2023 Impact Update

Big Wins for Baltimore Tech

Big Wins for Baltimore Tech

In 2023, Baltimore Tech continued to build momentum despite a complex market environment. With unprecedented alignment at the city, state, and federal levels and the impacts of two years of UpSurge’s culture and network-building, our ecosystem welcomed high-impact collaborations, important startup wins, and valuable public and private sector investments. As Baltimore’s tech ecosystem advocate, UpSurge will continue to amplify Baltimore’s successes locally and nationally.

Collaboration

Baltimore Designated as a Federal Tech Hub

“The support that this investment will bring to the greater Baltimore region — now nationally recognized as an area of high potential – will help grow a more equitable economy that will expand opportunity, lead to better outcomes for our residents and make us an internationally leading innovation hub.”

– Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

SBA Growth Accelerator Fund

“Thirty-five award-winning accelerator partnerships will receive $150,000 each to help advance equitable investment in innovative startups and high-growth small businesses.”

– SBA

 

UpSurge received one of 35 awards with partners Novella Center for Entrepreneurship, Morgan Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Village Capital and DivInc.

Company Wins

Fearless

“Baltimore tech company Fearless has secured $17 million in new financing to branch out beyond software and launch a division focused on helping fix the organizational flaws that prevent companies and the government from taking advantage of new technology … The new division and debt financing is part of Dzirasa’s goal for Fearless to generate $1 billion in revenue by 2030. The company is projecting $100 million in revenue this year.”

– BBJ

Fearless is an impact-focused digital services integrator building software with a soul, while creating the conditions for organizations and their people to thrive.

b.well Connected Health

“A Baltimore company will soon have its technology installed on every Samsung device, opening up a market of millions of potential users across the world.”

– BBJ

The b.well Connected Health platform delivers a unified experience for consumers and improved population health outcomes for clients.

Haystack Oncology

A major exit from Haystack Onocology marks yet another success story from Johns Hopkins University’s prolific inventors Drs. Bert Vogelstein, Ken Kinzler, Nick Papadopoulos, and Mr. Joshua Cohen.

Haystack Oncology uses the next generation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technology to see through the noise and uncover residual, recurrent, and resistant disease earlier than any other minimal residual disease (MRD) test.

Public and Private Sector Investments

Equitech Growth Fund Bill

“Through its partnership with TEDCO, UpSurge’s Equitech aspiration for Baltimore was adopted by the state, establishing the Equitech Growth Fund Bill “to send state funding to projects that expand the economy through infrastructure investment and create a diverse workforce through job training programs.”

– BBJ

Stanley-Techstars Founder Catalyst

The Techstars Founder Catalyst program fosters entrepreneurial education and provides critical support to early-stage startups seeking to move from concept to market. Through this collaboration, 20 companies gained access to invaluable mentoring from Techstars, Stanley Black & Decker, and UpSurge’s extensive networks and were introduced to Baltimore’s welcoming tech ecosystem.

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