This story was made possible through support from TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, which enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at tedcomd.com. All stories are independently reported, with no partner review.
A prominent Baltimore venture studio has tapped a new leader to take the helm.
Early Charm Ventures hired a new CEO after the company’s original founders stepped down and she’s looking forward to putting her biotech expertise to work.
That’s not the only key industry in Maryland getting a boost.
The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is launching a game design major for students starting in fall 2026, highlighting new opportunities in the state’s popular video game development sector.
Read on for more details on those, plus more power moves across Maryland.
New era at Early Charm
Commercial development officer Kelsey Abernathy announced last week she’s taking over as CEO at Early Charm Ventures from Ken Malone, who founded the company alongside his wife Kelli Booth in 2012.
Booth, who shared executive responsibilities with Malone, will also step back from Early Charm to focus on Minnowtech, a studio portfolio company, Abernathy told Technical.ly.
Abernathy first met Malone and Booth as a graduate student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and later interned at Early Charm when it had just a few full-time employees.
The experience inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship, launching her own company, AlgenAir, while still a student. The startup developed algae-based air purifiers, and she ran it for five years before returning to Early Charm full-time in 2023.
Her experience building products at AlgenAir translated into her initial role managing the studio’s expansive portfolio, where she has helped launch seven products since rejoining the team, she said.
As CEO, Abernathy said she plans to draw on her background as a molecular biologist to expand Early Charm’s life sciences work. While much of the current team has expertise in materials science, she sees an opportunity to grow the company’s capabilities in biomanufacturing via programs like BrightCharm, a joint project with BrightWave focused on algae-based manufacturing in Aberdeen.
“We’ve recently started building out that space,” Abernathy said. “So, I want to continue expanding those capabilities and reaching into the biomanufacturing side of things.”
Over the past 14 years in Baltimore, Early Charm has grown its portfolio to more than 100 products, according to Abernathy.
In a LinkedIn post, Malone wrote that he and Booth built the company to operate independently of their day-to-day involvement, growing a management team to take over commercial operations.
“Most of our customers do not know I exist,” Malone wrote. “Early Charm has run through our team for quite some time.”
Malone did not respond to Technical.ly’s request for comment.
More opportunities for gamers at MICA
MICA will launch two new Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs in game design and film and video in fall 2026, expanding the existing minors into standalone majors.
The game design BFA will focus on both creative and technical training, including game engines, programming, narrative design and collaborative production workflows. The film and video BFA will combine hands-on production with coursework in film history and criticism.
Students in both programs will take classes at the JHU-MICA Film Centre, a shared facility with production and post-production resources.
“At MICA, we marry the fundamental creative concepts of art and design with the possibilities of leading-edge media technologies,” Eric Freedman, MICA provost and vice president of academic affairs, said in a press release. “The Film Centre serves as a convergent media hub that pulls together the College’s film, game design, and interactive arts.”
The additions come as the college looks to expand offerings in interactive media and visual storytelling, per the press release.
More power moves
- South Korean biotech company Samsung Biologics opened its first US manufacturing facility in Rockville, bringing 500 jobs to the state, according to the press release.
- Calverton-based cybersecurity company VERSA Integrated Solutions appointed Quintus R. Brown as its new chief AI officer. Brown previously worked as a partner at Google and Amazon Web Services.
- The Veterans Affairs Health Care System of Maryland named Vishal Vaghela its new chief of staff.
- The University of Maryland brought on five new AI scholars to its Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute, which launched in 2024.
- DMV insurance giant CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield appointed Kurt C. Small as its new CEO. He brings 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and previously served as the president of Medicaid for Indiana insurance company Elevance Health.
- Baltimore-based Storytime AI participated in the South by Southwest Launch Startup Competition for companies in the edtech space.
