A future of manufacturing-focused panel portends Betamore’s eventful future

Throughout its various iterations, Betamore and managing director Kimmy Andrulonis consistently sought to develop Baltimore into a global destination for entrepreneurship and innovation.

To this end, the former host of City Garage coworking space this week continues its 2023 series of third Thursday events with a panel covering tech’s impact on the manufacturing sector. Like prior events in this series, “The Tech Revolution Transforming Manufacturing” brings industry leaders to Betamore’s latest offices at the Center for Neighborhood Innovation (which sit within the historic A. Hoen & Co. Lithograph Building in East Baltimore) to foster community through thoughtful, relevant programming. 

 “Betamore has created an opportunity to curate supportive programs and events for early-stage entrepreneurs, helping them make connections necessary to start and deeply root their businesses here in Baltimore,” Andrulonis, the organization’s only current staffer, told Technical.ly. “Our goal is to offer more opportunities for learning and networking to the city and the broader region.”

The A. Hoen & Co. Lithograph Building. (Courtesy photo)

Andrulonis’ statement underscores Betamore’s mission and aim to nurture Baltimore’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing resources, mentorship and networking opportunities to early-stage startups. Other programs that reflect this goal include the Startup 101 program for early founders, which former AccelerateBaltimore leader Brendan McAdams now runs, and the SET program to train software developers.

“The Tech Revolution Transforming Manufacturing” kicks off this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. with networking and refreshment. Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland President Mike Galiazzo will then deliver opening remarks.

Andrulonis provided Technical.ly a rundown of the event’s other details and Betamore’s other 2023 plans. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What can attendees expect from this Thursday’s panel?

The panelists will discuss the impact of technology on the manufacturing industry, including the use of robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and big data. These technological advancements are transforming the way that products are designed, manufactured, and delivered.

Antoine Hutchinson, the CEO of FabPro Technologies, will share insights on how his company uses robotics to automate the manufacturing process, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Audrey Van de Castle, the director of digital transformation at Stanley Black & Decker, will discuss how her company is using big data to improve product design and reduce time to market.

Andy Cook, the founder of Made in Baltimore, will offer insights on how technology is empowering small-scale manufacturers to compete with larger companies. He will also share his experiences with using virtual and augmented reality to enhance the customer experience.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session, allowing attendees to ask questions and gain further insights.

Register for “The Tech Revolution Transforming Manufacturing”

What’s coming up for Betamore?

We have a stellar lineup of entrepreneurial “war stories” hosted at Baltimore Peninsula next month, so be on the lookout for information on that May 18 event. And last but not least: We’re thrilled to announce that [our benefit event] Beta City will be back this year!

At Betamore, we strive to support early-stage entrepreneurs with relevant programming, events, workshops and connection opportunities in various industries. We believe that the basic elements of starting a business, gaining initial customers and getting on a pathway to growth and expansion are fundamental building blocks in most industries. However, we also recognize that many other local organizations support entrepreneurs at later stages, in specific industries or within university systems, and we want to amplify those resources. Our goal is to support a more cohesive, easy-to-navigate ecosystem and break up the silos.