Diversity & Inclusion

10 Baltimore tech and biz events to kick off 2020

The beginning of the year is a chance to wrap up what was started in 2019 and look ahead. January's Events Roundup features happenings that do both.

Moms as Entrepreneurs' first cohort at Open Works closed with an expo in 2018. (Photo by Stephen Babcock)

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Baltimore area each month. Have a submission for the next edition? Email us the details at baltimore@technical.ly.


The beginning of a new year is a chance to reflect on what’s past, and look ahead to the future.

Throughout January, tech and entrepreneurship events around Baltimore are making that a monthlong concern. There are business-building cohorts wrapping up, talks on the future of manufacturing and autonomous vehicles, an anniversary celebration, and a new meetup for the future. Let’s take a look at the lineup:

Conscious Venture Lab Demo Day

As the New Year begins, nine companies are wrapping up an accelerator program that’s focused around purpose-driven companies. The founders in the fifth cohort will pitch their companies focused around areas like reducing homelessness, increasing voter participation and providing tools for nonprofits. The event also includes speakers including Motley Fool Ventures Managing Director Ollen Douglass and Catholic University of America’s business school dean, Andrew Abela. It comes as applications are currently open for the next cohort.

  • Thursday, Jan. 9
  • 6:30-9:30 p.m.
  • National Aquarium, 501 East Pratt St.
  • Tickets ($25)

Nailed It! User Experiences That Last

The meetup group is hosting an event at local advertising agency idfive that’s for stories of partnering with clients to create user experiences, and making sure they can be maintained and scaled.

  • Tuesday, Jan. 14
  • 6-8 p.m.
  • idfive, 81 Mosher St.
  • RSVP (waitlist)

Digital Harbor Foundation 7th Anniversary Showcase

On the anniversary of its founding inside a former city rec center, the Federal Hill maker education nonprofit is bringing together students, educators, business leaders and other supporters. It’s a chance to check out what students are creating, and hear plans for the future.

  • Thursday, Jan. 16
  • 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Digital Harbor Foundation, 1045 Light St.
  • RSVP

The Future of Maryland Manufacturing in 2020

The Regional Manufacturing Institute presents an event exploring local manufacturing, with a keynote featuring insights on trends and talent by Anirban Basu, CEO of Sage Policy Group and a frequent local media voice on the economy. Plus, CEOs including Douglas Hamilton III of Hamilton Associates, Suzy Ganz of Lion Brothers and John T. Williams of Jamison Door Company offer their predictions for 2020.

  • Friday, Jan. 17
  • 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  • PSA Insurance, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 500, Hunt Valley
  • Register ($40-50)

Moms as Entrepreneurs Expo

The organization providing a business training program to Baltimore city moms launching businesses features an expo where attendees can meet the latest group of entrepreneurs and shop a market featuring goods from local mom-owned businesses.

  • Saturday, Jan. 18
  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Morgan State University Ballroom, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane
  • RSVP

Elevate H.E.R. Women and Girls Mentoring Summit

Building relationships is an important part of career growth, right alongside skills. And when it comes to creating pathways for more women to advance to leadership roles, the importance of mentoring is one of the most common ways we hear to support that. This summit is seeking to inspire both women and young girls alike and includes panels, talks and activities.

  • Saturday, Jan. 18
  • 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • UMBC University Center, 1000 Hilltop Circle
  • Register (Donation)

Baltimore Black Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders

With the beginning of 2020 comes a new meetup group: Organized by Amber Ogunsola and her company remnant144, a description states that the group aims to bring together a community of African American entrepreneurs who are “solving problems and brainstorming ways to improve and advance the local economy.”

  • Monday, Jan. 27
  • 6-8 p.m.
  • BrickRose Exchange, 2216 Boston St.
  • RSVP

Robotics Research, Autonomous Systems and the Army Research Lab + AI Integration

Baltimore Tech Meetup hosts Rob St. Amant, a computer scientist at the Army Research Lab in Aberdeen. He’ll speak on current research on autonomous ground vehicles and context-aware decision making.

  • Monday, Jan. 27
  • 6-8 p.m.
  • Betamore, 101 W. Dickman St.
  • RSVP

BCAN Founder Fellowship Demo Day

The Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network welcomed five teams into its 12-week program in the fall. As they end their time in the intensive program, check out pitches from ventures empowering refugees and immigrants, creating an inclusive tattoo studio and more. Plus, there will be live music, guest speakers and food.

  • Tuesday, Jan. 28
  • 6-9 p.m.
  • MICA Falvey Hall, 1301 Mt. Royal Ave.
  • RSVP

CyberTini

bwtech@UMBC, the incubator at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is hosting a networking reception with folks building companies and offering resources in Maryland. Joining with regional economic development groups Cybersecurity Association of Maryland and EAGB, bwtech@UMBC brings together startup and business leaders from around the state.

Technical.ly Baltimore is a media partner for this event. Want to score a free ticket? Email baltimore@technical.ly with the subject line “CyberTini tix” by Friday, Jan. 10, for a chance to win one of five.

  • Tuesday, Jan. 28
  • 5:15-7:15 p.m.
  • Retriever Room at the UMBC Event Center, 1000 Hilltop Circle
  • Tickets ($25)
Companies: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) / Digital Harbor Foundation / Betamore

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