Conscious Venture Lab is set to launch in West Baltimore

Conscious Venture Lab will begin its first cohort in Baltimore in the coming weeks.
The accelerator, which is focused on purpose-driven companies, is moving to West Baltimore after previously being located in Columbia. The 17-week program for companies focusing on smart cities and urban resilience will launch Oct. 2, said CVL’s Jeff Cherry.
The following startups were selected for the cohort, per CVL:

• Treason Toting Co: Focusing on Baltimore based manufacturing and design.
• uJoin: An app focused on public advocacy.
• Gridlion: A platform empowering energy management for businesses.
• Danae Prosthetics: Makers of a platform for customized prosthetics.
• The Cube: A coworking space offering childcare for entrepreneurs.
• Parkofon: An all-in-one device for public parking.
• Baltimore Food Hub: The East Baltimore project spurring colocation for the food innovation economy.

The cohort will be based at a building owned by Baltimore City Community College, Cherry said.
With the move, Conscious Venture Lab has partnered with other organizations helping entrepreneurs in the city. CVL teamed with Innovation Village, the West Baltimore innovation district, last year. Earlier in 2017, Cherry and Joe Mechlinski launched SHIFT Ventures, which will provide funding and support. Cherry, who is the CEO of SHIFT Ventures, said the partnership is also bringing a framework to help companies create a growth plan.
Along with the launch, Cherry also said Sagamore Ventures is also joining as a partner. Sagamore will provide support to the entrepreneurs during the program, as well as funding. Cherry said the program is also looking to tap into Sagamore’s branding prowess. It also expands Sagamore’s work in West Baltimore.
“They’re doing a lot of great work all over the city,” Cherry said. “This was another opportunity to continue that work through us.”