Crab Tank pitch competition will pick 5 local startups

Baltimore Homecoming is adding a pitch competition to this year’s three-day event reconnecting notable Baltimore alums with the city.

Titled Crab Tank: A Startup Pitch Competition, the Oct. 18 event will feature five local startups. The winner will get $25,000, with the award sponsored by M&T Bank. Baltimore Homecoming is opening up applications through Sept. 30 to tech-based companies in the area.

“We are committed to helping small businesses in our community grow and thrive,” said Greater Baltimore Regional President for M&T Bank Augie Chiasera in a statement. “The Crab Tank competition is a great way to accelerate innovation and advancement among entrepreneurs in Greater Baltimore.”

Baltimore Homecoming is heading into its second year this Oct. 16 to 18. The gathering brings Baltimore natives and others with previous ties to the city to connect with the current generation of leaders, artists and activists. The idea is to inspire new relationships and investment. Earlier this year, the organization behind the event named Daniel Schochor as executive director to head up planning, along with a host committee that includes Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs,” Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

The pitch event puts the city’s up-and-coming tech companies on the agenda. The five finalists who are selected will pitch to a panel of judges, including the following:

• George P. Stamas, partner at Gibson Dunn law firm
• Ashton Newhall, managing general partner at Greenspring Associates, the Owings Mills-based venture capital investment platform
• Shanna Tellerman, CEO at Modsy, an online interior design company
• Melanie Whelan, CEO at SoulCycle, an indoor cycling and fitness lifestyle company
• Rodney Williams, founder and CCO at Lisnr Technology, an ultrasonic data company