Wolverine Weekend Update: Well That Wasn't Expected

Devery Hamilton a 4 Star Offensive Lineman out of Gilman in Baltimore has de-committed from Michigan and flipped his commitment to Stanford. 

Biff Poggi who just retired from Gilman is reportedly considering a offer from Jimmy to join his staff.   I wonder if that offer is still on the table :)

This is why recruiting is so crazy and works both ways.   With the loss of Swenson and now Hamilton this leaves a big hole in Michigan's class.   With the dead period starting soon, I don't see how Michigan can backfill this position in this class.   Unless they can flip someone like Will Fries who has visited Ann Arbor but is committed elsewhere (PSU). 

Michigan most likely will fill this hole in 2017 or through a transfer.

Some good news:

There is a rumor floating around that Michigan might get Victor Viramontes back in this class.  He is expected to make a NSD decision. 

Recruiting news never stops!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/wolverine-weekend-update-well-that.html

Former Jos. A. Bank exec’s cyber startup helps companies analyze their security

Jos. A. Bank’s IT chief Gary Merry had a problem.

As chief information officer, Merry was responsible for shaping the men’s retailer’s IT strategy in a way that would help grow the business without spending money on unnecessary tools, training or technology features. But he had no way of knowing which tools, training initiatives or techniques would provide the best return on investment.

So he started a company, Deep Run Security Services, to do just that.

“He came up with the idea because he didn’t have the tool to make the decision: Where’s the return on investment?” said Ken Chodnicki, Deep Run’s chief operations officer, recounting the company’s founding story.

Read more at Baltimore Business Journal

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/former-jos-a-bank-execs-cyber-startup-helps-companies-analyze-their-security/

Raising a seed round isn’t only about the money: Yet Analytics cofounders

Seed rounds aren’t only about the cash.

Money may be the desired end result of an initial outside investment round, but the process of raising capital is ultimately about setting a course for the company, Yet Analytics cofounders Shelly Blake-Plock and Margaret Roth told a group of entrepreneurs and community members at Startup Soiree on Wednesday night. Blake-Plock described the initial investment round as a mortgage on the company’s future.

“When we started up this company, we didn’t start it for the purpose of getting a mortgage, we started it for the purpose of building a home,” he said.

The event, held at the Arch Social Club at Penn and North, was a chance for entrepreneurs to meet up in West Baltimore following the recent launch of Innovation Village.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/raising-a-seed-round-isnt-only-about-the-money-yet-analytics-cofounders/

City spending board approves dark fiber deal with University System of Maryland

The University System of Maryland and the City of Baltimore entered into a dark fiber sharing and leasing agreement on Wednesday. The city’s Board of Estimates approved a 20-year program.

A description in the board’s agenda states that the Maryland Research and Education Network (MDREN) is partnering with the City to add fiberoptic cable on North Avenue. A total of 144 fiber strands will be added, with 24 of those strands allocated to the university system. The University of Baltimore and Coppin State are two USM schools in the vicinity of North Ave.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/city-spending-board-approves-dark-fiber-deal-with-university-system-of-maryland/

TEDCO CEO Rob Rosenbaum resigns

Rob Rosenbaum has resigned his post as the head of TEDCO.

Rosenbaum, who held the title of President and CEO, left the quasi-public agency “effective immediately,” the organization announced Friday. Rosenbaum intends to pursue other interests, the statement said.

TEDCO will seek a new CEO in a nationwide search. John Wasilisin, who has been executive vice president and COO since 2007, will now serve as President and COO.

We’ll have more details as they become available.

Rosenbaum served in the lead role for more than five years. In the role, he was a frequent spokesman for both the organization and the state’s efforts to foster startups.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/tedco-ceo-rob-rosenbaum-resigns/

Michigan Friday: Grabs Another Tight End

The recruiting blitz has been crazy lately.   Every time I try to get lunch or dinner, somebody commits or de-commits.   Yesterday, was thought to be a quiet day.  It wasn't. 



This is not Michigan's latest commit

Michigan landed a commit from a mid-week visitor and 4 star FL TE Nick Eubanks.   This recruitment pretty much came out of nowhere.   He has offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Texas, USC and Oregon.   He has already visited Bama and was expected to visit Florida this weekend.  Most had expected this to be a Florida - Alabama battle. 

Per 24/7, "He said Alabama led prior to his visit. He's no longer planning to officially visit Florida this weekend.

 

"I chose Michigan because it's a better fit for me," Eubanks said. "I can play right away as a true freshman. It's best for my future and for my work ethic. Plus coach Harbaugh coached Vernon Davis so I know he knows how to use the tight end. Michigan showed me stuff I've never seen before. Not at Florida or at Alabama. How they throw the ball to their tight end. How they flex the tight end out and use the position as a hybrid. No other school I was considering does that. That shocked me and shook my mind."

Nick is 6'6 and has a frame similar to Devin Funchess.  He is rated the #9 TE in the county by Rivals.   Check out his highlights here.

This surprise commitment Chases Allen to Iowa State or Nebraska (he announces today).

Some of you might be wondering if Michigan has an opening still for the California pair TE Asiasi and DT Tagaloa, the answer is YES.   Michigan would love to steal these two from the West Coast.  They announce at noon on NSD.

What does the board look like now?

1. Gary - Will visit Clemson this weekend, still love Michigan's chances.

2. Jordan Fuller - Announces Monday night, close between Michigan and OSU.

3. Lavert Hill - Seems to be trending back to Michigan

4.  Devin Asiasi and Boss Tagaloa Combo

5. Connor Murphy - Ties to Jimmy

6. Quinn Noridin - Michigan or USC

7. Donald Stewart - Michigan or Stanford

Currently 26 commits, we expect one gray and maybe one qualification loss from that list.  Which would leave 6 spots for the guys on the above list.  Fuller seems to be trending to OSU and the California guys are a difficult prediction.   Murphy is also a tough call, as he seems to keep quiet on his recruitment.  Nate Johnson also seems to be in flux with ND now full at WR. 

Pie Young and Chase Murphy will be playing at other schools.

I believe Michigan would love to grab mid-week visitor KS S Isaiah Simmons if Fuller or Hill go to rivals.



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-friday-grabs-another-tight-end.html

Baltimore health IT startup Protenus raises money

Baltimore health IT startup Protenus Inc. has raised $2.6 million of a $4 million equity funding round, according to documents filed with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission.

