With many growing start-ups struggling to bridge the funding gap between seed money and late-stage venture capital, the technology and venture capital communities in Maryland are backing a proposed program that could fill the void. Approved by state lawmakers this spring, InvestMaryland will auction off tax credits to insurance companies to generate $100 million to invest with venture capital funds in state-based companies.

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Elana Fine, Director of Venture Investments at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship talks about the outlook for regional venture investments and what the InvestMaryland program will do for state companies.