With the year winding down, it’s a good time to take stock of where we’ve been before turning the calendar to 2019.
Throughout 2018, we’ve charted Baltimore tech companies growing, raising and moving. There were plenty of new additions, whether from names that were new or already familiar around the city. Taken together, the individual stories can begin to form a more complete picture. So with a look at the stories that attracted the most attention throughout the year, we also offer a look back at the moments that shaped the community, and in turn a piece of the local economy.
Here’s a look at the 10 most-read stories at Technical.ly Baltimore this year:

10. ‘We’re trying to to introduce zero bias.‘

Baltimore-based Catalyte deploys software development teams to create new tools for big companies. Yet it’s the approach it takes to hiring that makes it most unique. Using predictive analytics and in-house training, the company seeks to draw talent from any background and industry. After bringing on CEO Jacob Hsu last year, the company made moves toward national expansion this year with a $27 million funding round and the acquisition of fellow dev firm Surge.

Catalye CEO Jacob Hsu (left) speaks with Year Up Baltimore’s Clifton Morgan. (Photo by Catherine Sontag)

9. E-scooters land in Baltimore

Bird’s debut seemed to fly in from nowhere in June, but the e-scooters were soon seen buzzing all over downtown streets. A couple months later, dockless had the official OK, as the city looked for a solution to replace its beleaguered bikeshare program. While they enjoyed a quick rise, 2019 will likely determine whether the scooters have long-term sustainability.

Bird’s dockless scooters arrived in Baltimore. (Courtesy photo)

8. Port Covington looks to Cyber Town, USA

Plans to bring new life to the South Baltimore neighborhood owned by Under Armour Founder Kevin Plank always looked beyond the apparel giant. Even as Baltimore wasn’t able to attract Amazon HQ2, the developers turned to the talent that’s already in the area. With leaders comparing the state’s cyber talent to “oil,” the goal is to create a hub for cybersecurity companies with the first phase of building in 2020. In 2019, we’ll see what companies will be moving in.

A rendering of the completed “Chapter 1” phase of Port Covington. (Courtesy photo)

7. An adtech anchor files for bankruptcy

Videology, the Locust Point company specializing in video advertising led by Scott Ferber, sold its assets to Amobee in an auction earlier this year after filing for bankruptcy. Adtech observers took stock of a fall from grace for a company that once attracted IPO buzz.

6. WeWork plants a flag in Harbor Point

Coworking’s growth in Baltimore in recent years was largely homegrown, but that changed with the entrance of a pair of big players. That included WeWork, the well-capitalized giant of the industry that’s planning to open a spot with enough room for 1,100 members in Harbor Point in 2020. Here’s a look at the spaces open in 2019.

5. Leafly opens in Baltimore

As the medical cannabis industry expanded in Maryland, a Seattle-based tech company providing cannabis recommendations and media that was previously led by OrderUp’s former CEO moved in and hired a team of software developers. The plan is to make the office Leafly’s East Coast hub.

4. A tech expansion at a storied investment firm

Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price has always been a key driver of the area’s economy. Creating new tools for investors and clients alike, it’s now growing the tech workforce.

Inside T. Rowe Price’s Linthicum Heights innovation center. (Courtesy photo)

3. A look at Columbia’s top companies

Fresh off Columbia cybersecurity company Tenable’s debut on the public markets, we expanded the realLIST to the Howard County hub. The companies made notable expansion moves, and offered the latest evidence that the area of Maryland between two metro areas has a claim to being an economic force in its own right.

Zentail cut the ribbon on a new office in fall 2018. (Courtesy photo)

2. NSA’s work study program

The nearby headquarters of the National Security Agency in Fort Meade is a significant anchor of the local cybersecurity community. Fearless and I Am O’Kah teamed to help Baltimore city students get security clearances and participate in its work study program.

1. RealLIST 2018: Baltimore

For the second time, we curated a list of promising young companies working in Baltimore. Through the year, we watched as the companies raised new capital, brought on significant customers and moved headquarters outside the city. As the year ends, we’re once again looking at our list. We’ll be back with our 2019 list in a few weeks.