Organization · Incubator
Startup Shell
Startup Shell is a student-run nonprofit incubator and coworking space at the University of Maryland, fostering an entrepreneurship community for students through collaboration and mentorship.
Overview
What Startup Shell does
What Startup Shell is
Startup Shell is a student-run nonprofit incubator and coworking space at the University of Maryland, fostering an entrepreneurship community for students through collaboration and mentorship.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports program host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Incubator
- Founded
- Founded in 2012
- Approximate age
- About 14 years
- Structured capabilities
- Program host
- Last reviewed
- May 8, 2026
What Incubator means
An incubator is a support environment for turning a nascent idea or early company into a startup that is more ready for customers, funding, or an accelerator.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Startup Shell elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Startup Shell as a program host
Program thesis
Startup Shell is a student-run nonprofit startup incubator that supports student entrepreneurs at the University of Maryland.
Focus narrative
Startup Shell focuses on supporting student entrepreneurs by providing resources, networking opportunities, and a collaborative environment. It serves the University of Maryland community and is open to all current students, including undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral candidates. The organization does not require applicants to have an existing startup or business but looks for individuals who are actively ideating and creating projects.
Value and support
Startup Shell offers a collaborative environment, access to a network of entrepreneurs, and over $100,000 in resources to help students develop their startups.
Additional public guidance
Q: Who can apply for membership? A: Membership is open to all current students at the University of Maryland, including undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral candidates. Q: Do I need to have an existing startup to apply? A: No, applicants do not need to have an existing startup but should be actively ideating and creating projects.
Format and cadence
- Typical cohort
- 35 companies
- Cohorts per year
- 2
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
- Next deadline
- February 23, 2024
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
Notable member ventures include CallCode, a platform for communication solutions; Tune Bookkeeping, a bookkeeping service for small businesses; Drosk, a startup focused on innovative solutions; Kato Housing, a housing platform for students; CiteAI, an AI-driven citation tool; Flight Labs, a robotics company; Rezingo, a service aimed at enhancing user experiences; Puddle, a practice management tool; The Petal Project, an initiative focused on sustainability; and Beans AI, a company leveraging AI for various applications.
Common questions
What to know about Startup Shell
Upseed classifies Startup Shell under the Incubator organization type. Its current public profile includes program host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
May 8, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.