Aug 30, 2026
In this
episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Tammi Thomas, President of
TEDCO, joins the conversation to discuss how Maryland is helping
entrepreneurs move ideas from research and concept to
market.
Tammi shares how TEDCO has evolved from an early-stage funding
organization into a broader partner for Maryland startups,
supporting companies through capital, federal funding navigation,
technical assistance, ecosystem connections, and venture
development.
The conversation touches on what makes Maryland’s innovation
ecosystem different, from federal labs and research universities to
technical talent, founder grit, and quality of life. Tammi and Rich
also discuss why helping companies stay and scale in Maryland
requires more than writing a
check.
Tammi highlights several TEDCO programs and initiatives, including
SBIR/STTR support, the Entrepreneur Expo, the Equitech Growth Fund,
the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, and the Maryland Makerspace
Initiative.
The episode closes with a look at Maryland’s next opportunity:
connecting these individual assets into a more seamless path for
founders, so companies can move from feasibility to prototype,
federal funding, venture capital, and commercialization without
leaving the state.
Editing
and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast
Consultant.
Tammi Thomas is President of TEDCO, Maryland’s $200M+ AUM, with
another $50M being managed under a strategic partnership, $2.7B
impact, economic engine for technology and life sciences companies.
In this role, she serves as the primary internal leader of TEDCO,
working closely with the CEO to execute priorities and translate the
CEO’s vision across departments while ensuring alignment,
accountability, overall performance, and company-wide commitment to
transparent reporting. She is responsible for the overall strategic
direction, leadership, execution and management of TEDCO’s
fundraising strategies designed to broaden awareness of and expand
philanthropic, corporate and investor resources for TEDCO and its
various programs.
Tammi leads TEDCO’s efforts to secure additional fiscal resources
from the State of Maryland, federal and philanthropic grants, and
venture capital investments. Since 2020, TEDCO has increased its
revenues from the State by more than 50%, has been the recipient of
over $75M in federal grants, increased its AUM by over 33%, secured
over $55M in foreign direct investments and created over a $500K
philanthropic
pipeline.
Additionally, Tammi leads TEDCO’s investor and stakeholder
engagement strategy through relationship building, compelling brand
storytelling, and convening high-impact events, including TEDCO’s
annual Entrepreneur Expo, which draws over 1,000
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, legislators, and ecosystem
leaders under one roof. Her leadership and knowledge are
instrumental in forging relationships that will enable TEDCO to
expand its reach and services, diversify funding streams, and grow
the innovation ecosystem, as well as establish TEDCO as the most
recognized organization in Maryland for identifying, investing in,
and growing technology and life sciences-based businesses. Tammi is
also a key decision maker in the organization’s investment
decisions through her role on the fund allocation team, allocating
over $25-30M per
year.
Her experience includes executive leadership roles such as serving
as the former Chief Development & Marketing Officer and now
President of TEDCO, Vice President of Strategic Management at Data
Solutions & Technology Inc., and Director of Business Development
and Marketing at University of Maryland, Baltimore County Research
Park & Business Incubator. In addition to her corporate and
economic development leadership experience, Tammi’s professional
expertise was sought after, to teach the next generation of
communicators as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and
the University of Baltimore. She is also a frequent speaker and
published thought leader on leadership, entrepreneurship, and
business
development.
Tammi has been recognized by her industry peers for excellence in
communication, marketing and development. She has received the
Maryland Economic Development Association’s Marketing award for
TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo (2020), the Cybersecurity Association of
Maryland’s 2017 Cybersecurity Industry Resource Award, the AMA
Baltimore's MX Award for Best Print Advertisement Campaign of the
Year (2022 and 2023), named one
of The
Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland (2023 ), received a Distinguished Women Award
from the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (2024), named one
of I-95 Business Magazine’s 2025 Influential Women, was chosen as a
Waves of Change Impact Award honoree (2025) and most recently was selected as one of
Maryland’s Top 100 Women for a second time (2026). She graduated from Leadership Maryland's
Class of 2018, completing the eight-month hands-on learning program
focused on the State's most vital social, economic and
environmental
issues.
She serves on the World Trade Center Institute's CEO
Council, Maryland Energy Innovation Institute Investment
Committee, the Maryland Momentum Fund Advisory Board
and MEDA Board of Directors, where she is
currently serving as President.
Tammi earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alabama State
University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore.