UpSurge Baltimore is the outgrowth of an effort begun in 2021 to convene local leaders across the technology and industry sectors and academia to advance specific actionable strategies to nurture, support, attract, and retain more entrepreneurs and startups in Baltimore. Under a unifying theme of “Equitech,” UpSurge now represents a three-year, $17 million effort split between an LLC targeting $11 million in for profit investments and $6 million in start-up/annual operating expenses for the affiliated nonprofit. This grant provided core operating support.