Big vision. Concrete actions.
Our mission is to build a thriving tech ecosystem for innovators, founders and talent by strengthening its culture and connectivity and mobilizing regional and national assets around Baltimore startups. As a thriving tech hub, Baltimore will be a model for economic prosperity – an Equitech city.
UpSurge is an ecosystem builder,
doing tech differently.
As a professional ecosystem building organization, UpSurge is a 501c3 non-profit. We depend on generous support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and the public sector. Connect with us to learn more about how to support this important work impacting Baltimore and beyond!
Building on Baltimore’s Momentum
UpSurge is the catalyst and driving force for Baltimore Tech.
Our Team
Kory Bailey
Chief Ecosystem Officer
As CEO of UpSurge Baltimore, Kory Bailey is a recognized thought leader in ecosystem building and innovation-driven economic growth. With over a decade of experience in startups, big tech, and venture, Kory brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within early-stage entrepreneurship, as well as the complexities of corporate and institutional engagement in the innovation economy. His diverse background—including time as a professional athlete, multiple-time entrepreneur, and angel investor—has shaped his ability to build regional innovation communities, connect national networks, and align stakeholders around the shared goal of startup success.
Kory is widely regarded as a visionary leader and one of the leading advocates for Equitech—an economic development framework that unlocks innovation and economic potential by fostering a tech ecosystem where all startups can thrive. He believes that economic growth is fueled by expanding opportunities for founders, strengthening collaboration across sectors, and ensuring that resources, investment, and talent flow to the best ideas, no matter where they come from. Under his leadership, UpSurge Baltimore has emerged as a key player in mobilizing the private sector, investors, and policymakers to accelerate startup growth and position the region as a national tech hub for the industries of the future.
As a father of three, Kory is committed to building a stronger, more resilient innovation economy—one that ensures future generations inherit expanded opportunities and a more dynamic, competitive marketplace. He embraces the responsibility of learning from the past while actively shaping a future of growth and possibility.
Robbin Lee
Director of Ecosystem Engagement
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 boards of Business Volunteers of Maryland and the UMBC Alumni Association.
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
Travis Hamburg
Fractional CFO
Chris Bunner
Data Analytics Manager
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 Khandelwal
Program Manager
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.
Isaiah Pittman
Digital Brand & Communications Coordinator
My name is Isaiah Pittman, M.S. and I am the Market Research Intern 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 UX Research.
Devon Pina
Senior Administrative Assistant
Devon Pina
Senior Administrative Assistant
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
Himalaya Kadari
Strategy & Operations Intern
Himalaya Kadari
Strategy & Operations Intern
I’m Himalaya Kadari, excited to be part of the dynamic UpSurge Baltimore team, immersing myself in the city’s tech ecosystem. As a Master of Science in Engineering Management student at Johns Hopkins University, my expertise lies in product management, strategic consulting, and data-driven decision-making. My previous experience as a co-founder at Cement On Wheels has instilled a profound appreciation for startups and the transformative impact they can have on local communities. I am passionate about Baltimore, a city I admire deeply, and am eager to contribute to UpSurge’s goal to elevate Baltimore’s tech community to unprecedented levels, ensuring Baltimore receives the recognition and resources it richly deserves. I look forward to leveraging my skills and experiences to foster growth and innovation within this vibrant community.
Yoshi
Office Dog
Our Board
As Managing Partner at MCB Real Estate, P. David Bramble dedicates his time to sourcing transactions, financial structuring and overseeing project underwriting and execution. A corporate and real estate attorney by training, David brings a deep knowledge of all aspects of the real estate cycle.
Claire Broido-Johnson is COO of Fermata Energy. She is the founder of CBJ Energy and has been an entrepreneur in clean energy for more than 20 years. Prior to Fermata, she was Managing Director of the Maryland Momentum Fund, a $10 million investment fund supporting early-stage companies affiliated with USM institutions.
Jeff Cherry is CEO and founder of Conscious Venture Labs and the Conscious Venture Fund, building on his national leadership in Conscious Capitalism®. Previously Jeff was a CEO, hedge fund manager, designer, entrepreneur, educator and mentor.
Shervonne Cherry is the Director of Spark Coworking and an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder. She heads operations, community development and ecosystem growth for Spark, collaborative workspaces in Baltimore, Kansas City and St. Louis.
Nick Culbertson is Co-Founder and CEO of Protenus, a leading healthcare compliance analytics platform. He’s an eight-year U.S. Army veteran and highly decorated U.S. Special Forces operator (Green Beret). Nick was awarded two Bronze Stars, one for extraordinary valor.
Deric Emry is Senior Managing Director, Private Equity at the StepStone Group. With over 20 years of venture capital experience, Deric previously served as Venture Partner at Greenspring Associates and General Partner for ABS Capital Partners, a leading growth equity manager.
Mike Hankin is President and CEO of Brown Advisory, a global investment management firm. He is deeply committed to Baltimore and is the Co-Chair of UpSurge.
Jacob Hodes is the CIO for Private Investments at Brown Advisory. Prior to joining the firm, he was an attorney in the Corporate Department at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he worked with both public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, reorganizations and corporate governance.
