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.
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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.
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COLUMBIA, Md., (August 7, 2025) —