2024 Annual Report
In a time of rapid technological change and complex global challenges, the University of Maryland has embraced a new kind of innovation. xFoundry, launched out of the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory in 2023, creates a space where ideas meet action, and students are encouraged to go beyond the classroom and tackle real-world problems as part of highly collaborative teams.
At xFoundry, students aren’t just learning—they’re doing. By blending hands-on competitions (Xperience) with top-tier resources (Resource MatriX), we help them develop skills that cross boundaries and solve pressing challenges. The program involves students from Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Athletics, Marketing, and Science (TEAMS), inspiring them to see themselves as “solution-makers” rather than traditional entrepreneurs. Mentors, advisors, and potential investors join in, supporting new ventures from idea to impact.
This past year, we’ve seen remarkable enthusiasm from all corners of campus. Over 350 students across 56 undergraduate and graduate programs participated, and our 33 events drew more than 1,900 attendees. Our inaugural Grand Challenge Competition focused on school safety, engaging 87 students in 14 teams from 26 programs to find a cost-effective solution for K-12 schools.
As you dive into this Annual Impact Report, you’ll see how xFoundry gives students the tools and experiences they need to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. From school safety to climate, food and water, health, and society, we’re supporting projects that matter. You’ll learn about our progress, the students who fueled it, and our growing partnerships with industry, government, and the broader community. Most importantly, you’ll learn how xFoundry is turning UMD into a home for lasting innovation— where every student can grow, experiment, and make a meaningful difference.
We are grateful to our community of benefactors, collaborators, mentors, administrators, academic fellows, faculty, and staff for supporting this new program and helping us develop the “solution engine in higher education”.
In this inaugural year, we've seen remarkable engagement across all 12 schools and colleges. This report highlights our impact—from addressing critical issues to nurturing the next generation of innovators—and outlines our vision for the future of innovation at UMD.
The inaugural Xplore Summit marked the official launch of xFoundry@UMD, bringing together students, faculty, industry leaders, and policymakers to show our commitment to solving grand challenges and to vote on the topic for the second Xperience Competition.
To showcase the University of Maryland’s prowess in innovation and entrepreneurship, xFoundry@UMD hosted the first Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Family Weekend. Several of the campus’ programs behind UMD’s Top 5 ranking in Entrepreneurship were featured and connected directly with the students and families in attendance.
We’re redefining innovation and education through our competitions and unique TEAMS philosophy: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Athletics, Marketing, Science.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures we tackle grand challenges from every angle, fostering a new generation of problem-solvers ready to make a real-world impact.
The most innovative solutions often emerge at the intersection of diverse fields, so we intentionally combine these perspectives to prepare students to approach problems holistically and develop comprehensive solutions.
At xFoundry@UMD, we harness cutting-edge technological tools to drive innovation. Our students have access to advanced AI resources, state-of-the-art hardware, and software toolkits that enable them to prototype and develop groundbreaking solutions. By integrating technology into our approach, we empower students to tackle grand challenges with the most up-to-date tools available.
We cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in our students, equipping them with the skills to turn ideas into impactful ventures. Through programs like the Xperience Competition and Xperiment Courses, students learn to identify opportunities, develop business models, and pitch their ideas. Our expert mentorship network provides guidance on startup fundamentals, helping students navigate the journey from concept to launch.
Creativity and resilience are essential for solving complex problems. We integrate arts to foster innovative thinking and leverage the mindset of athletes to build perseverance and teamwork. This unique combination allows our students to approach challenges from diverse perspectives, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions.
Effective communication is crucial for any social impact initiative. Our marketing and creative services support students in developing compelling narratives for their projects. We teach students how to articulate their ideas, create impactful campaigns, and reach their target audiences, ensuring that innovative solutions gain the visibility and support they need to make a difference.
Rigorous research and data-driven approaches underpin our work at xFoundry@UMD. We encourage students to apply scientific methodologies to social challenges, ensuring that solutions are grounded in evidence and can be tested and refined. By integrating scientific thinking across disciplines, we prepare students to develop robust, scalable solutions to grand challenges.
xFoundry@UMD provides students with access to a robust and comprehensive ecosystem of resources to accelerate their work and eliminate obstacles.
