Baltimore weekly roundup: Shipping cargo into space; Stolen speed cameras; TEDCO’s $10M win

Welcome to the roundup of the latest from Baltimore's tech and entrepreneurship scene. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe for free.

Could Baltimore biz become ‘FedEx for space’?

After its launch party last month, Space Phoenix has a quick timeline in mind. Cofounder and CEO Andrew Parlock is targeting 2025 for the company’s first space cargo trip. 

Ultimately, he’s aiming to help people get their payloads — such as instruments for communications, tools for data collection, or whatever needs to be delivered — into orbit and back in a way that’s both fast and cheap.  

“The industry is massively constrained because there’s all this friction to get to space,” Parlock told me. “If you want to bring something to space, Space Phoenix’s model is do the thing that you do best …  and then we’ll take care of everything else.”

➡️ Read more about Phoenix’s mission to democratize space shipping 

How the tech boom in the Southeast is unfolding

What makes the ecosystems unique in the Southeast? Favorable tax policies and a unique culture, Technical.ly CEO Christopher Wink writes. Also, the disruptive pandemic is a factor in this entrepreneurial boom. 

“We’ve seen tremendous growth post-pandemic,” one CEO said. “People realized they could move back to their home state and still access capital from anywhere. The desire to start something and solve real problems has only grown stronger.”

➡️ Get the details about the different tech ecosystems here

One of the industry’s most impactful events

Tens of thousands of women and nonbinary technologists will convene in Philly for the annual Grace Hopper Celebration this October.

Named after Rear Admiral Grace Hopper — one of the first women to receive a doctorate in mathematics — GHC 24 brings together technologists for networking and professional development, and to recognize the work women and nonbinary people are doing in the industry. With a stacked lineup of speakers and sessions, it’s a place to hear from like-minded professionals and uncover insights into the next big trends.

➡️ Join the community in Philly and virtually, Oct. 8-11

This sponsored blurb supports our journalism. Want to see your message here? Find out more.

News Incubator: What else to know

• TEDCO landed $10 million from the US Department of the Treasury to help small businesses get connected with tech and legal services. [Baltimore Biz Journal]

• A Baltimore man allegedly stole four speed cameras throughout the city. This follows Baltimore relaunching the speed camera program after it was found cameras were incorrectly issuing tickets to drivers who were not speeding. [Baltimore Banner]

• Baltimore-based Under Armour says it’ll need to spend about $140 million to restructure the company. [Baltimore Sun]

• Cell phone restrictions differ from county to county in schools in Maryland, but the state superintendent may present a cohesive plan to the state Board of Education soon. [Maryland Matters]

• Community organization Baltimore Homecoming announced the finalists for its Crab Tank Entrepreneurship Program. The next step is a pitch competition in 2025. [Baltimore Homecoming]

• Loyola University Maryland is partnering with Gettysburg College to open its accelerated MBA to the students at the Pennsylvania school. [Loyola]

• We’re hiring a contract events reporter in Baltimore! If you love networking and being the go-to person in the scene, and want a platform to share what you experience, check out this listing and apply. [Technical.ly]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Sept 18: Network with entrepreneurs and listen to presentations from startups at 1 Million Cups’ biweekly event. [Details here]

• Sept 26: Meet and network with fellow manufacturers and artists at Magma Build Studios. [Details here]