How’s it going? A checkup on several of Baltimore’s 2023 RealLIST Startups

In ancient societies, the rhythm of natural time often corresponded with essential activities like planting and harvesting. In our contemporary world, we see a similar synchrony mirrored in the flourishing of Delaware’s, Philly’s and even Baltimore’s tech ecosystem, particularly among the 2023 RealLIST Startups. Just as there’s a season for planting seeds and a season for reaping the harvest, Baltimore’s leading tech firms are engaged in phases of both growth and innovation.

Here are some updates from some of those companies, after several months of development. 

Fem Equity

Honorable mention Fem Equity, led by 24-year-old CEO Adeola Ajani, runs a software platform and app providing real-time data and resources addressing sexist and racist pay disparities. Technical.ly recently interviewed Ajani via email to provide an update, just two weeks before the company’s inaugural BLK Women Equal Pay Day Conference at FastForward U later this month. Here’s what Fem Equity has been up to since January, according to Ajani:

• Added two new members to the team 
• Gained 3 new board members 
• “Landed a large contract with a large institution (can’t disclose name yet) rolled out for Q1 of 2024”
• Graduated from Towson University’s StarTUp accelerator and TEDCO’s Open Institute for Black Women Entrepreneur Excellence program
• Been accepted into an accelerator based in New York called Project W, which offers a series of programs for female founders
• Secured an additional $16,500 in non-dilutive funding 
• Projected to increase members by 19 times by Q4 2023

Backpack Healthcare

A rebrand, a strategic partnership, team expansion, an app launch and more serve as indicators of now-Elkridge, Maryland-based Backpack Health’s growth. Formerly known as Youme Healthcare, this telehealth platform offers comprehensive mental health services, including medication management and talk therapy, for children and families. In a significant move, Backpack Health also acquired DC-based Hurdle Health, a digital mental health platform that aims to transform mental healthcare by prioritizing culturally sensitive self-care support for people of color. Here’s a glimpse of their other recent developments:

• Started a partnership with Hazel Health to provide care in Maryland
• Grown the team to over 60 people 
• Launched its app in 50 states (available on Apple and Google Play app store)
• Won the MedTech Color pitch contest
• Participated in the TechStars Healthcare accelerator 

Game4Good

Did you know that Dexter Carr Jr. serves as the president of the local Esports Trade Association’s chapter? Technical.ly didn’t either until our chat with the  Game4Good founder back in July. Now that the dust has settled from the Baltimore Chapter Esports Trade Association (ESTA) Charity Tournament, here’s what’s happening with Carr’s efforts to bridge the burgeoning esports economy with STEM education and other social impact initiative:

• Completed the StarTUp accelerator program 
• Planning an end-of-year Esports and STEM Festival on Nov. 10-12
• Recently won an association award from the Esports Trade Association
• Working to close contracts with “big brand organizations soon, and hope to succeed by Q4 of this year.”

ReBokeh 

Back in July, ReBokeh joined forces with Johns Hopkins to amplify its low-vision assistive technologies. Now, the Baltimore-based assistive tech startup is rolling out an upgraded version of its app. 

With users spanning 96 countries and a record of over 175,000 vision adjustments since its inception, ReBokeh is poised for even more transformative developments — including launching ReBokeh Plus, an enhanced version of the company’s app that allows users to adjust the appearance of the world around them to fit their specific visual needs. 

The original app harnessed real-time camera feeds from users’ smartphones or tablets, enabling them to apply custom filters for precise adjustments in such aspects as contrast, color hue, zoom and lighting, tailored to their specific needs in any given situation. Now, low-vision users can access a range of new features designed to address their daily challenges. These enhancements include expanded inversion options, the ability to save adjusted images directly from the ReBokeh app to a camera, the capability to set up three shortcuts for predefined combinations of image adjustments and the option to upload images to the ReBokeh app for further modification. This allows users to capture quick photos and later use ReBokeh for a closer look or to enhance the accessibility of images shared by friends and family.

Here’s a list of some 2023 RealLIST Strtups updates from Technical.ly’s 2023 coverage, concerning companies that did not immediately respond to Technical.ly:  

• Remington-based and Johns Hopkins-spawned startup Haystack Oncology was successfully acquired by New Jersey’s Quest Diagnostics back in June — a milestone for Baltimore’s biotech industry amid layoffs for some companies.
• RealLIST Startups honorable mention Upfront Capital has entered into a partnership with Atlanta’s Mezzo Agency, an emerging music publishing administration company. This collaboration aims to offer administration and publishing services for Upfront’s artists’ catalogs while providing support to music creators at different stages of their careers. Check out this interview with Upfront Capital cofounder Anthony Caesar for our How I Got Here Series in February.
• This summer, Blvck Door founders Shakeel Alexander and Iman Carr made a personal milestone by getting engaged. If you haven’t already, don’t miss the conversation Technical.ly had with them and other 2023 RealLIST Startup founders regarding the influence of Big Tech.
• MIRA Pharmaceuticals, formerly known as MIRA1A Therapeutics, successfully went public and debuted on the Nasdaq in August. It made its first moves to go public with the Securities and Exchange Commission less than a month before.

RealLIST Startups Dapt, Balance Theory, Mooji Meats, WeSolar and CraniUS, as well as honorable mentions Let’s Tap In, impathi, Drūl, SharpRank, Alloy Sports, Meridian Health and Sicura also did not immediately return requests for comment.