Reflections on recent activities in the Baltimore Tech Ecosystem

Since Eric Smith and the Economic Development Agency (EDA) team conducted their site visit of Baltimore for the Tech Hubs program, I've been searching for the right words to describe what differentiates Baltimore and the state of Maryland from other regions and states I've been fortunate to be a part of, research and visit throughout my years in tech and as a member of this ecosystem.

There has been a lot of talk about the differentiated assets that exist in our region. Check that box. Baltimore has world renowned institutions, an ideal mid-Atlantic location and an established and proud history of industry and innovation.

We've also told ourselves the myth that, while we are asset rich, we are strategy poor. I think it's time to retire that narrative. Not only do we have sound strategies, many of them, especially those co-created by the Baltimore Tech Hub consortium in our proposal, are being well-executed, tested for sustainability and tracked for learnings and insights. Both UpRise, our program for commercial readiness and startup advancement, and OneMaryland, our project for data interoperability between healthcare payers and providers, are underway and yielding early returns.

Following the EDA site visit, I was able to sit down with CEO of Brown Advisory and UpSurge Board Chair Mike Hankin to reflect on the day. His observation of the UpRise panel we hosted and those in attendance? "It was a good room."

What made it good?

Strong representation from each group of core stakeholders required to resource, execute and benefit from the UpRise program:

• Baltimore's Founders, both current and exited entrepreneurs, who we convene regularly to share and exchange knowledge during our UpRise: Learn sessions.
• Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) leaders who serve as both data sharing partners and the trusted on and off ramps for the pipeline of ready startups coming into and out of their entrepreneurship and accelerator programs into the broader ecosystem to participate in UpRise.
• Investors and operators that have made it a priority to sit alongside founders in our UpRise: Build sessions as they think about go-to-market strategies and investment readiness.
• Corporate and institutional partners that understand the value of engaging with founders in our UpRise: Connect series, and the need for industry to both fund innovation and guide the commercial viability of the science and technologies the startups in our ecosystem are building.

It was a convergence of all parts of a small but well-oiled machine, one that we are eager to scale and also add partners as we go. Mike's message to the EDA, "We just need more velocity."

The next week, we hosted the first planning session for the MD Intercollegiate Student Venture Showcase connected to the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act in my dining room. Many of the folks from that "good room" - founders, investors, tech and nonprofit leaders, restaurateurs, city and state officials and more - joined us in my front yard afterwards for a Charm City Porch Concert. On all of these occasions - the macro-level EDA site visit, the micro-level social gathering, and every single week at Equitech Tuesday - our ecosystem shows up in force with a willingness to participate and a collaborative spirit that produces progress.

So what does that say about the Baltimore Tech Hub?

1. Baltimore has rich assets, solid strategies, and committed leaders prepared to collaborate effectively on behalf of the founders launching and advancing startups.
2. UpRise is an established program to engage the entire tech community (founders, talent, investors, entrepreneur support organizations, and industry partners) in the activities needed to commercialize and advance startups towards successful outcomes.
3. Along with the other 3 component projects in our Tech Hubs proposal, We Have A Roadmap! Now, we need scale and velocity!

How do we get it?

With exciting announcements like this week's $10M funding award to TEDCO to support small businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program, the federal government is signaling their belief in Baltimore and Maryland’s importance to the economic future of this country.

In the coming weeks, as we prepare for Phase 3 of the Tech Hubs program and other federal funding opportunities like Build to Scale, it will be imperative for our regional industry leaders and corporate partners to come together with the same intentionality, enthusiasm and commitment as the rest of this ecosystem and show the EDA that they believe in these strategies and are willing to lead the way in resourcing and supporting UpRise, OneMaryland and the other component projects and programs elevated by the Baltimore Tech Hub consortium.

I stand with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and his administration in their belief that this will be Maryland's decade and their actions that make now Baltimore's time. The state is prepared to help Baltimore win! The federal government is prepared to help Baltimore win! In order for Baltimore to execute and win, now is the time for big business to stand shoulder to shoulder with UpSurge and other members of the Baltimore Tech Hub consortium to fund and support innovation, commercialization and startup advancement. Our Phase 2 proposal gives us a roadmap and a sound set of priorities and projects. Let’s lean in and create the scale and velocity we need!

Kory Bailey (CEO, UpSurge Baltimore)