Baltimore weekly roundup: VC drops; a digital equity leader’s journey; Gov. Moore’s quantum deal

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

This week, we explore the downturn in local venture capital deal flow last quarter and highlight the story of Lo Smith, whose career in local library systems paved the way for their leadership of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition.

Scroll down for more news from throughout Baltimore.

📰 News Incubator: What to know

• In this political climate, immigrants like Ellicott City resident and Ardent Privacy founder Sameer Ahirrao remain over economic turmoil and deportations. [Technical.ly]

• Maryland residents could pay $800 million in transmission upgrades to sustain power-hungry data centers in Northern Virginia, per the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel. [Baltimore Banner/Technical.ly]

• Gov. Wes Moore signed a deal with the research and innovation arm of the Department of Defense to make Maryland an official quantum hub. This agreement doesn’t come with new or guaranteed funding. [Washington Biz Journal]

• Baltimore could continue to host the CIAA tournament in 2027 due to scheduling conflicts at rival city Charlotte’s arena. The HBCU basketball competition has been a boon for the local economy. [Baltimore Business Journal/Technical.ly]

• A quarter of residents in Baltimore and Baltimore County describe themselves as entrepreneurs, per new research from Johns Hopkins. [Baltimore Banner]

• Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is bracing for tough budget cuts if the Trump administration continues cutting federal funding and grants. [WYPR]

• The Baltimore Action Legal Team, one of the only initiatives launched after Freddie Gray’s death and the 2015 uprising to remain operational, evolved to focus on a long-term fight for systemic change in criminal justice. [Baltimore Beat/Technical.ly]

• Columbia cybersecurity company Tenable hired Eric Doerr to be the firm’s new chief product officer. [Tenable]

• Maryland Department of Agriculture inspectors are now evaluating EV chargers in an aim to improve reliability. [Maryland Matters]

• As part of a plea deal, a former Pikesville High School athletics director received a four-month jail sentence for allegedly creating an AI deepfake of his principal disparaging Black and Jewish people. [The AP]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner event: Are you a Salesforce expert, or trying to be? The annual MidAtlantic Dreamin’ conference invites tech folks from across the region for a day of learning, brainstorming, networking and fun in Philadelphia on May 5. [Register Here]

• Partner event: Hacks/Hackers is hosting a summit May 7 to 8 for journalists and technologists to learn how AI can enhance news sharing. [Details here]

• Learn about the cannabis industry and the opportunities within it during the Maryland Cannabis Convention on May 2-3. [Details here]

• Connect with fellow developers at the next Equitech Tuesday on May 6. [Details here]

• For teens and young adults: Learn all about advanced manufacturing and explore career paths on May 10. [Details here]