Spring Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Entrepreneurship Competition Winners Announced
SALISBURY, MD---Steamed crabs are Maryland’s signature dish, but getting to the meat inside those bright orange shells covered in bay seasoning can take a lot of effort and multiple tools.
Enter the SHELLER.
Invented by entrepreneur and University of Baltimore alumna Shelby Blondell, the SHELLER is a combination crab mallet, picker and bottle opener (for the beverages that often are another staple of Maryland crab feasts). The product won over judges at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥’s spring Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery entrepreneurship competition, earning a $30,000 grand prize.
Held virtually for the third time as a precaution against COVID-19, this semester’s competition drew some 61 applicants from throughout the Mid-Atlantic and awarded $105,000 in prize money. Other winners included:
• Maryland Energy and Sensor Technologies (MEST) – Sherry Xie and Ichiro Takeuchi (University of Maryland College Park alumnus). Based in College Park, MD, this energy application firm specializes in energy-saving thermoelastic cooling technology - $25,000
• Hummii, LLC – Tyler Phillips – (University of Maryland College Park alumnus). Washington, D.C., producer of plant-based frozen treats - $20,000
• Chow Corp. – Jordan Foley & Charles Magovern: This Annapolis non-profit’s “Kitchen with a Mission” and food truck programs assist military veterans through cooking therapy and culinary training - $15,000
• Rip Current Sports, LLC – Jose-Luis Gallagher. Based in Kensington, MD, Bilateral Kickboards (BKBs) that assist with swimming - $10,000
• Side Eye BBQ Sauce – Marven Turner and Syerita Turner. Baltimore producer of flavored barbecue sauces - $5,000
In addition to funding, winners and participants also receive mentoring support from the program’s board. Mentors include business leaders such as Chris Perdue of Perdue Farms, Inc.; Mike Cottingham of Rommel Chesapeake, Inc.; Kathy Kiernan and Patricia Royak, members of SU’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business Executive Advisory Council; and Jennifer Layton of Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery.
This round’s winners join the program’s 71 previous award recipients, who have self-reported estimated profits of some $55 million, creating more than 400 jobs.
The Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery program was established with an initial $1 million contribution in 2013. In 2017, the Ratcliffe Foundation announced a second $1 million gift to continue the Shore Hatchery through Spring 2023. It is administered through SU’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business. Its goal: to fund entrepreneurs and have new businesses opening within six months, with the potential of employing three or more within three years.
Up to $200,000 annually is available for those applying for grants through the Shore Hatchery program. Its board of directors selects recipients based on presentations.
For more information call 410-546-4325 or visit the Ratcliffe Shore Hatchery webpage.