Protenus founder Robert Lord declined to discuss the round because it is still in progress. The SEC report doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story of what’s going on at Protenus — the numbers reported are subject to change, as is the nature of the funding. But the early report at the very least tells us that Protenus, a startup launched by two Johns Hopkins medical students, is making moves and one to keep an eye on.

Read more at Baltimore Business Journal

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/baltimore-health-it-startup-protenus-raises-money/

Choptank Transport expands in Caroline County, adds 130 jobs

Choptank Transport, a third-party logistics company that specializes in truckload freight, has announced an 11,000 square-foot expansion of its Caroline County headquarters facility.

As part of the expansion, the company will incorporate large open spaces into the design of the building and add an additional 130 jobs. In addition, the company has also purchased a separate 4,000 square-foot building in the Town of Preston to accommodate the increase in employees. This marks the third expansion for Choptank in the last decade.

“We have been blessed with outstanding growth,” says Steve Covey, Executive Vice President at Choptank. “Our strategy has been and will continue to be our results driven culture. Our employees’ dedication and focus on exceeding customer expectations has allowed this growth. The new addition will allow for further investment into our culture through business intelligence and staff additions. Those additions will foster collaborative technologies that will allow us to successfully manage and grow in a logistics world that faces unprecedented requirements for over-the-road safety and cargo security.”

“The growth of a company with a nationwide footprint like Choptank is a tremendous asset to the Eastern Shore and the State of Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan, “Our administration is committed to helping businesses like Choptank – a business that is thriving and providing the citizens of our state with great jobs and more opportunity.”

Founded in 2000, Choptank Transport is nationally-recognized and has rapidly expanded during its time in Maryland. With six offices across country, the company serves the United States, Mexico, and Canada with its refrigerated and frozen transport, dry van, flatbed and intermodal services.​​

Learn more.

The post Choptank Transport expands in Caroline County, adds 130 jobs appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from http://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2016/01/choptank-transport-expands-in-caroline-county-adds-130-jobs/

Grow your business with better revenue metrics

How are you tracking your revenue? Your payment processor (e.g. Stripe) tells you general sums, and hopefully you keep up with how much money you made this month, how many dollars entered and left your bank account, and how many new customers signed up.

Profitwell is a SaaS metrics dashboard that provides a deeper dive into your financials. It’s one of the tools that we recommend SmartLogic’s clients use to keep track of where their revenue comes from. Profitwell gives you the information to narrow your target focus and, hopefully, increase revenue.

Find out where your revenue is really coming from

The breakdown of revenue sources looks different for every company. For some, growth comes from getting existing customers to upgrade and spend more; for others the majority of their monthly revenue may come from signing up new customers. A number from your payment processor at the end of the month only tells you how much money you made, not how you made it.

This dashboard breaks down that basic number so you can see your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you think you’re doing great because your payment processor says you’re making money each month. What it doesn’t tell you, though, is that just as fast as new customers are signing up, current customers are walking away. Knowing exactly how you’re growing can help you focus on a path to a more profitable future.

Learn more about how you can help your SAAS company grow on the SmartLogic blog.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/grow-your-business-with-better-revenue-metrics/

OptioLabs is about keeping data safe — be it from mobile malware or office eavesdroppers

Cybersecurity usually deals with protecting what’s happening inside a computer. For OptioLabs, however, the idea of keeping data from getting loose is a little more tangible.

The Camden Yards-based company’s products draw protection based on whether a screen was left open, or a specific app on an Android phone is being attacked.

“It’s almost like using a surgical scalpel to get to a disease,” said CEO Gregg Smith. “That’s the type of fidelity we have with this, which is really important to some of our customers.”

Following a $10 million Series A funding round in 2014, the company, which is a subsidiary of Allied Minds, has added nine executives. Smith last led Bethesda-based KoolSpan. CTO Bryan Glancey was a security executive atSamsung. Bill Anderson came on in the acquisition of his former company, Oculis Labs. The company also added Deon Maez and Patrick Geritz to expand its customer base in December.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/optiolabs-is-about-keeping-data-safe-be-it-from-mobile-malware-or-office-eavesdroppers/

Michigan Thursday: So Much Information

There is so much information out there right now, it's hard to know where to start.  Here we go:

Welcome to the Team!

+1 AD:  Michigan seemed to find a very good fit in Warde Manual as AD.  He is a Michigan Man, played football here and worked in the athletic department at Michigan.  He also did a very good job as an AD at Buffalo and UConn.  He should understand the role and what is needed to succeed in A2.   It's going to be hard to do a better job then Jim Hackett has done over the last year or so, but he sounds like a great fit.  Welcome home Warde!

+2 Recruits

WR Eddie McDoom is #1 in our hearts with that last name.  He was committed to Oregon but they have a rule about taking visits, so he de-committed and yesterday jumped on the Wolverines wagon.  He is known as a burner that can get deep and spread a defense out.   He is probably more of a slot guy at his size which most sites say is around 6'0 and 170 pounds.  

He is a 3 star player to all the sites, minus ESPN who has him a 4 star and the #184 player overall.  His offer list reads like a 4 star WR:  Bama, BC Clemson, MSU, Florida, GA, Miami, OSU, Oklahoma, Penn State, Mizzu, Texas and many more.   Sounds like a great pickup and one the Michigan coaches really wanted. 


Safety/ATH Khaleke Hudson - He is a player that got red hot in the recruiting circles after the Semper Fi All Star Game.    He is known as a Pepper's like player that could play Nickel, Running Back or even WR.  As you know Jimmy likes to experiment at other positions, so he should fit very nicely in A2.   Since the all star game and review of his senior tape, Khaleke has seen his stock explode all over the place, he is now a 4 star on Scouts and 24/7 and still a 3 star on Rivals and ESPN.   His offer list grew to the likes of Penn State, Pitt, UCLA, Wisconsin, MSU, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and WVU.   This kid could be a special player and a great pick up for Michigan who has only been recruiting him for a couple of weeks.


They are hitting the road to other things

-1 Recruit:  Jordan Elliot - He is the Chris Clark of the 2016 class.   He has been committed everywhere!  As expected he de-committed from Michigan last night and will end up in Texas. 

