How Are Women in Tech Shaping Baltimore’s Tech Ecosystem?

In Baltimore's tech scene, the ladies are making their mark. They've got crews like Baltimore Womxn in Tech and meetup groups on the grind.

The Baltimore area is number two for gender diversity in tech jobs among the biggest metro areas in the US! Women are holding down 31.2% of those gigs, compared to the national average of 26.7%.

Female-led tech startups in this city are thriving, showing off that entrepreneurial hustle.

You can't deny the impact these ladies are having, steering the direction of innovation while keeping it inclusive. Initiatives like Girls Who Code are shaping the next generation, while organizations like Balto Tech are keeping the support and advocacy game strong.

This chapter in Baltimore's tech story is all about diversity and female empowerment, setting the stage for even more triumphs, challenges, and trailblazers to come.

Stay tuned for the full scoop on what's popping in the city's tech sphere!

Baltimore's tech scene is blowing up! The city just got recognized by the Biden-Harris administration as one of the Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs, which is a huge deal.

This is gonna attract more investment and create a bunch of new, high-paying tech jobs. Over the past decade, tech-related employment in the city has grown by a whopping 28%, and it's poised to keep skyrocketing, especially in cutting-edge fields like predictive healthcare tech powered by AI.

While Baltimore's startups raked in around $678 million in venture capital last year, which is impressive, it's still a bit behind the bigger tech hubs.

But that's where platforms like EcoMap Baltimore come in – it's like a comprehensive guide to the city's thriving tech ecosystem, connecting talent and startups with the resources they need to thrive.

What's really cool is that Baltimore is embracing diversity and inclusivity in its tech scene.

Platforms like the Baltimore Artist Navigator and Blk Btrfly Exchange are showcasing the city's diverse talent and fostering a sense of belonging, which UpSurge Baltimore has dubbed "Equitech." It's all about making sure the city's tech entrepreneurs and workforce reflect the diversity of the population.

Of course, there are still challenges like the digital divide and competition for top tech talent.

But the fact that there are over 400 tech startups in Baltimore, many led by women and people of color, shows that progress is being made towards a more equitable tech ecosystem.

Plus, initiatives like the Baltimore Tech Hiring Initiative and collaborative tech spaces are helping drive a 24% increase in new startup launches in the past year alone.

UpSurge Baltimore is determined to make the city a national tech leader that celebrates its diverse culture, and with all the momentum and collaborative efforts happening, Baltimore's tech future is looking mighty promising.

It's an exciting time to be part of this vibrant and inclusive tech community!

Check it out! Women in Baltimore's tech scene are killin' it! They're bossin' up, startin' their own companies, and makin' some serious moves. 28.7% of tech jobs in Bmore are held by women, that's way higher than the national average! And when it comes to leadership roles, almost a third of those positions are occupied by badass ladies, according to the Baltimore Tech Ecosystem Analysis.

That's not all! These female tech entrepreneurs are straight-up ballers.

Their startups are bringin' in 30% higher ROI when they get that venture capital money, according to BCG. Talk about slaying the game!

And you know these ladies aren't just sittin' around waitin' for things to happen.

They're out here startin' their own tech hubs and incubators, tryna foster innovation and support their fellow girlbosses in tech. Like, did you hear about Susan Thompson gettin' that CEO bag at EcoMap Technologies? That's what I'm talkin' about! And let's not forget the CWIT Scholars Program at UMBC and the UpSurge Baltimore movement, pushin' for more female leadership in tech.

Real talk, these women are makin' a serious impact.

A study by Morgan State showed that women-led tech initiatives contributed to a 12% growth in tech-related jobs in the area. That's some real economic and social impact! They're makin' the industry more inclusive and stronger than ever.

These ladies are also crushin' it when it comes to diversity and education.

They're launchin' coding bootcamps like Nucamp's Women in Tech Scholarship to get more women into tech, creatin' scholarship programs for underrepresented groups like UMBC's CWIT, and advocatin' for more women in leadership roles, just like BGE's been doin' for 200 years!

With moves like these, Baltimore is well on its way to becomin' a true beacon for gender diversity in tech.

As one local leader put it,

"When women thrive in tech, Baltimore thrives as a city of innovation."

Ain't that the truth?

