F3 Tech, a leading commercialization program for early-stage companies supported by the nonprofit Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is seeking companies in the aquaculture and energy storage sectors to apply to its 2021 accelerator program.

“At F3 Tech, we are focused on helping early-stage companies in the agriculture, aquaculture and energy storage sectors get to market faster and achieve commercial success through a comprehensive review of opportunities for private investment and revenue diversification,” said Program Director Chris Hlubb. “We’ve seen a big interest in soil and crop health this year, which is great, and we want to round out the portfolio with more technologies related to aquaculture and energy storage.”

The F3 Tech Accelerator Program requires no equity from participants, a unique value proposition for many early-stage companies. Companies from across the U.S. are invited to apply. Participants will receive:

–       Funding to expedite commercialization

–       Executive support and coaching to prepare each company for potential investment

–       Executive guidance for potential acquisition and/or commercial launch

–       Connections to related industry clients, investors and customers

F3 targets companies who have achieved seed investment and product validation. During the program, its team of experienced business executives embed themselves in the day-to-day workings of the companies to assist with messaging, branding, networking with potential customers and investors and assess the most important needs of the company to complete the program with the greatest chance for follow-on investment and product sales. The 4-month program aims to expedite financial successes and stabilize the companies to assure they make it past the most intensive and important periods that will guarantee sustainable growth.

“We know that great ideas are found everywhere but few companies have the potential to execute on their dreams,” said Hlubb. “Implementation is everything for an early-stage company that needs to prove its market value or even create a market for its products.”

The goal of the F3 Tech Accelerator is to provide the business intelligence and speed needed to advance more ideas to market to increase consumer adoption, add value to traditional agriculture communities and spread the word about innovations that could evolve the market.

The deadline to apply for the F3 Tech Accelerator Program is June 30, 2021. Finalists will be announced in August and the program will start on September 7, 2021.

To apply for the F3 Tech Accelerator Program, please visit: https://f3tech.org/program/accelerator/

About F3 Tech Accelerator

The F3 Tech Accelerator Program provides funding and support for early-stage companies to prepare them for potential investment from the future F3 Tech Seed Fund, industry partners, and investors. For more information, please visit: https://f3tech.org/.

Local attorney, Derek Hills received the Lee A. Caplan Award this month at the MSBA Legal Summit. Nominated by Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Hills was chosen for the Caplan Award — an award geared toward a solo or small firm practitioner who has rendered pro bono service over many years.

“The Awards Committee received a terrific response to our request for nominations this year,” Dave Pantzer, Director of Education, Outreach, & Technology, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland said. “With such a wonderful selection of recommendations, the decisions for each award were often difficult ones.  Indeed, all the nominees deserve special recognition for their outstanding contributions toward increasing access to legal services for the poor.  Even so, the Committee was particularly impressed with these candidates’ pro bono efforts to ensure equal access to justice.”

Hill’s nomination was submitted by Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq., Managing Attorney at Mid-Shore Pro Bono. Girard said she was thrilled that Hills was accepted for the service award.

Hills operates a solo practice, The Law Office of Derek Hills, LLC, on West Street in Easton. Hills has been a dedicated Mid-Shore Pro Bono volunteer since he began his law practice in 2015. Girard said, “His volunteer service providing counseling and representation on consumer debt cases has resulted in concrete economic benefits for his clients and led to the creation of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s consumer debt program, which serves over 300 clients every year.”

In that time Hills has worked with MSPB specifically to resolve consumer debt cases — providing hundreds of hours of service on 182 cases to 368 clients.

“Hills is an extraordinary advocate for the rights of low-income people facing debt, collections, auto fraud, and other consumer challenges,” Girard wrote in her nomination, and as a result hundreds of Eastern Shore residents have received, pro bono, much needed advice on their rights and representation in court. “Derek’s clients describe him as a compassionate and effective advocate who stands up for people who often feel they have little voice,” she said.

Hills recognized that defendants in debt buyer cases often do not come to court, often resulting in lasting negative economic consequences. Through the creation of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s consumer debt program, they are proactively able to reach out to individuals who are being sought after in court by debt buyers and provides them with legal advice and direct representation.

In the first year of the program, Hills represented over 40 clients — and as of 2021 has represented 182 clients in cases and assisted 368 clients with consumer debt issues. Mid-Shore Pro Bono provides targeted outreach and marketing, including mailings to people who are being sued in District court, as well as case management and language interpretation.  “As a result of Derek’s effort to create the consumer debt program, Mid-Shore Pro Bono has helped low-income clients recover over $889,000 in financial benefits,” Girard said.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of Hills’ work is the care he takes to ensure that each client has additional resources they might need beyond their legal issue, Girard noted, citing one instance where he called MSPB requesting information about housing resources for a family he was assisting after he learned that they were living without heat or cooking facilities.

“His clients are often burdened by multiple consumer debt issues,” said Girard.  “Derek consistently and relentlessly assists his clients with humanity and humility.”