-1 Player: The rumor mill is spinning that Brian Cole has been dismissed from the team.  Nothing official yet but it seems Brian broke some team rules off the field.   This is a loss for the Wolverines, as he could have been an impact player.  This is another reason Michigan is taking a ton of WR/DB's in this class.


News and Notes

• Brad Hawkins has been rumored to maybe not being in Michigan's class on NSD.   He tweeted he is fully committed to Michigan.  The rumor is qualification issues.

• K Quinn Nordin de-commits from Penn State will announce on NSD at 11.  

• Chase Allen will announce on Friday between Michigan, ISU and Nebraska.

• TE Preferred Walk on News :  Connor Edmonds and Daniel Jokisch welcome!

• WR Pie Young seems to be trending towards Louisville

• Some ND insiders believe ND might not have room for WR Nate Johnson in this class.  Maybe he stays with the Maize and Blue?

• Out of the 25 Michigan commits - Mgoblog reports there is one gray shirt and one academic issue that they know of.  Maybe 5-7 spots still available?

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-thursday-so-much-information.html

3 takeaways from the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore’s annual report

For more evidence that tech is moving into the mainstream economic conversation for Baltimore, look no further than the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore’s annual report. The 2015 edition was published earlier this month.

Read the full report 

The overview of the region’s “key economic indicators” touches on new development, exports and other business indicators. But there’s plenty of entrepreneurship talk.

Here are three takeaways on companies and workers:

1. Startup Formation was double the national average in Baltimore. Since 2010, startup activity increased by 7.4 percent. The national average among metro areas was 3.1 percent over the same period, the report states. For the report’s purposes, the rate of startup formation is defined as the percentage of companies that are less than one year old.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/3-takeaways-from-the-economic-alliance-of-greater-baltimores-annual-report/

Wolverine Wednesday: Recruiting The Elephant in The Room

Jimmy is taking some shots nationally for a couple of commits having to find another schools in the last month of the recruiting cycle.   We all know the perceived issues with two recruits hitting social media after being committed to Michigan for a long time. 

Let's talk about recruiting and recruiting to Michigan right now.    Nobody cries for the University when a recruit flips on signing day and leaves a big hole in the class.  Is that fair?  It isn't but it's part of the process.   We also only hear one side of the story.   The reasons we have sites like Rivals, Scouts, ESPN and 24/7 is because kids talk, coaches can't.   Meaning we only hear one side of the story and its the recruits side.  

Coaches offer hundreds of kids a year for maybe 20+ spots in a class.   Things can change between the time they get the offer vs. NSD.  For example, grades, tests, performance on the field, serious injuries, etc.    Michigan offered a scholarship to a local kid who had committed but had multiple ACL injuries, he could get a Michigan education paid for but wouldn't be suiting up for the Wolverines.   Being a Michigan commit is also beneficial for the recruit.   It gives them a ton of exposure they probably didn't have and opens up new opportunities.

The devil is in the details in each one of these situations.   What was the player told originally?  Insiders report that Weaver was told up front that he could come to A2 only if there was space in the class.    The key to all of these situations is communication between the recruit and the coaches.   If they ever wondered what their status was in the class, I'm sure there is a coach a phone call or a text away.   The coaches also need to be crystal clear with the recruits and space in the class.

Jimmy is looking to turn a battleship and compete with the likes of Ohio State and Alabama.  He needs talent and a lot of it.   Being honest with kids that will have a better opportunity to playing time at another school isn't the problem, timing and communication is.    Jimmy isn't looking to burn bridges with coaches that could have the next 5 star DT, so treating recruits honestly has to be the policy.

We need to trust Jimmy and the staff that they are doing the right things for Michigan.  I sure do. 

• Gary will take his last visit to Clemson this weekend.   He will also announce on ESPN2 at 1:00 on NSD. 

• Biff Poggi father of Michigan player Henry and head coach of HS powerhouse Gilman will be leaving the school after 19 seasons.   It sounds like he will be joining Jimmy's staff, maybe in a similar position that Chris Partridge had.

• Andrew Vastardis is coming to Michigan as a PWO.  He is a 6'4 and 310 pounds offensive lineman.

• Lou Holtz will be at Michigan's Signing Day event. 

• Khaleke Hudson is announcing at 3:00 today.  Fingers crossed.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/wolverine-wednesday-recruiting-elephant.html

Join Maryland Commerce at the Farnborough Airshow

Are you an aerospace company looking to expand into the global marketplace? Join the Maryland Department of Commerce and travel to the U.K. for the Farnborough International Airshow.

Held July 11-17, Farnborough is one of the world’s premier aviation and space industry events. The airshow hosts more than 100,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from across the globe, bringing in billions of dollars in orders and commitments.

Commerce has reserved a 68 square-meter booth at the world famous show with room for 10 Maryland companies. By traveling as part of the Maryland delegation, your company can showcase its aerospace products and services to an international audience at an affordable cost. Companies will receive a prime location in a heavy walk-through area, turn key booth installation, and recognition as part of the official state delegation led by Maryland Commerce Secretary, Mike Gill.

For $3,000, exhibitors will receive:
• Booth space with brochure rack and signage
• Access to pavilion conference room, storage area, internet, and refreshments
• Tradeshow support from local and international Maryland Commerce staff
• Transportation to and from the airshow
• Option to reserve hotel rooms at the Hilton London Kensington
• Team dinner near the hotel

Applicants are asked to apply by February 29 and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. To reserve your space in the Maryland Pavilion, contact Jessica Reynolds at 410-767-6435 or jessica.reynolds@maryland.gov.

The post Join Maryland Commerce at the Farnborough Airshow appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from http://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2016/01/join-maryland-commerce-at-the-farnborough-airshow/

‘Mythbusters’ host Adam Savage visits Code in the Schools

Adam Savage has been part of plenty of stunts, but education is at the heart of what he does.

The Mythbusters host and Hollywood model-maker looked to talk to other teachers when he brought a film crew to Station North as part of a tour for Tested in November. Savage visited Code in the Schools’ recently opened office in the Centre Theater to learn about the computer science education nonprofit’s approach to STEAM.

