W Ventures and TechSlice are teaming up to boost Baltimore entrepreneurs

A pair of local tech firms are teaming up to boost entrepreneurs, and build the Baltimore startup community.

VC and accelerator company W Ventures and software product development agency TechSlice are forming a partnership that includes cohosting events and pitch competitions, providing mentorship, and supporting the growth goals of each agency’s portfolio companies.

It brings together two firms with complementary expertise. W Ventures, formed by marketing communications entrepreneur and investor David Warschawski, offers startups marketing communications work, venture backing, access to a network of angel investors and space to build in Mount Washington. TechSlice, led by CEO Juliana Buonanno, works with entrepreneurs to create and launch medical software. It offers technical, design and programmatic development expertise.

In their work, both leaders are working to support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Baltimore, and they ran into each other frequently at local events.

“When we would talk about what we hoped for Baltimore, the vision for Baltimore and how great this city could be from an entrepreneurial standpoint, we were always incredible aligned,” Warschawski told Technical.ly.

They soon decided to work together on this goal, agreeing to apply each of their expertise to support companies, with W Ventures offering marketing and company-building expertise, while TechSlice applies tech and product expertise.

“With this partnership we have such a full-fledged solution that the Baltimore entrepreneurial ecosystem hasn’t seen, especially at this level,” Buonanno said. “I’m really excited to use our combined skillsets to uplift the Baltimore community.”

One example of this work was on view when we connected this week. Buonanno was at the W Ventures space on Wednesday, where she offered mentorship to W Ventures portfolio companies. After recommending a new hire at Warschawski, Buonanno is also continuing to mentor them. Plus, they can combine the strength of the two networks together. W Ventures will also host the next TechSlice Demo Day on March 3, 2022.

It’s the kind of collaboration that builds an ecosystem. Both have strengths that play a role in building companies. By joining together, they can help companies from all perspectives.

“Together I think that makes us both stronger, but we also hope for Baltimore we can be a force to accelerate the speed at which this becomes one of the greatest entrepreneurial cities in the US,” Warschawski said.