Application Finalists and category Award Recipients are chosen by a cross-section of the region's most prominent industry leaders and early-stage investors. Entering in the competition provides emerging companies with a rare opportunity to present their business plan and vision to the most influential panel of early-stage investors and industry leaders in the region.

Members of the 2011 Selection Committee:

Jacque Allen, SaulEwing LLP
Gianna Arnold, SaulEwing LLP
Gregory Barger, New Spring Capital
Phil Bogart, SaulEwing LLP
Judith Britz, MarylandBiotechnologyCenter
Patrick Cairns, Greenspring Associates
Brian Carney, Harbert Venture Partners
Brian Castleberry, Maryland DBED
Martha Connolly, Maryland Industrial Partnerships
Christine Copple, Starise Ventures, Inc.
Charles Cullen, Grotech Ventures
Brian Darmody, University of Maryland, College Park
Ronald Diegelman, Red Bridge Associates, LLC
Tanya Dobash
Randy Domolky, Liquid Capital Group
Linda Ellerton, Maryland DBED
Donald Fallon, Valens Therapeutics, Inc.
Lisa Beth Ferstenberg, M.D.
Yair Flicker, SmartLogic Solutions
David Freschman, Innovation Capital Advisors
Jay Fridkis
Yali Friedman, thinkBiotech LLC
Tom Gillespie, In-Q-Tel
Mark Grovic, New Markets Venture Partners
Michael Gutch, HIG Ventures
Jonathan Heavey, WalterReedArmyMedicalCenter
Kathryn Hickey, SaulEwing LLP
Jack Hollerbach, Hollerbach & Associates LLC
Mary Anne Jones, Zoom Intelligence
Andy Jones, High Street Partners, Inc.
Konstantina Katcheves, Lonza America Inc.
Julie Lenzer Kirk, PathForwardCenter for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Richard Kohr, Evergreen Advisors LLC
Lenard Marcus, Edison Venture Fund
Elizabeth Good Mazhari, JohnsHopkinsUniversity
Robbie Melton, Maryland TEDCO
Brian Meritt, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Joseph Migliara
David Mott, New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
Eric Nass, JPB Strategic Advisors LLC
Eric Orlinsky, SaulEwing LLP
Xander Perry, Anthem Capital Management, Inc.
Robert Rosenbaum, Maryland TEDCO
Andrew Sachs, Sachs Capital
Michael Salgaller, Ph.D.
Jane Shaab, University of Maryland, UMB BioPark
Amita Shukla, New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
Paul Silber, Silber Associates
Mark Simanowith, SaulEwing LLP
Kyp Sirinakis, Rock spring Ventures LP
Jae Sly, Strategic BioPharm Consulting, Inc.
Sean Stone, Silicon Valley Bank
Adam Suri, Maryland DBED
Brian Taylor, Growing Company Solutions, Inc.
Patrick Tonui, Maryland DBED
Sever Totia, Edison Venture Fund
Jonathan Wallace, WWC Capital Group, Inc.
John Wasilisin, Maryland TEDCO
Christy Williams Wyskiel, CWW Research LLC
William Zuga, Red Abbey Venture Partners

Companies that apply to the ICOY Awards and the 13th Annual Early Stage East Venture Fair will receive preferential review of the application for Early Stage East.