Savage talked with Executive Director Gretchen LeGrand, as well as staffers Sharae Felder, Derek Fields, Taylor Burch, Charlotte James and Joshua Branham. Savage also spoke with students, including some Arduino talk with Prodigy program scholars Nick Wilkins and Cori Grainger.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/mythbusters-host-adam-savage-visits-code-in-the-schools/

Michigan Tuesday: Recruiting News Doesn't Stop

Minus One:

Rashad Weaver de-commits after not having much contact with the Michigan staff and receiving a call from Jimmy saying there is a 50/50 shot there would be a room for him on NSD.    This of course is not new news and was 100% expected.   The insiders believed Weaver's offer always included an asterisk that if there was enough space in the class for him.  So even though he takes a shot at Jimmy and staff  he has known for months he wasn't going to be part of the class and has used his status as a Michigan commit to get other offers and visits. 

I expect he will end up at South Florida (Harbaugh coaching tree) or Temple.  


Mike Dwumfour commits to Michigan right after he de-commits from Michigan.   This is another great sign on reeling in the biggest fish in 2016 class, Rashan Gary.   Mike and Gary are best friends and now Mike is coming to Ann Arbor. 

Mike is 6'2 and 285 pounds and is a 3 star prospect to all the services.  He is a Willie Henry/Mo Hurst type of player who is a bit raw right now.  Once Mattison coaches him up, he could be an NFL draft prospect like Big Willie in a few years.    He is a guy Don Brown was recruiting at BC as well.   His offer list includes:  PSU, Rutgers, Wake, WVU, BC, Army and Iowa.   I love getting guys like this on the D-Line as Michigan loves to rotate players there a ton to keep the defense fresh.   I expect he is headed for a much needed redshirt.   Their is a bit of talk, that he isn't 100% fully qualified yet but is close. 

The best news is Mike's commitment makes it even harder for Gary to go anywhere but A2. 

Announcements coming:

• Jordan Fuller is going to announce on Monday
• Khaleke Hudson is announcing tomorrow: Michigan, Pitt, PSU and UCLA
• Connor Murphy is announcing on NSD
• K Quinn Nordin will also announce on NSD

-2016 TE Nick Eubanks is planning a mid-week visit to Ann Arbor tomorrow.   Tick Toc Chase!!!

-Big safety prospect Isaiah Simmons is also planning a mid-week visit this week as well.

-Texas Center transfer Raulerson is going to UCLA, I guess the issue was getting into Ross School of Business for his MBA.

Going to be a great finish on NSD!!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-tuesday-recruiting-news-doesnt.html

Maryland leads delegation to Arab Health 2016

Steve Case, dozens of executives to speak at Light City Baltimore innovation conference

AOL co-founder Steve Case is coming back to Baltimore for the city’s first light installation festival and innovation conference.

Case is among dozens of entrepreneurs, leaders and innovative thinkers who will speak at Light City U, a series of industry-themed innovation conferences that are part of the $4 millio Light City Baltimore. Other speakers include author Wes Moore, OrderUp co-founder Chris Jeffery, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski III and Radiolab host Jad Abumrad.

Light City Baltimore will feature seven nights of concerts, performances, light artwork and a 1.5 mile light art walk with 50 stops to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The event is produced by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and takes place March 28 through April 3. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., which is celebrating its 200th anniversary, is the lead sponsor.

Read more at Baltimore Business Journal

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/steve-case-dozens-of-executives-to-speak-at-light-city-baltimore-innovation-conference/

What a Mt. Vernon snowball fight showed this WordPress developer

It’s amazing what happens when you’re stuck.

When the snow finally stopped falling over the weekend, Baltimore’s neighborhoods got together, plows or not. Around Patterson Park, neighbors were shoveling together, sledding together and just out together. And we were supposed to be buried.

One of the most notable events sprang up in Mt. Vernon, where neighbors got together to fling the freshly-fallen snow at each other under the Washington Monument. According to a blog post, the seeds of the event were planted before the snow started falling, when WordPress developer Aaron Brazell posted the idea on Facebook. The interest grew immediately, so Brazell made a public Facebook event.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/what-a-mt-vernon-snowball-fight-showed-this-wordpress-developer/

Here’s the tech community questionnaire we sent to Baltimore mayoral candidates

To continue growing a community that’s already getting a lot of attention from politicians, it helps to engage on the issues.

Members of Baltimore’s tech scene are already active in the greater community, and many spoke about the need to turn more focus to the city’s decades-old inequalities with renewed urgency in the wake of the unrest that followedFreddie Gray’s funeral. To keep that energy going, one next step is to rally around those issues ahead of the April 26 Democratic primary.

That’s why Technical.ly Baltimore polled local tech leaders and curated what they want of a future mayor. Then we distributed the resulting questionnaire to declared candidates.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/heres-the-tech-community-questionnaire-we-sent-to-baltimore-mayoral-candidates/

Pivoting Your Company: Advice from Yet Analytics Co-founder Margaret Roth

In less than three years, Margaret Roth has co-founded a company, helped create a mission and identity that matters, and raised more than $1 million as part of Yet Analytics' seed round.

Roth and her co-founder, Shelly Blake-Plock, will be be appearing  at January’sStartup Soiree at the Arch Social Club. They will tell the Yet Analytics startup story and discuss how they turned that company pivot into a $1.3 million seed round.

Register for Startup Soiree with Yet Analytics.

Can’t make it Wednesday night? We spoke with Roth about her startup story and how Yet Analytics came to be.

Check out the full interview and video on the SmartLogic blog.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/pivoting-your-company-advice-from-yet-analytics-co-founder-margaret-roth/

This app helps inmates stay connected with friends and family. Its founder knows the struggle

Before Walter Price’s cousin died in a Baltimore City jail, Price remembers hearing from him. “One of last things he said to me was, ‘I feel like I was forgotten,'” Price said.

While serving his own 10-year sentence at Roxbury Correctional Institute in Hagerstown, Md., Price saw how hearing from family and friends helped inmates maintain a connection. The Baltimore native had been an entrepreneur before with a towing company and mobile car wash, and saw the potential to help others.

“When I came out, I was determined to do something for that community,” he said.

But even as he saw the entrepreneurship spurred by the app economy, the letter from his cousin stayed with him. With letters still the primary way to communicate with inmates, but he found a way to use technology to make the process easier — with Jail Mail.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/this-app-helps-inmates-stay-connected-with-friends-and-family-its-founder-knows-the-struggle/

Gov. Hogan honors Maryland companies on Inc. 5000 list

Gov. Larry Hogan stepped into Groove’s offices near Little Italy on Wednesday night to recognize the Maryland companies that made this year’s Inc. 5000 list.

