5 ways to plug into Baltimore’s tech and biz resources to kick off 2020

Is your New Year’s resolution to plug deeper into Baltimore’s tech community?

Well, the new year is bringing new opportunity for technologists and entrepreneurs around Baltimore. From pitch competitions to accelerators to speaking to the next generation, there are a host of ways to get resources for a business or just get involved in the community. Since we’ve seen a few opportunities pop up already in 2020, we put together a quick guide to open the year. We’re calling it the Resource Roundup. (Email us at baltimore@technical.ly with future opportunities.)

Here’s the menu of applications, in order of due date:

Apply for Johns Hopkins I-Corps Winter Session

• Due date: Jan. 10
• Follow this link to apply

Here’s one way science turns into startups: The I-Corps program is for university researchers, faculty, students who are looking to validate whether there could be a market demand for a problem they’re working to solve. Over four weeks, participants talk to more than 40 potential customers, users or other stakeholders. At Johns Hopkins, the next session will be held from Jan. 31 to Feb. 28, led by longtime instructor Bob Storey. Only the first and last days have required in-person attendance. The program is free, and participants are eligible for a $2,880 grant when they’re done.

Submit a workshop proposal for the 2020 Girls in CS Summit

• Due date: Jan. 24
• Follow this link to submit

Station North-based tech education nonprofit Code in the Schools is organizing the daylong event. Set for Feb. 22 at the JHU Carey School of Business, it aims to expose middle and high school girls to computer science. The mechanism? Workshops led by professional women from the area. CITS is putting out the call for proposals for hourlong sessions that introduce computer science, and start the conversation on bridging the gender gap in computer science and STEM education. There’s also an opportunity to volunteer at the link above.

Apply for Conscious Venture Lab’s next cohort

• Due date: Feb. 14
• Follow this link to apply

The West Baltimore-based accelerator offers a four-month program to help build startups driving purpose and profits. The sixth cohort, which returns with the theme of “Urban Resilience and Smart Cities,” is scheduled to run from March to June 2020. Up to 10 companies will be selected.

“We’re also really excited about the new curriculum updates we’ve made with our partners at the Darden School of the University of Virginia and our plan to use different forms of financing, like revenue based redeemable equity, that will help us extend and improve our program for more entrepreneurs,” CVL CEO Jeff Cherry said in a statement.

For an in-person look, head to the accelerator’s demo day on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the National Aquarium. More in our Events Roundup.

Apply for Innovation Works’ Boost Workshop

• Due date: Feb. 27
• Follow this link to apply

Last year, Baltimore’s Innovation Works and Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship teamed up and launched new resources to help social entrepreneurs in Baltimore city. Among them: the IW Boost Program, a workshop on entrepreneurial development. After last year’s debut, it’s returning from April 21 to 23 of this year. The free, three-day session will support 20 to 30 for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid-model social enterprise leaders. Programming is focused around business fundamentals, strategic thinking and developing a business plan that takes impact, growth and financial sustainability into account. To learn more, head to an info session on Jan. 15 at Open Works. The hourlong session starts at 5:30 p.m., and will include Q&A.

Get your application ready for Shore Hatchery

• Due date: April 6
• Follow this link for info

Twice a year on the Eastern Shore, the Shore Hatchery business competition offers a chance to win funding at Salisbury University. It’s organized by SU, with supporting from the Philip E. & Carol R. Ratcliffe Foundation. The business competition for startups offers the chance to pitch and earn funding. Businesses don’t have to be students at SU to compete, and we’ve seen plenty of Baltimore companies take home big checks in the past. Applications don’t open until Feb. 24, but check back then to apply.