Founders, investors, policymakers, and business leaders will gather at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business on June 13 for Startup Bazaar UMD: GovCon, an event designed to help startups navigate the expanding world of government contracting.
The conference will examine how emerging companies can tap into federal, state, and defense-sector opportunities, an area that continues to play a major role in the region’s economy.
Located near Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland sits at the heart of one of the nation’s largest government contracting hubs, making it an ideal venue for conversations about innovation, procurement, and public-sector partnerships.
A centerpiece of the event will be a keynote address by Atif Chaudhry, Maryland’s Secretary of General Services. Chaudhry is expected to outline the state’s economic priorities and discuss how businesses can better position themselves to work with government agencies.
His remarks will focus on procurement initiatives, opportunities for entrepreneurs, and the role that innovation and public-private collaboration can play in strengthening Maryland’s economy.
Attendance is free and open to entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, business leaders, students, and members of the broader innovation community. The full agenda and event schedule are available on the American Bazaar Events page. Those interested in attending can register here.
WHAT: Startup Bazaar: GovCon @ University of Maryland
WHERE: Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, UMD
WHEN: June 13, 2026, 10 am to 4 pm
REGISTRATION LINK
The daylong event will be held at the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland and is being organized in partnership with the center. This year’s conference marks the third annual Startup Bazaar event hosted at UMD, building on the success of previous gatherings that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging opportunities.
Another featured session at Startup Bazaar will be a fireside chat with Dr. Rajan Natarajan, founder and CEO of Global Alliant. Before launching the company, Natarajan served as Maryland’s Deputy Secretary of State. He will discuss his entrepreneurial journey and share insights into building a successful business in the government contracting sector.
A panel featuring Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies, one of the nation’s largest privately held government contracting companies, and Dan Lagana, CEO of BuildMo, based in the Washington, D.C., area, will explore how businesses can enter the GovCon ecosystem, build strategic partnerships, navigate procurement processes, and position themselves for long-term growth in the federal marketplace.
Another panel, featuring Salil Sankaran, president of Ampcus, and Dolly Oberoi, CEO of C2 Technologies, will examine the evolving GovTech landscape. Panelists will discuss how federal agencies and industry partners are leveraging artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation, and cybersecurity innovations to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and address emerging challenges.
The event will also feature a panel of entrepreneurs who have successfully exited the GovCon sector. Among them is Sandesh Sharda, who sold Miracle Systems in March 2023 after founding and leading the company for 19 years.
The discussion will examine what makes GovCon companies attractive acquisition targets, the role of organic growth versus contract consolidation in driving value, and the differences between private equity roll-ups and strategic acquisitions. Panelists will also share lessons learned from their own exit journeys and discuss how founders can prepare their companies for a successful transaction.