Addressing a crowd that included Inc. Magazine publisher Rich Russey, Hogan said the companies “do many different new and innovative things, but they also have some important things in common — like vision, drive, great leadership to see that vision through and a strong entrepreneurial vision.”

In all, 106 Maryland companies made the annual compendium of the country’s fastest-growing companies, including eight Baltimore tech firms. Companies have to submit certified revenue verification materials, tax forms or audits to show their growth, according to Inc.

Groove, a digital marketing and design agency, was marking its third year on the list. CEO Ethan Giffin recalled when he first found out that he made the cut.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/gov-hogan-honors-maryland-companies-on-inc-5000-list/

Michigan Monday Helps LB Depth Chart

Michigan has been recruiting some big names at CB, DT and WR.  Which are very important positions, but the one position that needs depth is at LB.   Before Sunday, Michigan had the two star Johnson and four star Bush in the class at the LB position.   Sunday at 8:00 changed that quickly as two LB's committed together:  4 star Elysee Mbem-Bosse and 3 star Joshua Uche.

Elysee plays inside and Joshua plays outside and could also be considered a DE.   There was a rumor floating around on Saturday that Jimmy wanted guys to silently commit and not make it public until the Signing Day Event he is planning on NSD.   That is clearly not the class as both of the LB's made it official on Sunday.

EMB has been a priority for some time as Michigan looked to be finishing second to ND in the Jon Jones recruitment.   He is a Don Brown type of player at 6'3 230 he has the strength and power to play early.   He is known as a tackling machine that might struggle in coverage.   He is rated 4 stars by ESPN and Rivals but 3 stars to the other services.  

His offer list is an impressive one with the likes of Nebraska, NC, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tenn., Texas AM and many more. 

It would be great to get EMB to redshirt but my gut tells me he probably will make the two deep in the fall if he gets to school in the summer and works with the defense in summer workouts. 

Joshua Uche is pretty much a 3 star across the board.  He was a former Miami commit and another Don Brown commit.  Don had offered him at BC and now Josh has followed him to Ann Arbor.   Josh is 6'1 and 210 and for sure will need a redshirt year to add some weight and strength before competing for a spot at DE or OLB.

Josh's offer list is also impressive with the likes of Alabama, NC, Florida, Miami, Auburn, Syracuse and Louisville. 

Josh is speed guy, whether he is running down a RB or getting to the edge for a QB sack.   I love that Don Brown and GMat will be able to mold him into a very good player.    This is a very important pick up for the future of the defense. 

• The rumor mill is predicting that Jordan Elliot is most likely flipping again and this time to Texas.

• It also was starting to sound like LaVert Hill might be trending away from the Wolverines.  Hill is on campus today for another un-official.  I guess we will see what happens here.

• Mike Dwumfour de-committed from PSU this morning.  He said on twitter that his "heart is somewhere else".   :-)

So what does the board look like today?

1. Gary
2. Hill
3. Dwumfour
4. Hudson
5. McDoom
6. Stewart
7. Allen

The class has 24 recruits in it right now.  I expect 2-3 de-commitments still to come from the likes of Weaver, Elliot and Nate Johnson.   Dytarious Johnson could also be a gray shirt. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-monday-helps-lb-depth-chart.html

Greening Your Business Program: Sign Up Now

Guest feature: Laura Armstrong is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Maryland Department of the Environment. Follow along with MDE @MDEnvironment.

Whether your organization is just getting started in greening its operations or you’re ready to take your sustainability efforts to the next level, a new free program offered by the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership will help you meet your goals.

The Greening Your Business program will help your organization identify opportunities that reduce environmental impacts and save money, boost the impact of your green team and increase employee engagement, and raise awareness of your environmental stewardship through the Maryland Green Registry.

The program is open to all businesses and organizations and includes two half-day workshops (in February and April) as well as on-site assessments to identify cost-saving opportunities specific to your facility. Workshop 1 will help you set priorities for implementing these sustainable practices. Workshop 2 will assist companies in developing a system to ensure that environmental performance and operating efficiency continue to improve year after year.

The workshop agendas and registration form can be found here.

Space in the program is limited. To indicate your interest in participating in this free program, e-mail or call us, or submit this form by February 1, 2016 and we will be back in contact with you to confirm your place in the program.

For further information, contact Laura Armstrong at 410-537-4119, Laura.Armstrong@maryland.gov or Paul Gietka, 410-916-4061, pgietka@mdmep.org.

The post Greening Your Business Program: Sign Up Now appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from http://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2016/01/greening-your-business-program-sign-up-now/

Michigan Friday: The Long Day Pays Off and A Couple of Surprises

First things first:

David Long who has been a silent commit to the Wolverines made it official last night in picking Michigan on ESPNU.  

David is an Army All American and one of the best CB's in the country.  He is a consensus 4 star to all the services and had offers from the likes of USC, Stanford, Oregon, ND, Arizona, UCLA and many more.   He was once committed to Stanford. 

David is 5'10 and 176 pounds and is considered an elite cover corner.  If you watched the AAA game his size didn't seem to matter has he had a pick in the corner of the end zone.   If you can't tell, I really like this kid and think he is very athletic.   Here is a link to his senior highlights and his AAA game pick.

With more news, I will mention later.  Michigan still has space left for another corner in this class and all recruiting efforts now will focus on LaVert Hill and Jordan Fuller.   ATH Khaleke Hudson is also a top priority but he is being recruited as a Safety on defense.

Surprise #1:  6-6, 290-pound OT Stephen Spanellis tweeted out he was de-committing from Virginia and will commit to the Wolverines.   Stephen visited last weekend and seemed to love the Wolverines.   From my understanding, the Michigan coaches had hoped he would commit but was not expecting such a quick decision.   Steve is a 3 star prospect with offers from the likes of MSU, Arkansas, Miami, South Carolina, VA Tech, GA Tech, Maryland, Illinois and others. 

Steve has ties to the Michigan program as Henry Poggi's dad is his HS coach and he is also a teammate of Michigan commit Devery Hamilton.