The tech scene in Bmore is a hot mess when it comes to gender equality. It's a microcosm of the whole damn country's struggle with this issue. Take San Francisco, for instance – that major tech hub only has 21% of its workforce as women.

Talk about underrepresentation! But there's a glimmer of hope. SmartAsset says D.C. is killing it with over 40% of tech jobs held by women, compared to the measly 26% national average.

And while Maryland ranks as the top state for gender equality, the ladies at Top Tech Companies in Baltimore are still facing some serious BS in terms of employment and pay.

The struggle is real. From a lack of role models to straight-up biased practices and unequal access to funding for female-led startups, the barriers are thick.

But some initiatives are trying to break through, like 'Wearable Tech Ventures' aiming to assist 100 wearable startups led by underrepresented founders by 2030.

And programs like NPower Maryland and Fearless Tech Bridge are equipping women with the skills and guidance they need to slay in this male-dominated field.

Success stories like Lisa Hernandez's rise to VP of Economic Development for a major Baltimore tech firm are inspiring AF. These moves are all about leveling the playing field and empowering women to smash through those gender-specific obstacles.

And it's not just about equality – according to research at Morgan State University, a diverse and inclusive workforce can boost innovation by up to 20%.

"By fostering an environment where women can thrive, we're not just leveling the field, we're maximizing our innovative potential,"

said Matthew Gonzalez, a prominent Baltimore tech entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of incorporating every talent in the industry mosaic.

The tech scene in Bmore is lit AF, and the ladies are killing it! One bad-ass chick you gotta know about is Shervonne Cherry.

She's been a boss in the Bmore tech game for like 17 years, and she's all about building that community and supporting startups. She's the OG at Spark Coworking, and she's the perfect example of how tech and community can go hand-in-hand.

As Bmore becomes a legit tech hub, you can't sleep on dope ladies like LaToya Staten.

She's not just killing it with strategic tech projects, but she's also all about making sure women and minorities get a fair shot in the industry. It was mad tragic when Pava LaPere, the CEO of EcoMap Technologies, passed away, but it just shows how much impact these ladies have.

Charles White took over for LaPere, and he's carrying on the mission of creating sustainable and ethical tech that brings people together.

Then you got Margaret Roth Falzon over at Yet Analytics, who's a straight-up analytics queen.

She even won the Women in Tech Award, which is dope AF. And let's not forget the Center for Women in Technology at UMBC.

They're grooming the next generation of female tech bosses and making sure they can thrive in STEM careers. With 37.9% of Maryland's tech workforce being female, it's clear that things are changing, and these initiatives are making it happen.

These trailblazers are making moves across all kinds of industries, and there are even more dope ladies out there doing their thing and keeping the Bmore tech scene on the up and up.

Together, they're bringing innovation, hustle, and vision to the table, and they're shaping the future of tech in this city.

In B'more's tech scene, the ladies have been killin' it, building that up with their hustle and mad skills. The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle is proof of that, investing in organizations that help women and families get on their feet.

Word on the street is that women-led tech startups in the city have grown by 20% in the last decade, slowly but surely closing the gap in a field that's been mostly dudes.

But it's not just about showing up, nah, these women are straight-up influencing B'more's tech future.

Companies like Yet Analytics and Fixt are making waves nationwide with their dope solutions for education tech and device support. And women in tech roles make up around 34% of the city's tech economy.

That's a hefty contribution, and it's driving serious economic growth. With a 15% increase in tech jobs, programs like Per Scholas Baltimore are giving women a shot at free tech training, opening doors in the booming tech sector.

And the best part? Women-founded businesses are creating 35% of these new gigs, flexing their muscles in B'more's tech game.

But it's not just about the numbers, it's about inclusion.

Initiatives like the Baltimore Women in Tech (BWIT) microgrants are fueling innovation for female tech entrepreneurs. And partnerships with big dogs like The East Baltimore Development Initiative (EBDI) are celebrating the impact women in tech have in neighborhoods like Eager Park.

Industry leaders are saying

"Diversity isn't just a buzzword; it's the secret sauce that makes innovation thrive."

With data and success stories backing them up, women in Baltimore tech aren't just navigating, they're the lighthouses guiding the way to a new level of equality and unlimited potential.