InvestMaryland Challenge down 33 semifinalists

The InvestMaryland Challenge has whittled down the 259 start-up companies that applied to the business competition to 33 semifinalists.

Only nine of those companies will move on to be finalists in the contest; three will win grand prizes of $100,000.

On March 5 the semifinalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and complete a product demonstration. Grand prizes will be announced April 15.

Of the 33 semifinalist companies, 28 are from Maryland, two are from Virginia, and one from each…