Surprise #2:  CB Antwaine Richardson de-commits from Michigan.   He is a guy that committed last summer and we really haven't heard much from him as he blew out his ACL in August last year.   If your wondering, the buzz is Michigan was not expecting this de-commitment and it fully came from Antwaine.    He has offers from other big schools like Miami, Syracuse, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wake Forest.

Big Visitor Recruiting Weekend. 

• Gary is in A2 on an unofficial as was spotted at Pizza House last night!
• Donald Stewart NJ WR who visited Stanford last weekend
• Jordan Fuller, CB from NJ - doesn't talk recruiting much, might be leaning towards OSU
• AZ DE Connor Murphy - sleepover buddy
• De La Salle teammates TE Devin Asiasi and DT Boss Tagaloa
• FL WR Eddie McDoom
• GA LB Elysee Mbem-Bosse will be a high priority this weekend
• FL LB Josh Uche a Don Brown recruit

Where do we sit today on numbers?

Michigan has 22 commits but a few guys seem very tentative at the moment.  Those guys are Rashad Weaver, Jordan Elliott - visiting Texas and WR Nate Johnson who really shouldn't be considered a commit with a NSD decision coming. 

If the accurate number is really 20 commits then Michigan has unbelievably 8-10 spots left. 

Guys I like in this class that are un-committed:

1. Gary
2. Chase Allen
3. McDoom
4. Khaleke Hudson
5. Michael Dwumfour - might not be fully qualified yet
6. Elysee Mbem-Bosse
7. Pie Young
8. Quinn Nordin

I have no idea where LaVert Hill's head is at right now, many say Michigan leads but I could see him going to MSU.   Fuller would be a huge get, he won the Gatorade NJ Player of the Year over Gary.  

This class continues to be very fluid.   It is going to be a fun ride to NSD. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-friday-long-day-pays-off-and.html

Plumbers in Reisterstown Maryland

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Liked on YouTube: Emergency Plumber Owings Mills MD | Call 410-983-6900

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Maryland Commerce supports two new research professorships

The Maryland Department of Commerce, Morgan State University and Washington College have endowed $4 million in two new research professorships. The endowments were made through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative (MEI), a program created in 2014 to spur basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields at the state’s colleges and universities.

The Morgan State chair—the first endowed chair at the university—will focus on cybersecurity while the post at Washington College will create entrepreneurial science programs. The schools raised $1 million in private funding for each chair and Commerce approved two matching grants of $1 million to support the endowments.

“Morgan State University and Washington College are economic drivers for Baltimore City, the Eastern Shore and the entire State of Maryland,” Commerce Secretary Mike Gill said. “The research they conduct and the bright young minds they nurture fuel Maryland’s economy and keep our state on the cutting edge of technology and discovery. We are proud to partner with both institutions and look forward to seeing the fruits of both new professorships for years to come.”

The new chairs are:
Morgan State University
The Endowed Chair in Internet of Things Security
The professor will apply secure embedded systems design research in an Internet of Things testbed to tackle security challenges in smart grid and home automation.

Washington College
Andelot Endowment Fund for the Center of Environment and Society
The endowment, which was created with a $1 million gift from Louisa Copeland Duemling, creates a new Chief of Entrepreneurial Science position in the school’s Center for Environment & Society. The position will develop entrepreneurial science programs focused on environmental problem solving and the commercialization of tools for use in the field.

Learn more.

The post Maryland Commerce supports two new research professorships appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from http://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2016/01/maryland-commerce-supports-two-new-research-professorships/

Lakeland students attend ‘State of STEM’ event at White House

After the State of the Union, the White House offered the State of STEM. Lakeland Elementary/Middle Schoolstudents were there among the crowd.

According to Baltimore City schools, three students from the Southwest Baltimore school and principal Najib Jammal attended the Jan. 13 event.

“The students visited exhibitors, met with STEM organizations, including NASA, toured the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and listened to talks by U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith and Dr. John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology,” the school district said.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/lakeland-students-attend-state-of-stem-event-at-white-house/

Michigan Thursday: Let's Hope It's A LONG Day

Michigan hopefully is set up to have really good news when 4 star California CB David Long announces his college decision on ESPNU sometime after 6:00 today.   His final two schools are Michigan and Washington. 

In other Michigan recruiting news:

• The Freep is reporting that Michigan did pull Swenson's scholarship and offered him a preferred walk-on spot.   Not a big fan of this strategy of a guy that has been committed for two years.   I fully understand that commitments work both ways, but if this is accurate the Michigan coaches should have let him know much earlier.  Update: Some insiders have said that the Michigan coaches had been telling Erik for awhile (during the season) that he should be looking at other options.   So this happening all in the last couple of weeks, just seems to be one side of the story.

• In what was expected and more Michigan cooling on another prospect then vice versa -  Kiante Enis de-committed from Michigan last night.   This one has been in the works for months.  He is expected to end up at IU.

• Another reminder that recruiting works both ways:  Jordan Elliot who has been very public he is done with recruiting and sticking with Michigan will now visit Texas this weekend.  Jimmy was expected in home last night and in school with GMat today.  This one seems very fluid.

• Also Michigan commit TN WR Nate Johnson will now make his decision on NSD between Michigan, ND, and Miami.   I  expect he will probably flip to ND.   My guess is Michigan will not be waiting by the phone for this recruitment and will look to fill it with guys like Pie Young and McDoom. 

• Chris Daniels a former Michigan recruit who committed to Oklahoma de-committed as well last night but is probably headed to Texas.

• Hackett is working on a long term contract for Jimmy.  Yes, please!

• A hot name to watch is GA LB Elysee Mbem-Bosse, he is expected to visit this weekend.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-thursday-lets-hope-its-long-day.html

FedEx Ground to Open Distribution Facility at Sparrows Point

Governor Larry Hogan joined officials from Tradepoint Atlantic to announce that FedEx Ground will open a 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facility at Tradepoint Atlantic’s new global logistics center at Sparrows Point in Baltimore County.

The small-package ground delivery unit of FedEx Corp., FedEx Ground will become the first global company to establish operations at the massive Tradepoint Atlantic project, initially creating 150 jobs. Formerly the Bethlehem Steel manufacturing plant, Tradepoint Atlantic is being developed on the 3,100-acre site and is expected to create thousands of jobs in the coming years.