This robust ecosystem enables students to fully embrace the TEAMS approach and focus on solving complex societal issues within a 15-month timeframe.
3 courses for 9 credits taught by 7 faculty from 5 schools and colleges across campus.
Xperiment courses can be taken as electives for 4 degree programs in 3 schools and colleges at UMD.
Through the TEAMS principle in the xFoundry program, we are reimagining the university as a solution engine—turning grand challenges into opportunities successful ventures. Student teams who solve these challenges gain the chance to launch enterprises that extend their impact beyond the classroom.
The Xperience Competitions empower students to develop solutions that are both bold and practical. Through multidisciplinary teamwork, we are preparing future leaders while fostering ventures that drive lasting change in communities and industries.
The Xperience Competitions are redefining the future of learning by empowering students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation, entrepreneurship, and competition.
Open to aspiring changemakers across disciplines and experience levels, these competitions provide a dynamic platform to turn grand challenges—like the 2025 focus on school safety—into tangible opportunities for impact.
By blending experiential learning with venture-building, the Xperience Competitions equip students with the skills to ideate, iterate, and scale solutions that matter.
Throughout the competition, students achieve critical milestones including pitch showcases, mentorship-driven development, and access to early-stage funding, creating a supportive environment that de-risks ventures for future investors.
Develop an autonomous detection and notification system
for active shooter threats on K-12 campuses.
Meet Team DefenX, one of the 14 teams competing in the 2025 School Safety Xperience Competition. This group isn’t just about solving problems—they’re redefining what collaboration means. With a blend of graduate and undergraduate students, Team DefenX brings together perspectives and expertise that span across 10 degrees from 4 different schools and colleges on campus.
From crafting financial strategies to designing mechanical systems, leveraging machine learning insights to tackling big questions in philosophy, politics, and economics, Team DefenX is proving that diverse backgrounds and knowledge lead to groundbreaking solutions for one of today’s most critical challenges.
Accounting
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Finance
Machine Learning
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
9 team members representing 10 degree programs from 4 schools and colleges on campus.
Develop a solution that monitors and improves the mental well-being of college students throughout their degree.
To drive the development of this initiative, we formed a dedicated Development Council comprised of 28 members representing leading academic institutions and companies. This council brings a wealth of expertise, diverse perspectives, and industry connections to ensure the competition addresses mental health challenges with meaningful, scalable solutions.
In preparation for the 2026 Xperience Competition, significant strides were made to lay a strong foundation for success. At the annual Xplore Summit, attendees cast their votes to determine the next grand challenge, with mental health emerging as the focus area from a shortlist of three critical issues.
The Xpand program is designed to rapidly and efficiently launch companies that align with xFoundry’s mission of solving complex societal issues through multidisciplinary collaboration. Projects that meet these criteria receive comprehensive support from xFoundry, enabling them to move swiftly from concept to reality.
In collaboration with the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at UMD, xFoundry has mobilized a multidisciplinary team to compete in the XPRIZE Wildfire Competition for Track B.
14 faculty and 40+ students from 8 disciplines and departments.
Crossfire was selected as one of 29 semifinalists from a global pool of competitors, advancing to the next round and earning a share of the $750,000 milestone prize. In the upcoming year, this effort will result in the creation of an independent venture that will continue beyond the competition, providing work opportunities and investment capture opportunities to UMCP students as the project moves into the manufacturing and testing phases.
Through Crossfire, xFoundry, along with other participating units at UMD, is not only competing for a prize but laying the groundwork for a future venture in autonomous disaster response, offering invaluable opportunities for our students and faculty to make a global impact.
$5M to autonomously detect a high-risk fire within 1,000 km2 and suppress it in < 10 minutes.
Solving humanity's grand challenges requires more than just technical knowledge — it requires the creative vision of artists and the resilience of athletes.
Artists bring fresh perspectives that are essential for innovation, while athletes contribute dedication, perseverance, and the ability to collaborate effectively in diverse teams.
These qualities, developed through years of balancing intense training with academic pursuits, are invaluable in addressing complex societal issues.
Joshua Prince’s journey from engineering to the art world is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary thinking and creativity. With a background rooted in problem-solving and innovation, Prince brings a unique perspective to his work, blending technical precision with artistic expression.
