The UpSurge Team & Partners

Kory Bailey is the Chief Ecosystem Officer at the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), where he leads the UpSurge team in building a dynamic and connected startup community for the region. In this role, he is driving a strategy that positions innovation and startups as a central component of inclusive economic growth, aligning with GBC’s All In 2035 Economic Opportunity Plan.With more than a decade of leadership in both startups and big tech, Kory brings deep experience navigating the challenges of early-stage company growth while bridging the gap between entrepreneurs, institutions, and corporate systems. His background as a professional football player, multiple-time entrepreneur, and angel investor has shaped his ability to rally communities, convene stakeholders, and strengthen local, regional, and national networks around the shared goal of advancing startups and expanding opportunities in tech.Recognized as a visionary ecosystem builder and a national voice for economic progress, Kory identifies a combination of community, culture, capital and commercialization as essential to unlocking innovation and long-term startup growth. As the father of three boys, he is guided by a belief that we must honor the lessons of past generations while creating a world of greater opportunity for the generations to come.

Robbin manages UpSurge’s local, regional, and national collaborations and programs to foster greater participation in Baltimore’s tech startup ecosystem. Robbin has been gathering people and cultivating relationships for her entire career, producing hundreds of events, partnerships, and collaborations for organizations in both Baltimore & DC such as Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District and Baltimore Homecoming (BHC). Robbin served as the executive director of BHC where she mobilized a network of Baltimoreans
across the world to invest in Baltimore City. Being a gatherer outside of work too, Robbin is a founding member of the Baltimore Chapter of NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals), a Thread volunteer, and an advisor to local Baltimore startups. She also serves on the board of Business Volunteers of Maryland.

Quote she lives by – “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits.” – Dr. Freeman Hrabowski

Learn More about Travis Hamburg Here.

As Data Analytics Manager, Chris leads UpSurge’s data team and its responsibilities. This includes optimizing UpSurge’s data systems, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting on the Baltimore Tech ecosystem. Chris, a suburban Atlanta native, graduated from Boston College in 2022 with a BS in Management, a major in Economics, and a minor in Social Impact. Chris is a Venture for America alumnus.

Quote he lives by – “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

Rimjhim is a Program Manager at UpSurge Baltimore. She leads their startup advancement programming with a focus on building capacity in the ecosystem for a thriving tech economy. A venture capital lawyer by trade, she has over 7 years of experience in the Indian startup eco-system. She also dabbled in entrepreneurship with her robo-advisory startup Eve targeted towards Indian millennial women. Prior to joining UpSurge, she got her MBA at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business where she had a special focus on sustainable business, venture capital and startups. She is passionate about gender equity and bridging the gender investment gap in the Baltimore tech ecosystem.

My name is Isaiah Pittman, M.S. and I am the Digital Brand & Communications Coordinator at UpSurge Baltimore. I work to bring a perspective of tech with a creative flair to the ecosystem. I am recent graduate of the Interaction Design and Information Architecture program at the University of Baltimore where I focused on the intricacies of user-centric design research.

Meet Devon, a passionate and driven individual born and raised in Washington, DC. A recent transplant to Baltimore, Devon has embraced the warm community spirit in Baltimore and grown to love the city he calls home. He is an encourager of people and a dot connector and serves as the Senior Administrative Lead at UpSurge Baltimore. With a knack for figuring out the Rubix cubes of organizational support, Devon thrives on tackling new challenges and bringing innovative solutions. Before joining UpSurge, Devon honed his skills in the non-profit sector in Washington, DC, and the local and federal government. Outside the office, Devon enjoys being creative, enjoying art and nature,
and spending time with close family and friends, inspiring his innovative approach to work. Whether collaborating on a team project or diving into independent tasks, Devon is always ready to contribute with enthusiasm
and dedication.

Quote he lives by – Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. – C. S. Lewis