“With FedEx as the first tenant at Tradepoint Atlantic, we mark an important first step in a vision that will be an incredible economic generator for the state of Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “The entire focus of our administration is to grow the private sector, put people back to work, and turn Maryland’s economy around. Exciting new ventures like Tradepoint Atlantic – and FedEx’s new location here – are helping to make that vision a reality.”

“As evidenced by our record holiday shipping season, our company is growing,” said Kevin Koken, vice president of Eastern region operations for FedEx Ground. “This new facility will help us meet the increasing demand for our services, which is largely fueled by the surge in e-commerce – not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year.”

The FedEx Ground facility is scheduled to open in August 2017 and is part of the company’s ongoing nationwide network expansion plan that has resulted in the addition of 11 major hubs and the expansion of 500 other facilities since 2005.

The new distribution facility will join two existing FedEx Ground stations in White Marsh and Halethorpe, enabling the company to continue to meet and exceed customer demands in the Baltimore area. At opening, the facility is expected to employ about 150 combined full- and part-time employees, with further workforce additions planned as necessary to support increased demand for service in the area.

Learn more.

The post FedEx Ground to Open Distribution Facility at Sparrows Point appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from http://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2016/01/fedex-ground-to-open-distribution-facility-at-sparrows-point/

3 ways UX fits with business

Ultimately, user experience design helps businesses stay customer-focused, said Cathy Lu, who leads a team of UX/UI designers at AOL Platforms.

But in building a business or working in a large organization, UX is in the mix with other interests and priorities.

On Tuesday night at Betamore, Lu and other UXers from Under Armour, OrderUp, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Allovue and Common Curriculum explored that tension — and talked more broadly about where UX fits within their various organizations.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/3-ways-ux-fits-with-business/

Check out this new cybersecurity podcast

Baltimore is the home of an industry newsletter for cybersecurity in the form of The CyberWire. Now, the newsletter’s publishers over at CyberPoint International are getting into podcasting.

The CyberWire is launching a pair of podcasts on the cybersecurity industry. A daily podcast is slated to be available for afternoon commutes every day, and a week-in-review podcast will publish on Fridays.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/check-out-this-new-cybersecurity-podcast/

Calling Baltimore Ed-Tech Startup Companies: AT&T Aspire Accelerator Open for Applications

AT&T is calling on ed-tech ventures in the Baltimore area to apply for the AT&T Aspire Accelerator. Companies chosen to participate in the AT&T Aspire Accelerator receive financial investment, counseling, access to technology expertise and mentorship. The that fosters the ed-tech ecosystem by supporting innovative new products and services in education.

The Aspire Accelerator is open to non-profits and for-profit companies of any size. The minimum requirements to participate are:

• Working on a product or service that uses technology to support students’ educational and career success
• Has a minimum viable product and some proof of product-market fit
• Has a least one technical founder or team member who participates in the Accelerator

Last year, PlayPosit (formerly eduCanon), a local Baltimore based ed-tech startup, was chosen as one of the program’s finalists. At the end of the 2015 accelerator, PlayPosit grew the amount of teachers accessing their platform from 50,000 to 100,000, and AT&T hopes that another local DC company will be able to get the same opportunity this year. 

The Aspire Accelerator application is open thru Feb. 5. The program will begin with selected ventures in May 2016.

“The Aspire Accelerator shows how we use the power of our network to build a better tomorrow,” said Nicole Anderson, assistant vice president, Social Innovation at AT&T. “The inaugural class’ results continue to amaze us and are being used by students, teachers and districts daily. I can’t wait to see the game-changing solutions this year’s class will bring.”

The Aspire Accelerator benefits from an external board of advisors of leading education and technology innovators: Charles Best, founder and CEO, DonorsChoose.org; Kimberly Bryant, founder, Black Girls CODE; Betsy Corcoran, co-founder and CEO, EdSurge; Ben Jealous, partner, Kapor Center for Social Impact; Nancy Poon Lue, executive director of GSV Summit; Daniel Lurie, founder and CEO, Tipping Point Community; Ramona Pierson, co-founder and CEO, Declara; and Sebastian Thrun, founder and CEO, Udacity.

“We need to welcome ideas from every corner that use technology in innovative ways to help students succeed,” said Nancy Poon Lue, executive director, GSV Summit. “The Aspire Accelerator’s unique focus on helping both for- and non-profit ed-tech ventures thrive is already having an impact. I’m excited to join the Board of Advisors and see what the 2016 class will achieve.”

Aspire Accelerator’s customized 6-month program includes:

• Aspire Investment – $100,000 AT&T investment and an additional $25,000 for each venture to cover costs of the program. For non-profit companies, the investment will be a general contribution. They receive this in exchange for participating in the Aspire Accelerator and meeting certain requirements, including submitting impact measurements.
• Mentorship – Access to AT&T and external mentors from education and technology.
• National Platform – Inclusion in the broader AT&T Aspire initiative, which is committed to driving innovation in education.
• Flexible Location – Organizations can participate from where they are, without relocating.

Potential areas of focus may include: mobile apps that drive education outcomes; platforms for teachers, students and/or parents; learning and curriculum management tools; assessment and outcome tracking platforms; education distribution (online instruction, courses, etc.); and increased access for existing best practices. Solutions for students at-risk of dropping out of school will receive special consideration.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/calling-baltimore-ed-tech-startup-companies-att-aspire-accelerator-open-for-applications/

Wolverine Wednesday: Jimmy is Back In Class

Jimmy is everywhere right now.  Yesterday, he attended a World Religion class at De La Salle High School in Concord, California with Boss Tagaloa.  Jimmy was there to check in on the Boss and TE Devin Asiasi, who are both expected to visit A2 this weekend.

I'm not sure what happened in OT Erik Swenson's recruitment but he never took an official visit and now does not look like he will be part of the class.    He hasn't officially de-committed but he removed all the Michigan stuff from his twitter account and pretty much all the insiders say he won't be part of this class.  

With Swenson seemly out of the class now, OL with LB now seem to be a concern.   If Michigan does get the Texas center transfer Jake Raulerson he will have two years left at Michigan.   Michigan also hosted Virginia commit Stephen Spanellis last weekend.

