Our newest reporter wants to know what matters to Baltimore’s innovators

We’re thrilled to announce Anand Macherla as our first-ever Baltimore events reporter. 

The former Venture for America fellow and inaugural employee of UpSurge Baltimore is the latest member of our fully distributed newsroom. On this beat, he joins me and lead reporter Kaela Roeder, who this summer began covering Baltimore in addition to DC. 

What’s his deal? Here’s the story: Anybody who’s followed Technical.ly over the 15 years we’ve covered local entrepreneurship and tech might know we don’t just report about the innovation economy — we embrace some of its values, too. For instance, we focus on experimentation, adaptation and flexibility in our approach. We become part of the communities we cover, instead of swooping in and out for the drama. 

So when our most recent lead reporter in Baltimore took a job with the city’s i-team, we decided to try a new approach in our second-oldest market, where we’ve been reporting since 2012. 

A few months ago, we put a call out for a part-time events reporter here. The idea was to hire someone who knows the ecosystem well, even if they weren’t a practicing journalist, and can spotlight the myriad of events where local technologists, founders and others in this world build the connections that sustain it. We also intended for this person to act as a sort of ambassador for our publication within this world, whether promoting our newsletter and quarterly awards series or helping build relationships that could enable further coverage. 

Macherla hits on all points. For those of you who don’t already know him — and I’d be surprised if you didn’t! — learn more about his background, passion for this city and what he seeks to learn from all of you in the Q&A below.

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and style.

How did you become part of Baltimore’s ecosystem? 

I moved from Albuquerque to Baltimore in 2018, as a Venture For America (VFA) fellow. In undergrad, I cofounded a company (making artisanal jewelry and art pieces) and enjoyed entrepreneurship’s fast feedback loops so much that I decided to apply to VFA. I chose Baltimore because I noticed interesting economic and demographic overlaps with Albuquerque.

My first job was as a data analyst with T. Rowe Price, in its Innovation Lab. I got to work with several teams on every part of the data analytics pipeline and learned how corporations cultivate a culture of innovation at satellite campuses. T. Rowe gave me the stability and opportunities to get involved with other spaces like VFA, Thread, Baltimore Rising, Dent Education, neighborhood associations, book clubs, rock climbing groups, COVID response groups, etc.

My next job was with UpSurge Baltimore, which threw me into the innovation and startup ecosystem. I was the first employee and director of data and pathways, as the organization was setting priorities, aligning actors and earning trust. Through my work there, I studied incentive structures and relationships within the ecosystem, learned about movement-building and began “measuring the immeasurable.” I deepened my practice with systems thinking, accessibility and gathering. 

The roles I have played for the last two years are more nebulous. Now, I’m softly reemerging into the ecosystem, working part-time as I navigate health and accessibility. 

What excites you about the chance to connect with the innovation world here in this new role? 

I’m excited to shape and iterate on this role with Technical.ly, where I get to lean into my experiences and relationships in Baltimore and tell stories at an intentional media outlet seeking to build community. 

I get paid to attend events/gatherings, make friends, learn from experts, become a better writer and share more stories of Baltimore. That’s all pretty exciting. 

What do you like most about Baltimore’s innovation ecosystem, and what are you most excited to explore in this position?

One of my early Baltimore wisdom guides said, “Everybody here hustles for others.” I think it encapsulates the community of care and energy that I associate with Baltimore.  

I appreciate the density of deep expertise and lived experiences, which then inform the community work and “solutioneering” happening here. I love that people move here intentionally. I like that our political leaders are fairly accessible, and are willing to be experimental and forward-looking. I admire the readiness of community groups to advocate and organize locally. I love how this city opens her arms to the humble who listen  — and how quickly she can humble the arrogant. I was drawn to the events reporter position because I’m excited to share about intentional gatherings through the entrepreneurial ecosystem-building lens. 

How do ecosystems build toward more entrepreneurship? How do organizers design an event with a purpose? How are guests responding and reacting to the event? And how can we better be in relation with another? I’m excited to explore these themes and more through this role. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

Read, pretend I’m a chef by melting cheese on otherwise mundane foods and tend to our house garden. 

Anything else you’d like the readers to know?

I think solutions are found in community. And accessibility and belonging are important to me.

If you have ideas about events to cover, stories to highlight, adjacent ecosystems or principles to learn from, or anything else, reach out at anand.macherla@technical.ly!