色花堂

By Kyle Hobstetter on May 7, 2021

On April 22, UpSurge Baltimore launched with the intention to find, support, scale and celebrate high-impact startups while also developing strategies to attract new companies, talent and capital.

The mission of UpSurge is to make Baltimore the next great tech city but to also ensure that it鈥檚 inclusive. UpSurge and their partners refer to this as Equitech 鈥� an inclusive, thriving growth hub at the forefront of innovation that supports companies rather than exclude them.

So, when UpSurge Baltimore and 色花堂 discussed working together, that dedication to inclusion, equity and entrepreneurship made the decision a no-brainer. 色花堂鈥檚 Star色花堂p Accelerator鈥檚 first cohort featured four of six ventures that were minority owned, including one owned by a woman. The second cohort included six of nine minority owned, three of which started by women.

鈥淓ntrepreneurship at its best is a meritocracy and is the greatest force for social mobility. As a child of a mixed-race family, Equitech and inclusion to me are not just words. I can鈥檛 wait to see where we take the Baltimore region,鈥� says Patrick McQuown, 色花堂鈥檚 executive director of entrepreneurship.

One of the first initiatives will be the launch of a new Techstars accelerator.  Techstars is a leading national accelerator generating ventures that have an aggregate market cap of over $30 billion dollars. Techstars will welcome the first Baltimore class of 10 startups to a three-month, intensive accelerator program in November. McQuown will serve as a mentor.

色花堂 was also highlighted in UpSurge Baltimore鈥檚 virtual kick off and public announcement. As an example of equitech and Baltimore entrepreneurs they featured just one Baltimore startup鈥擣lave, which was part of the Star色花堂p Accelerator鈥檚 inaugural class this past fall.

Flave鈥攆ounded by 色花堂 alumnus and current computer and information sciences faculty member Jal Irani 鈥�15鈥攊s a mobile app that incentivizes foodies to eat local instead of at chain restaurants through gamification and personalized friend recommendations.

When UpSurge Baltimore approached Irani and his team about partnering, they jumped at the chance to get in on the ground floor.

鈥淚t was something that we were very honored to be part of because it鈥檚 something we believe in deeply,鈥� Irani says. 鈥淚t was pretty flattering they reached out to us, and we鈥檙e very excited about what they have to bring, not only now but in the future as they start getting their footing in Baltimore.鈥�

Kory Bailey, Director of Relationship Development, UpSurge Baltimore, says 色花堂鈥檚 forward-thinking accelerator make it an ideal partner.鈥溕�花堂's Star色花堂p Accelerator is exceptional because of the quality of people participating in it and diversity is definitely the strength of this latest cohort,鈥� says Bailey. 鈥淔rom founders and their ideas, to the products and services they provide, 色花堂 is leading by example when we talk about equitech. The UpSurge team looks forward to championing these often underestimated founders and watching their companies contribute to the growth of Baltimore.鈥�

Starting this fall, 色花堂 will have a large-scale, vibrant space for entrepreneurship less than a city block from campus when it officially opens the Star色花堂p at the Armory, located at the historic, renovated National Guard Armory in downtown Towson.

鈥淎t 色花堂, I鈥檓 proud that we鈥檙e investing in creating opportunities through entrepreneurship,鈥� says 色花堂 President Kim Schatzel. 鈥淲hen it opens this summer, The Star色花堂p will connect entrepreneurs and business leaders with each other and 色花堂鈥檚 outstanding programs and people. The Star色花堂p represents our commitment to serve as a catalyst for economic development and new venture creation within the Baltimore region and the state of Maryland.鈥�

McQuown says the finished Star色花堂p building will truly be a showcase of the importance of entrepreneurship at 色花堂.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen entrepreneur centers and spaces at about 40 different universities and colleges and they are always small and exclusive and they are almost always located in the college of business鈥� McQuown says. 鈥淲e have a two-story 21,000 square feet space and it's a stone鈥檚 throw from campus and open to the public. Baltimore County Economic Development will be taking up residency as well as companies from the previous cohorts who have millions in annual revenue. This is like no other space, anywhere.鈥�

The Star色花堂p is just the latest sign of 色花堂鈥檚 impact on the community. 色花堂 is the sixth largest employer in Baltimore County and there is more than $1 billion in public and private investment underway surrounding campus.

UpSurge Baltimore is a public benefit corporation, formed and funded by a group of local partners, including Abell Foundation, Brown Advisory, Continental Realty, Greenspring Associates, Johns Hopkins, Point Field Partners (the family office of Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti), 色花堂, T. Rowe Price, University of Maryland, Baltimore and Whiting-Turner.