A familiar face in the local startup sphere has been named the new president of Birmingham Bound, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the local tech ecosystem in the Magic City.
Local entrepreneur and fundraising executive Maria Underwood has accepted the role.
Throughout her career, Underwood has served as an executive for both local and international nonprofit organizations, including Vital Voices Global Partnership, where she managed donor and corporate partnerships. She has consulted and presented internationally on fundraising and trends in the nonprofit sector and spent nearly a decade working and building a nonprofit network in Washington, D.C., which she will leverage in her new role at Birmingham Bound.
“Birmingham has a rare business ecosystem of affordability, connectedness and strong support for the startup community,” Underwood said. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to open our doors to companies looking to grow in a sustainable market. I’m honored for the opportunity to merge my personal passions and professional experience in this new role with Birmingham Bound.”
A Birmingham native, Underwood has insight into the needs of high-growth companies. As the founder of the social impact platform Fundrage, Underwood has participated in accelerator programs and pitch competitions across the U.S, including SXSW, and believes that Birmingham is well-positioned as a thriving tech hub, according to a news release. She currently sits on the board of TechBirmingham and was honored on the 2022 BBJ Top 40 Under 40 list.
“The tech environment in Birmingham is special. Our goal is to showcase our unique culture to drive growth among startups, talent and investors in our community,” said Birmingham Bound co-founder Britney Summerville. “Since our founding, we’ve recruited 22 new companies to relocate their headquarters or open satellite offices here."
Birmingham Bound works closely with local leaders to recruit, retain and grow startups to build the city's tech-forward community.
