Baltimore daily roundup: Scenes from an epic Sneaker Ball; Backpack Healthcare in Google AI accelerator; local tech figures’ podcast

Stompin’ in our Air Force Ones for STEM

The Be. Org’s Sneaker Ball showcased the fusion of Baltimore’s sneaker culture and STEM education at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center this weekend. Amid the vibrant ambiance, guests immersed themselves in multi-room celebrations while experiencing the city’s tech and startup culture firsthand.

Beyond the stylish attire, the event served as a fundraiser, generating approximately $5,000 to support The Be. Org’s youth-focused initiatives. (Full disclosure: Technical.ly was a media partner on this event).

➡️ Find out who wore which sneakers at The Be. Org’s Sneaker Ball

Invitation to connect with each other on Slack

At a recent dinner with stakeholders in the tech and entrepreneurship community, a trio of attendees didn’t want to stop the conversation they were having — but they wondered how to follow up, since they all worked in very different parts of the ecosystem.

We have the answer: Technical.ly’s open Slack. We maintain this online community to help you connect. When you join, you’ll get an easy way to communicate with our team and see the jobs and events posted by 4,800+ members. Beyond that, we invite you to use our Slack to communicate with others. Want to continue a useful chat started at an event? Feel free to set up a group DM, and go from there.

➡️ We look forward to seeing you — join Slack with this invite

News Incubator: What else to know today

• Backpack Healthcare has been selected as one of the 15 companies in the prestigious Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First cohort program. [Backpack Healthcare]

• Forbes’ annual billionaires list for the U.S. features 67 new names, with over a quarter being tech founders or investors in tech startups. [American Inno]

• Speaking of Entertainment Tech Month, there’s a new tech and startup podcast in town. “Why Yall Working” is hosted by tech scene denizens Alairé Jameson and Michael Ogunsanya. [“Why Yall Working”]

• Baltimore Collegetown is marking its 25th anniversary with the Staff Awards, celebrating professionals across its network. [Baltimore Collegetown]

• The University of Maryland (UMD) announced the launch of the AI Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM). [UMD]

🗓️ On the Calendar