Maryland Inno is celebrating some of the most innovative companies in the Baltimore region with the 2024 Inno Fire Awards.
This year's honorees reflect the constantly changing Maryland technology ecosystem. Maryland Inno takes a big tent approach to innovation. We celebrate technology-focused companies ranging from startups to nonprofit institutions. An innovative company is not necessarily just a firm that creates a new invention but also encompasses companies that take an existing technology and use it in a new way. This year's awardees range from an organization building new ways to monitor seizures to a nonprofit using virtual reality to help train people for new jobs in the automotive industry.
The eight winners from three different categories will be honored at the Inno Fire Awards ceremony on July 11 at the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield tower in Canton. At the event, we will announce two honorees as this year's Blazer Award winners.
The event will also feature a panel discussion with two Maryland entrepreneurs, Marvin Montague Jr. of vegan bacon company Meat the Mushroom and Dawn Myers, from hair care company Richualist, who both recently appeared on the popular ABC show "Shark Tank".
To find the winning companies, Maryland Inno sourced nominations from the public and drew on our editorial team's knowledge of the local business ecosystem. Companies had to be located in Maryland to be eligible. Register for the event here and look out for profiles of all the honorees in the July 12 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.
Medtech
NextStep Robotics: Stroke patients often have to use rigid leg braces with shoe inserts to regain mobility. NextStep Robotics is trying to provide a better option by developing a portable ankle robot to help people walk. The Baltimore company is raising a $1.5 million round and recently registered its flagship device with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
EpiWatch: This Johns Hopkins University spinout is preparing to submit a clinical trial to the FDA for an application that turns an Apple watch into a seizure detector.
Astek Diagnostics: Astek Diagnostics has hit several milestones in developing a tool to quickly diagnose urinary tract infections. The Baltimore company launched partnerships with MedStar Health and MRR Children’s Hospital ("MRRCH") in Mumbai, India this year for research and development.
Ecosystem builders
EO Baltimore's EO Accelerator: From 2020 to 2024, the Baltimore chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization grew its accelerator from three companies to 14. The accelerator works with companies with between $250,000 and $1 million in annual revenue. If a company grows to over $1 million in revenue, it can "graduate" to full membership. The Entrepreneurs Organization has a physical presence in the city as well, through a clubhouse on the Fells Point waterfront.
BCR Cyber: This Baltimore company has leveraged state government grants to expand its training program, which prepares people for careers in IT and cybersecurity.
Technology Advancement Center: This firm has added an array of new C-suite executives this year as it works to expand its workforce development initiatives and expand the government’s ability to access innovative partners.
Automotive
Blue Whale EV: This company helps companies add electric vehicle charging infrastructure to parking lots to make it easier for people to use the innovative technology. Blue Whale EV recently celebrated the opening of its new 10,000-square-foot headquarters in Hanover.
Vehicles for Change: This nonprofit is using virtual reality to help train people in the prison and juvenile justice systems for jobs as automotive technicians. Vehicles for Change also awards cars to low-income families in Maryland.
