Coach Carter
I'm an ecosystem builder, serial entrepreneur, and — apparently — an author, based in Baltimore.
I help founders, and the programs that back them, to execute on their gameplan.
My Story
Hi, my name is Kevin Carter.
Some of my friends call me Coach.
I came to Baltimore in 2017 as a Venture for America fellow to help build the student entrepreneurship ecosystem at Johns Hopkins. At FastForward U — the university's official student venture hub — I co-developed its first student accelerator, launched an alumni mentorship network, and managed hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding for student founders. Then a very convincing student founder named Pava LaPere poached me to run business development at her startup, EcoMap Technologies.
Over the next several years, I helped her turn EcoMap from a dorm-room idea into one of Baltimore's hottest young startups and got to witness her magic firsthand. Then in September 2023, we lost Pava to an act of senseless violence. Carrying her legacy forward — through the company, a fellowship in her memory, and the book we've finished together — became the work that mattered.
Today I'm the founder and CEO of Coach Carter Consulting, where I help universities and entrepreneurial support organizations better back their founders — building accelerators and pitch competitions, coaching early-stage teams on business development, and helping the people who run those programs get better at the work.
How I Help
I've worked with hundreds of founders and dozens of universities and entrepreneurial support organizations. Here's how I can help:
Straight from the Students
I have worked with Kevin for the past few years through FastForwardU at Johns Hopkins University. He’s been such a valuable resource to our team as we grew from an academic design project into a company, from providing us with pitch feedback, funding opportunities, and business model advice to just being a great sounding board through the entrepreneurial journey.
As an entrepreneur, everyday I face tough decisions. As a student entrepreneur, I navigate those tough decisions with limited prior experience. This is where mentorship comes into play. Throughout my journey as an entrepreneur, Kevin has been one of my most impactful mentors. Kevin has guided my team and I in taking what at one point was just an idea to ultimately become a revenue generating and profitable business.
From helping us secure our first contract to connecting us with pre-seed funding, Kevin is always employing his experience, network, and time to advance our company. Having him in our corner has been key in our journey in becoming a sustainable, rapidly growing business. I fully recommend Kevin as a mentor, career coach, and advocate to any student seeking to take their business to the next level.
Why This Work Matters
The best thing I can do in this world is help other people build. Founders — and the programs that back them — are how real change actually happens, in Baltimore and everywhere else.
My job is simple: help them reach their full potential.
That's the whole mission, and it's why I still show up for this work every day.
Who do you work with?
How do engagements work?
Do you only work with universities?
Can you tailor things to what we need?
Want to learn more about what I do?
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