Our leadership

Hailing from Durham, NC, UpSurge CEO, Kory Bailey grew up loving sports and technology. A former professional athlete with over a decade of leadership in both early-stage startups and big tech, Kory has emerged as a thought leader on equitable economic growth and the biggest advocate for the tech community in Baltimore. The father of 3 boys is a proud Baltimore city resident who enjoys hosting community gatherings, experiencing the arts, culture and history of the city, and shining a light on Baltimore’s tech leaders whenever possible.

His most famous quote:
“If NY is about money, LA is about fame, and DC is about power, then what is Baltimore about? Baltimore is about LOVE.”

Maddy oversees the UpSurge revenue, programs, and operations. Maddy started her career in international development, working in Beirut, Lebanon supporting civil society organizations and activists. She later spent four years helping Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures build a dynamic entrepreneurship community. Serving on the boards of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and B-360 Baltimore, Maddy brings her community development lens, good-trouble attitude, and love of people into everything she does.
Quote she lives by – “We have to be courageous. Learning how to face our fears is one way we embrace love. Our fear may not go away, but it will not stand in the way.” -Bell Hooks

As Data Analyst, Chris focuses on UpSurge’s reports and internal data systems. 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. As a Venture for America ‘22 fellow, Chris is excited to learn from and support Baltimore’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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

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

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.