The NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region hosted a Health Tech Startup Symposium on Friday, May 1 to unite industry leaders in highlighting Baltimore as a growing health tech ecosystem.
At the event, attendees formed strategic connections with researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to turn medical innovation into real-world impact.
Mary Morris, director of innovation initiatives at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), introduced the National Science Foundation I-Corps program to attendees, highlighting the value that partner universities in the Hub offer entrepreneurs. Led by the University of Maryland, the Hub includes UMB, Johns Hopkins University and other universities spanning the Mid-Atlantic region.
Special guest Maryland Delegate Stephanie Smith urged the crowd of over 130 to see health tech as both an economic and a human imperative.
"The work going on in health tech leads to problems being solved and jobs being created for our economy," Smith said. "People appreciate the outcome of the science even if they are not aware of the process, especially when someone is sick. All they know is that the people most important to them need help, and that somebody, somewhere helped so their loved one could be saved."
She closed with a charge to attendees: "We are hoping everyone leaves here and becomes ambassadors for I-Corps so actual innovation is supported and we can solve the big challenges of the 21st century."
Dan Kunitz, director of the NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region, said the cohort reflects the region's broader strengths. "Baltimore and Maryland sit at an extraordinary intersection of world-class research institutions, clinical excellence, and entrepreneurial drive,” he explained. “This health tech cohort demonstrated exactly what I-Corps is designed to do: take brilliant scientists and researchers and give them the tools and mindset to turn their discoveries into real solutions for real patients."
Peter Najjar, vice president of clinical innovation at Johns Hopkins Health System, opened his keynote with an enthusiastic assessment of Baltimore's standing. "I am excited for this Baltimore health tech ecosystem. We punch way above our weight."
He then challenged founders to resist the instinct to treat commercialization as secondary to their clinical mission. "The people who innovate in the health space are special. They tend to be very mission-oriented and are willing to run through walls to get their innovation to the community. But it seems almost unholy to them to translate that benefit into dollars and cents. But this exercise is critical. You owe it to the patients and communities to do that really hard work."
On customer discovery, Najjar was direct: "You have this beautiful window where you are allowed to not know anything. Take advantage of it. You need 50 to 100 touch points. Build the map, or you are handicapping yourself before you get started on that journey."
A panel followed, moderated by Edmund Pendleton, lead instructor for the Hub, featured Therese Canares, CEO and founder of CurieDx; Mantej Singh, CTO and co-founder of Modelus; Michael Haney, a finance executive with experience at Apple and Dell; and Elizabeth Mazhari, investment and ecosystem engagement officer at TEDCO. The entrepreneurs gave examples of their learnings from customer discovery, while the other panelists shared opportunities for growth through investment, including from large partners and a wide variety of Maryland-based resources.
Beyond the formal program, attendees made connections by engaging with fellow entrepreneurs, potential investors, and health tech industry catalysts. Holding the event in the R. House Garage space brought this group together in a historical Baltimore location, tied to the auto industry in the early 1900s.
The Hub’s Health Tech Cohort (a three-week program overall, with 28 teams, culminating in the Startup Symposium) was led by the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University in partnership with George Washington University, Penn State, Howard University, and UMB.
This symposium builds on prior cohorts focused on quantum, therapeutics and life sciences, fields that are flourishing among researchers and entrepreneurs in the region.
Entrepreneurs can find information about upcoming cohorts here.
View more pictures of the event here.