Prince’s dynamic sculpture, selected as the winning piece in xFoundry’s 2024 Public Art Competition, exemplifies the synergy of art and engineering. The piece, designed for installation in the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory, invites viewers to engage with its interactive elements, sparking curiosity and fostering connections.
Set to debut during the 2025 NextNOW Fest, Prince’s work will transform the IDEA Factory into a hub of inspiration, demonstrating the profound role of art in tackling grand challenges.
$1,500 and the opportunity to install a sculpture at the IDEA Factory.
UMD’s extensive policy expertise and strategic location near key federal agencies create the ideal setting for xFoundry. This proximity fosters strong collaborations with government, policymakers, and community leaders, empowering our faculty, staff, and students to drive meaningful impact on democracy and society.
The inaugural Xperience Competition is addressing a critical issue in education: enhancing school safety. Following the enactment of Maryland Senate Bills SB 127 and SB 1090, which established guidelines for improving emergency notification systems and evaluating firearm detection platforms in public schools, xFoundry utilized these legislative directives to craft solution requirements for competition participants.
xFoundry is collaborating with Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS), and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to provide students with direct access to end-users—students, teachers, and administrators. This engagement ensured that the solutions developed were not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable, addressing the real-world needs of K-12 communities.
The winning solution, upon meeting the stringent requirements set forth by AACPS, PGCPS, MCPS, and the state of Maryland, is poised for immediate implementation, with these districts prepared to become the venture's inaugural clients.
While rooted in Maryland's requirements, the core mission of mitigating damage from active shooter incidents has national potential. As winning solutions emerge, they can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of other states, expanding their impact far beyond our local community.
At xFoundry@UMD, we live by the principles we champion. Our team embodies the multidisciplinary TEAMS (Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Athletics, Marketing, Science) approach our students use to solve grand challenges.
We’re committed to giving back to UMD. While not all of us have degrees from here, our time at UMD shaped our journeys. As a young, dynamic team, we’re excited to help the next generation of innovators by sharing our experiences and guiding students to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.
At xFoundry, every success is just the beginning. Each milestone sets the new standard for the next challenge. This cycle of constant iteration drives us to always improve, innovate, and push boundaries. Every project, solution, and collaboration is an opportunity to learn and grow—for us, the Xperiment faculty, and the students we support.
xFoundry@UMD's vision for the future demonstrates our commitment to solving local problems with global impact while fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across multiple domains. Here's an overview of our upcoming initiatives.
By harnessing the collective entrepreneurial energy of its student groups, xFoundry seeks to demonstrate the potential impact of incentivizing the portion of the population with the most passion, energy, and talent to engage in solving the most pressing issues facing our society.
Student-led ventures created to tackle challenges in areas such as energy, sustainability, public safety, and health can provide actionable, scalable solutions today that align with broader societal objectives for the future.
As the impact of these ventures reverberate across the country, this kind of grassroots innovation, driven by multidisciplinary collaboration, can inspire policy shifts and encourage governments to invest in solutions that leverage the ingenuity of their own emerging leaders.
xFoundry also envisions transforming the educational landscape by embedding experiential learning—through arts, athletics, and other multidisciplinary activities—into standardized metrics of success.
As AI continues to reshape industries, creativity and the ability to implement solutions will surpass rote knowledge as the primary drivers of human impact.
By championing this shift, xFoundry is setting a precedent for how institutions can prepare students to thrive in a future defined by innovation and adaptability.
Take a look at a few of the things up next for xFoundry@UMD.
Join us in making a difference! Whether you're looking to share your expertise or support our initiatives, there are two impactful ways to get involved:
If you’re passionate about innovation and want to mentor our student teams, we invite you to share your knowledge and experience. Send us an email to learn how you can contribute as an expert.
Send an emailYour support can help us empower the next generation of changemakers. If you're interested in becoming a benefactor and making a lasting impact on our programs, please reach out to Alison Waldman
Email Alison
E. A. Fernandez IDEA Factory
4462 Stadium Drive
College Park, MD 20742
xfoundry@umd.edu
@umdxfoundry
/company/umdxfoundry
@umdxfoundry
