyers & Industry Leaders

In honor of National Women Veterans Day, the summit will also recognize and celebrate outstanding women veterans and entrepreneurs whose leadership, service, and innovation are driving meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

📍Morgan State University
📆Saturday, June 13, 2026
⏰10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

This is more than a conference—it’s a call to action.

Today’s business landscape requires entrepreneurs to move beyond survival mode and become more strategic, collaborative, and prepared for opportunity. The Small Business. Big Impact. Business Summit is designed to help participants get serious, get focused, and get connected to the people, resources, and opportunities that can help move their business forward.

This conference is made possible through the collaboration of W.O.M.E.N., the Entrepreneurship Development & Assistance Center, the Baltimore Metropolitan Women’s Business Center, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Workshop Agenda:

Small businesses are no longer just transactional—they are lifelines that create opportunities, solve problems, and strengthen communities. In today’s evolving business landscape, entrepreneurs must become more strategic, collaborative, and prepared for growth.

This opening session will explore the challenges and opportunities shaping small businesses today while encouraging participants to move beyond survival mode and focus on positioning, partnerships, procurement readiness, and long-term impact.

Attendees will be challenged to get serious, get focused, and get connected as they prepare to move from small business to big impact.

First Impressions to Big Opportunities

📍Startup Classroom #103A

In today’s competitive business landscape, first impressions can open the door to major opportunities. This interactive session will help entrepreneurs understand how to strategically position their business through a strong and impactful capability statement.

Participants will learn how to clearly communicate their services, strengths, and business readiness to potential buyers, partners, funders, and procurement decision-makers. The session will also explore how collaboration and strategic positioning can increase visibility and create new pathways for growth.

Collaboration Creates Impact

📍Classroom #105

Small businesses thrive when they move beyond isolation and build through collaboration. This session explores how partnerships, cooperatives, and community-centered business models can create greater sustainability, shared resources, and expanded opportunities.

Participants will learn how to leverage strategic relationships, collective business models, and ecosystem thinking to strengthen their business impact and increase their ability to compete in today’s evolving marketplace.

Access Granted: Positioning for Procurement

📍Classroom #110

Access to procurement opportunities begins with preparation and positioning. This session will provide entrepreneurs with an introduction to federal and state contracting opportunities, subcontracting pathways, and the fundamentals of becoming procurement-ready.

Participants will also gain insight into the GSA Schedule process and learn how to strategically position their business for long-term growth within the government contracting landscape.

Info: Master of Ceremony: Mr. Omar Muhammad, Director MSU EDAC, Dr. Patricia Dockery, Associate VP Office of Academic Affairs, Ms. Danielle Frisby, Founder & Chief Financial Officer, UnBoxing Change, and Dr. Cierra Robinson, Director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Women's Business Center

Info:
Small businesses are no longer just transactional; they are lifelines that sustain our communities, create opportunities, solve problems, and bring people together in a rapidly changing world. As the business landscape continues to evolve, entrepreneurs are facing increasing pressure, rising competition, and growing demands to become more strategic, collaborative, and prepared.
This opening general session will explore the current state of small business, the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s marketplace, and the critical shift from simply operating a business to building one positioned for long-term impact. Participants will be challenged to move beyond survival mode and begin thinking intentionally about positioning, partnerships, procurement readiness, and sustainable growth.
The conversation will set the tone for the day by encouraging attendees to get serious, get focused, and get connected as they prepare to move from small business to big impact.

Info: In honor of National Women Veterans Day, the summit will also recognize and celebrate outstanding women veterans and entrepreneurs whose leadership, service, and innovation are driving meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Info: B.A.I.L. is an engaging and informative financial workshop designed to
help participants build confidence in managing their personal finances. This session will cover
essential topics such as budgeting, saving, credit management, debt reduction, banking basics,
and strategies for building long-term financial stability. Participants will also gain practical tools
and resources to support smart financial decision-making and achieve their personal and
professional goals.
Whether you are just beginning your financial journey or looking to strengthen your money
management skills, this workshop offers valuable guidance in a supportive and interactive
environment.

Info: Small Business Consultants are onsite for a 15-minute one-on-one session

Info: This is a great time to network, exchange ideas, and cultivate powerful connections with fellow entrepreneurs and changemakers.

Info: In today’s competitive business landscape, first impressions can open the door to major opportunities. This interactive session will help entrepreneurs understand how to strategically position their business through a strong and impactful capability statement.
Participants will learn how to clearly communicate their services, strengths, and business readiness to potential buyers, partners, funders, and procurement decision-makers. The session will also explore how collaboration and strategic positioning can increase visibility and create new pathways for growth.

Info: Small businesses thrive when they move beyond isolation and build through collaboration. This session explores how partnerships, cooperatives, and community-centered business models can create greater sustainability, shared resources, and expanded opportunities.
Participants will learn how to leverage strategic relationships, collective business models, and ecosystem thinking to strengthen their business impact and increase their ability to compete in today’s evolving marketplace.

Info: Access to procurement opportunities begins with preparation and positioning. This session will provide entrepreneurs with an introduction to federal and state contracting opportunities, subcontracting pathways, and the fundamentals of becoming procurement-ready.
Participants will also gain insight into the GSA Schedule process and learn how to strategically position their business for long-term growth within the government contracting landscape.

Info: Closing Remarks and Networking

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Morgan Business Center - Graves School of Business and Management, 4100 Hillen Road, Baltimore, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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