Isaac Kinde is head of research and innovation and a co-founder of Thrive. The technologies he co-invented with Thrive founders have subsequently enabled the earlier detection of several different cancers and other genetic diseases from a wide variety of clinical specimens.
Justin Label is the Managing Director of Inner Loop Capital, a Baltimore-based seed-stage venture capital firm focused on founders in the greater Washington, D.C. region. Justin has been working in venture capital since 1999, including 10 years at Bessemer Venture Partners in Silicon Valley.
Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, leads its mission to support economic development by cultivating an inclusive entrepre-neurial innovation ecosystem. He brings over 25 years of experience in investment management, higher ed, tele-communications, IT, and management consulting.
Elise Liberto is a Partner and Private Equity Portfolio Manager at Brown Advisory. Elise co-leads Brown Advisory’s venture capital program, overseeing investments in both private companies and fund managers. Elise launched and currently runs the firm’s proprietary direct investment strategy for early- and growth-stage private companies.
As Director of the Baltimore Fund, Mary engages regional contacts and companies to promote and administer the program and support USM. The fund is a financial incentive for companies affiliated with USM to relocate and expand operations in Baltimore City. Mary also provides outreach and programming to support the innovation community. She manages Anchor Ventures and serves on the MIPS Review Board and TEDCO’s MII Board.
Myra Norton leads the acceleration team at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, focused on advancing technologies, companies, and ecosystems around Johns Hopkins University, particularly in Baltimore.
Eileen O’Rourke is the CFO and director of impact investing at the Abell Foundation. Her 30 years of experience includes managing direct investments in early companies and providing innovative financing solutions in support of social mission activities.
Shelonda Stokes is President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. An electrical engineer by training, she is also an accomplished entre-preneur. Prior to DPOB, Shelonda was founder and CEO of GreiBO, an international brand, media and marketing agency.
Keith Stone is a partner and private equity analyst at Brown Advisory. He is also active in Baltimore, serving as Chair of the Job Opportunities Task Force and as a board member of Paul’s Place, Maryland Humanities and Pratt Contemporaries.
Ryland Sumner is the President of Point Field Partners, the family office for Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO of b.well Connected Health, is a pioneering force in healthcare, advocating for consumer empowerment to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
Christy Wyskiel is Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. She is a fierce advocate for the future of Baltimore and the role Johns Hopkins plays in an increasing number of companies born, built and grown locally. She is Co-Chair of UpSurge.
As Managing Partner at MCB Real Estate, P. David Bramble dedicates his time to sourcing transactions, financial structuring and overseeing project underwriting and execution. A corporate and real estate attorney by training, David brings a deep knowledge of all aspects of the real estate cycle.
Claire Broido-Johnson is COO of Fermata Energy. She is the founder of CBJ Energy and has been an entrepreneur in clean energy for more than 20 years. Prior to Fermata, she was Managing Director of the Maryland Momentum Fund, a $10 million investment fund supporting early-stage companies affiliated with USM institutions.
Deric Emry is Senior Managing Director, Private Equity at the StepStone Group. With over 20 years of venture capital experience, Deric previously served as Venture Partner at Greenspring Associates and General Partner for ABS Capital Partners, a leading growth equity manager.
Jacob Hodes is the CIO for Private Investments at Brown Advisory. Prior to joining the firm, he was an attorney in the Corporate Department at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he worked with both public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, reorganizations and corporate governance.
Isaac Kinde is head of research and innovation and a co-founder of Thrive. The technologies he co-invented with Thrive founders have subsequently enabled the earlier detection of several different cancers and other genetic diseases from a wide variety of clinical specimens.
Justin Label is the Managing Director of Inner Loop Capital, a Baltimore-based seed-stage venture capital firm focused on founders in the greater Washington, D.C. region. Justin has been working in venture capital since 1999, including 10 years at Bessemer Venture Partners in Silicon Valley.
Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, leads its mission to support economic development by cultivating an inclusive entrepre-neurial innovation ecosystem. He brings over 25 years of experience in investment management, higher ed, tele-communications, IT, and management consulting.
Elise Liberto is a Partner and Private Equity Portfolio Manager at Brown Advisory. Elise co-leads Brown Advisory’s venture capital program, overseeing investments in both private companies and fund managers. Elise launched and currently runs the firm’s proprietary direct investment strategy for early- and growth-stage private companies.
As Director of the Baltimore Fund, Mary engages regional contacts and companies to promote and administer the program and support USM. The fund is a financial incentive for companies affiliated with USM to relocate and expand operations in Baltimore City. Mary also provides outreach and programming to support the innovation community. She manages Anchor Ventures and serves on the MIPS Review Board and TEDCO’s MII Board.
Shelonda Stokes is President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. An electrical engineer by training, she is also an accomplished entre-preneur. Prior to DPOB, Shelonda was founder and CEO of GreiBO, an international brand, media and marketing agency.
Christy Wyskiel is Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. She is a fierce advocate for the future of Baltimore and the role Johns Hopkins plays in an increasing number of companies born, built and grown locally. She is Co-Chair of UpSurge.
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