WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that its technology division, NAB Labs, has joined the Dingman Center Angels as an investor. The Dingman Center Angels is a program of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business that provides funding to early-stage companies located within the Mid-Atlantic region.
A recipient of the prestigious 2014 NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the Dingman Center Angels also provides workshops, seminars, and training programs for the region’s entrepreneurial community.
NAB Labs is joining the Dingman Center Angels as part of its continuing commitment to innovation and the incubation of new ideas. Broadcasters have a history of being adopters of new technologies that solve real problems and offer improved community engagement. Through its membership with the Center, NAB Labs will identify promising early-stage companies that have the potential to impact radio and television broadcasting in a positive way.
The Dingman Center Angels membership complements other NAB and NAB Labs initiatives, such as its recently announced partnership with 1776, a D.C.-based business incubator that provides support for startups in government regulated industries, it’s membership in NCSU’s Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS) and NAB’s engagement with SPROCKIT. Working with the Dingman Center Angels, NAB Labs will continue to help foster a pipeline of innovation for its members and the industry.
"A major part of NAB Labs’ mission is to foster companies on the leading-edge of innovation," said NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny. "We are excited to join the Dingman Center Angels and to help identify and support promising startups that are pushing the limits of technology in fields of interest to NAB members, such as big data analytics, cybersecurity and drones."
"We are excited to see our membership expand to include innovative organizations, like the NAB, who are looking to provide local startups with the capital and connections necessary to propel their business to the next stage,” said Elana Fine, managing director of Dingman Center. “NAB's increased visibility in the local startup scene will likely encourage more digital media and content companies to stay in this region."
About NAB Labs
Created in 2012, NAB Labs is a program of the National Association of Broadcasters that provides a platform for innovation, a venue for forging partnerships and testing new technology, and educational events to create awareness about over-the-air radio and television technology initiatives. Learn more at www.nablabs.org.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests
in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education
and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities,
strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital
age. Learn more at www.nab.org.