February 12, 2026 – Startups, founders, and ecosystem partners gathered at bwtech for a dynamic conversation on achieving true product-market fit, presented by Innovation Maryland as part of their Executive Growth Series.
The event featured the following panelists: Patrick Rife, Ariel Belgrave, Arion Long, Jim Peterson, Diane Devaney, with Deborah Hemingway serving as moderator.
The event explored the challenges and practical strategies involved in achieving product–market fit for startups, a concept often misunderstood by founders. The panelists shared real-world insights on recognizing demand, testing assumptions, refining messaging, and scaling effectively.
Speakers emphasized the importance of understanding the target market, conducting customer validation, and making the most of limited resources. The conversation also highlighted common founder missteps, such as overcomplicating solutions or trying to serve too broad an audience, and stressed the value of focusing on core strengths and remaining willing to pivot when needed. Panelists also addressed the challenges of balancing growth and examined how founders can balance sustainable growth with rapid innovation, including the evolving role of AI and emerging technologies in modern entrepreneurship.
