Maryland Innovation Lab Demo Day Brings Industry and Startups Together to Drive Decarbonization and Energy Affordability

Baltimore, Maryland Feb 4, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – The Maryland Innovation Lab, led by Maryland Department of Commerce, L Marks and World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), celebrated the completion of its second program at a Demo Day hosted at Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE). This event marked the culmination of a nine-month innovation program that brought together industry sponsors, startups and scaleups, and ecosystem stakeholders to tackle critical challenges across decarbonization and energy affordability. 

Launched in 2023, the Maryland Innovation Lab is a unique public-private partnership designed to attract global innovative solutions to Maryland while strengthening the local innovation ecosystem and supporting regional industries. This year’s cohort focused on three key challenge areas: Net-Zero Logistics and Freight, Sustainable Operations, and Adding Value to Customers.

Following a rigorous scouting process, the program received 125 applications representing more than 25 countries and 16 U.S states. From these, 15 teams from six countries were invited to pitch their solutions at Pitch Day and four teams were selected to move forward for deeper collaboration with Baltimore based industry partners – Pompeian Olive Oil, Capital Logistics and BGE.

The standout success from this year’s program was Maiven Energy (Boulder, CO), an AI-powered virtual energy assistant platform transforming how utilities engage with customers.  Through their collaboration with BGE and Exelon within the Maryland Innovation Lab, Maiven demonstrated how open innovation delivers real-world impact.

By democratizing access to energy programs, Maiven helps customers participate more easily in utility offerings. Designed to support users across multiple languages and backgrounds, the platform provides instant assistance, making energy bills and programs simpler, clearer, and more accessible for everyone.

Over a structured 10-week solution validation pilot, Maiven’s platform was integrated into customer engagement workflows to help BGE customers better understand what energy assistance and rebate programs they may qualify for. This included language-accessible support and tailored recommendations that make energy savings more accessible and equitable. The collaboration demonstrated how Maiven’s digital platform can support utility-led affordability goals and informed development of a potential future partnership model for scaling customer-focused energy solutions across BGE’s service territory.

“Participating in the Maryland Innovation Lab gave the BGE team an invaluable opportunity to engage with and learn from innovators from around the world,” said Kyle Harrer, Manager of Emerging Technologies and Innovation for BGE.  “Our work with Maiven has shown real promise, and we look forward to deepening that partnership as we help customers more easily find and benefit from rebates and energy assistance programs.”

“The Maryland Innovation Lab continues to show what’s possible when industry, innovators, and the public sector work together around real challenges,” said Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive of L Marks. “By focusing on validation, collaboration, and delivery, the Lab is helping partners move beyond experimentation toward solutions that create tangible value for Maryland.

With two successful programs delivered, the Maryland Innovation Lab has helped strengthen Maryland’s innovation ecosystem while driving tangible outcomes for industry and customers alike. Looking ahead, the Lab’s partners are committed to building on this foundation through deepening collaboration and scaling proven solutions across future cohorts to address priority challenges for the state and its communities.

For more information about the Maryland Innovation Lab, please visit: marylandinnovationlab.com 

About L Marks – L Marks is the global leader in corporate innovation, trusted by many of the world’s most well-respected brands and organisations to identify, validate, and implement transformative solutions. Through its global network spanning over 80 countries, L Marks discovers more than 10,000 startups and scaleups annually and has enabled over 485 to pilot with corporate partners, achieving an industry-leading deployment rate of 78%. L Marks alumni have collectively raised over $9.4 billion in venture funding. With over a decade of experience in delivering 120+ award-winning innovation programmes across Europe, North America, and Asia, L Marks is embedding new structures and technologies, driving an innovative culture, and ultimately fuelling sustainable growth.

Learn more at lmarks.com

About Maryland Department of Commerce – As the state’s primary economic development agency, we stimulate private investment and create jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland companies. Commerce also promotes the state’s many commercial advantages and its outstanding quality of life to spur economic development, international investment, trade and tourism.
Learn more at commerce.maryland.gov

About the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) – The World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) is a globally recognized non-profit organization that fosters international business growth and innovation. WTCI provides startups and businesses with the resources, mentorship, and global connections needed to expand their international reach. WTCI is committed to driving economic growth, technological advancement, and global collaboration across various industries.
Learn more at wtci.org

About Baltimore Gas and Electric – BGE is Maryland’s largest natural gas and electric utility, providing safe and reliable energy delivery to more than 1.3 million electric customers and more than 700,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company was founded in 1816 as the nation’s first gas utility and remains headquartered in Baltimore City to this day. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), one of the nation’s largest energy utility companies. Engage with the latest BGE stories on bgenow.com.

About Maiven Energy –  Maiven is the AI-powered virtual energy assistant platform rapidly decarbonizing residential building stock, democratizing access to energy upgrades, and enhancing grid flexibility. By empowering homeowners and renters to make the best decisions for their homes, and simplifying access to incentives and rebates, we facilitate cost-effective carbon reductions and enable an equitable energy transition.
Learn more at askmaiven.com