1. UpSurge Ecosystem work is about building not just the next great TECH city — other U.S. cities are focused in that direction — but the first Equitech city. This includes advancing culture, supporting and problem-solving for entrepreneurs, attracting investment, companies and talent, telling the Baltimore story around the world, and building or advocating for the pathways and policies needed to engage all interested Baltimoreans.
2. UpSurge Investments will invest directly in companies that build the Baltimore ecosystem. Our first partnership is with Techstars, the leading city ecosystem accelerator in the world. Through the Techstars Equitech Accelerator, the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator — and others — promising young startups will be selected from 1000s of applicants to live, work, play and grow in Baltimore. And we’ll use the Techstars megaphone to tell Baltimore’s story to an innovation community of more than 17,000 investors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
How we’re supporting companies’ successes:
We’re looking across the country to educate and connect investors to opportunities in Baltimore.
We’re developing approaches to grow from inside and outside Baltimore.
In Baltimore and across the country, we’re connecting startups, corporations, incubators, accelerators and funders.
We’re focused on narratives that create awareness and excitement, and shift the perception of Baltimore.
UpSurge aims at building out the clear pathways that Baltimoreans need, from youth to adulthood, to access the innovation economy.
Emerging technologies and robust policies will support efforts to ensure people can stay — and invest — in their own communities, lifting the trajectory of historically marginalized neighborhoods.