Scope: Enhance economic empowerment by fostering an inclusive and entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. Identify, invest in, and help grow technology companies in Maryland.
New Website Objectives
Primary
a) Top priority: To showcase TEDCO as Maryland’s leading source of early-stage funding and business resources for technology and life sciences entrepreneurs across the state
b) The TEDCO website must follow all Maryland Department of Disabilities Standards and Requirements for full compliance
c) Create an easy-to-use, exciting “look” for the website
d) Incorporate easy-to-navigate functions for users to find applications
e) Provide information about all existing and potential new TEDCO programs
f) Educate Maryland startups about TEDCO’s various funding and mentoring resources available to them
g) Educate follow-on funders about TEDCO’s portfolio companies
h) Highlight diverse portfolio companies (including geographic, demographic, and industry)
i) Inform target audiences, media, and public about newsworthy events and milestones, such as:
1) Ecosystem Events
2) TEDCO Investments
3) New Funding Programs
4) Entrepreneur Expo
j) Educate TEDCO supporters about our economic impact throughout the State of Maryland and beyond
Secondary
a) Promote TEDCO subject-matter experts
b) Promote business incubators and other economic development entities’ milestones that are tied to TEDCO
c) Display news and monthly newsletter in a dynamic, interesting way that is easy for existing TEDCO staff, collaborators and startup companies to share directly from the website onto social media
New Website Functionality and Design Requirements
The functionality that is essential to the new website includes the following:
a) The ability to integrate MyTEDCO portal:
1) MyTEDCO portal will serve as the central hub for TEDCO’s funding applications. It’s crucial that this tool is easily accessible for both entrepreneurs and TEDCO staff members
b) A more condensed and visually appealing directory of the resources and funding opportunities available for entrepreneurs that can be added to, edited, and adjusted as needed
c) Ability to display different content types on the homepage highlighting the following: TEDCO blogs, podcasts, webinars, videos, and whitepapers
d) Easy-to-use content management system for multiple content managers to access specific webpages
e) Manageable ‘Calendar of Events’ with easy ability to approve the events submitted, sort events, view past events, and search for events
f) Manageable, visually appealing Newsletter webpage to include a newsletter template
g) Link to social media sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube)
1) Social media scrolling bar of most recent posts linked at the bottom of the homepage
h) Advanced functionality for Network Advisors program
1) Searchable and visible on the website list for entrepreneurs to locate advisors in their specific areas
2) Webpage identifying who the Network Advisors are and how to contact them
i) Cross-compatible website design/content that remains easily accessible to desktop and mobile users
j) Efficient e-commerce capability for events
k) An administration page that includes each department
l) Searchable directory for board meeting materials, including agenda’s meeting minutes, annual reports, meeting notices, and more as needed
m) Content must be easy to update by TEDCO’s Development & Marketing team as needed
n) Follow TEDCO’s Brand Guidelines (i.e. logos, color palette requirements, typography)
Focus Group for Content and Functional Development:
a)The selected company will be required to conduct a focus group involving a select number of local ecosystem stakeholders and entrepreneurs. The company should facilitate discussions that will encourage feedback on the website’s functionality, user experience, and overall design, with the goal of improving the site’s relevance and performance within the local ecosystem.
Technical Requirements
a) TEDCO needs administrative access to the web server and databases
b) TEDCO does NOT need a hosting solution
c) The new website needs to be maintained by TEDCO
d) The domain name will NOT change during the project (tedcomd.com)
e) The website will need to be compatible with the most updated browsers
f) The website must be able to play embedded videos from YouTube
g) The current website content management system is Drupal
h) Efficiently and effectively incorporate Google Analytics
i) Will need to integrate with default emailing systems
j) Ensure design is compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) (29 USC § 794d)
k) TEDCO will retain full ownership, design assets, and intellectual property created as part of this project, with all rights to modify, distribute, and use the materials as they see fit
Due Date: 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025
Contact: Tammi Thomasmarketing@tedcomd.com