• The Michigan coaches stopped by GA OT EJ Price, he was high on the Wolverines early in the process but I haven't heard his name associated with the Wolverines in months.   Seems like a long shot at this point, unless he visits.

• Lloyd Carr is expected to be named to the new College Playoff Committee.  That is a wise choice.

• Khaleke Hudson is one of the hottest recruits in the country right now, he is now a 4 star recruit on 24/7 and Scouts. His all star game performance and senior tape has propelled him up the rankings.

• Jimmy slept over at Connor Murphy's house last night. Looks like they watched a movie.

It was a Netflix & Chill kind of night with @CoachJim4UM @umichfootball @espn #sleepover pic.twitter.com/yezUaYc6bK

— Connor Murphy (@CMurph_90) January 20, 2016

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/wolverine-wednesday-jimmy-is-back-in.html

Baltimore-Washington cyber firms could see $1 billion in venture funding in 2016

The Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region could hit the billion-dollar mark in cybersecurity venture funding in 2016.

Jonathan Aberman, managing director of Amplifier Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital fund based in McLean, Va., said big fourth-quarter investments in cybersecurity companies helped boost overall venture funding in 2015 – and will continue to grow this year. He said the region, a growing center for cybersecurity business and research overall, will see more big deals in 2016.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see $500 million to $1 billion in cyber deals over the next 12 months,” Aberman said. “I just think its going to be a big year for cyber.”

Last year, the Greater Washington and Baltimore regions saw a combined $302 million in cybersecurity-related deals, 21 percent of all deals for the year. Those helped push 2015 venture funding to $1.4 billion, higher than the nearly $1.1 billion in 2014 but less than the $1.5 billion reported in 2013.

Read more at Baltimore Business Journal

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/baltimore-washington-cyber-firms-could-see-1-billion-in-venture-funding-in-2016/

Allovue’s new chief business officer is Alex Morrison

A former VP at Discovery Education is set to head up business operations at Allovue.

Alex Morrison, who was VP of Business Partnerships over the last decade at the digital education content provider, is joining the Baltimore “edfintech” startup as Chief Business Officer. Discovery Education, a subsidiary of the media company behind the Discovery Channel, is one of the top providers of digital content for K-12 classrooms.

“We’re lucky to have found someone who understands the K-12 space and shares a passion for our vision and values,” Allovue CEO Jess Gartner said in a statement.

Allovue’s software, called Balance, allows K-12 teachers and administrators to track financial spending, and compare the financial data against education performance indicators. It’s already being used in the New Haven Public Schools, Indianapolis Public Schools, Pueblo District 70 in Colorado and Santa Ana Unified School District.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/allovues-new-chief-business-officer-is-alex-morrison/

Luminal changes name to Fugue, raises $20 million

A Frederick-based company you probably knew as Luminal has a new name.

The company is now called Fugue, reflecting the name of its cloud operating system, according to a release. The software is designed for businesses to maximize their use of the cloud on an infrastructural level.

The company announced $20 million in new funding, too. The Series C round was led by NEA, the venture capital giant with an office in Timonium. In a statement, NEA General Partner Henry Weller said Fugue is the “missing piece that will redefine the value proposition for businesses and spur the next wave of cloud adoption.”

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/luminal-changes-name-to-fugue-raises-20-million/

Meet the group of neighbors spearheading West Baltimore’s innovation district

Right in the geographic center of Baltimore, a group of Reservoir Hill neighbors have grown fond of the area’s historic homes and its proximity to Druid Hill Park. But the community of people from all walks of life has proven to be the real draw. After spending several years convening residents in the wider Central West Baltimore area, they learned that their own pocket isn’t unique.

“It became very clear that the creative class and innovation economy was really our core competency here in this part of the city and what could really generate the biggest outcome for our future,” said Dale Terrill, who is vice president of the board of the Mount Royal Community Development Corporation (MRCDC), a group formed by the neighbors to put a strategy behind that insight.

Now MRCDC is sponsoring a framework for economic development that puts startups and small businesses at the center of revitalization.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/meet-the-group-of-neighbors-spearheading-west-baltimores-innovation-district/

5 things to know about Maryland’s kickass quarter in VC funding

When it comes to venture capital investments in Maryland companies, the state had its best quarter in nearly 10 years to close out 2015.

That’s according to a report issued Friday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data from Thomson Reuters. The report comes out nationally every quarter, but the year-end report proves to be a particularly useful snapshot.

Here are five insights we gleaned:

1. Highest since 2006

The last time companies were raising money like this, Miley Cyrus was still Hannah Montana. Maryland companies reeled in a total of $451.3 million in 14 deals, the report states. That’s the highest total since the second quarter of 2006, when 33 deals netted $406.3 million. Fun fact: The Q4 2015 total also beats out yearly investment totals for 2011, 2012 and 2014.

2. Tenable was a huge factor, but it was still a strong finish

More than half of the big number for the last quarter of 2015 came from Tenable Network Security’s record-breaking $250-million Series B round. But even if you back that off, it’s still higher than the totals for each of the first three quarters of 2015.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

 

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/5-things-to-know-about-marylands-kickass-quarter-in-vc-funding/

A Baltimore taxi company now has a ride-hailing app

In Baltimore, taxis are getting into the ride-hailing app game.

Transdev, the international company that owns Yellow Checker Cab of Baltimore, is launching its zTrip app in the city on Thursday.

The app, which is available for iOS and Android, was beta tested by the company in Kansas City over the last year. By the spring, the company expects to have it available in 18 cities, said Bill George, president of the taxicab business in Transdev’s On Demand Division.

In Baltimore, the app has been rolling in soft-launch mode this week, with about 200 rides ordered between Tuesday and Wednesday. “Drivers are thrilled with it,” George said.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/a-baltimore-taxi-company-now-has-a-ride-hailing-app/

Follow Open Works’ progress in Make magazine

Open Works, the massive new makerspace set to come online later this year on Station North’s Greenmount Avenue, is in the phase between groundbreaking and grand opening where all the construction happens.

BARCO Project Coordinator Will Holman is letting the public in on the process with a new column inMake magazine. Over the next nine months, the biweekly column will look into each aspect of the process of bringing the makerspace online. They’ll also update progress on the construction.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/follow-open-works-progress-in-make-magazine/

Plumber Baltimore | 410-983-6900 | Plumbers in Baltimore

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Michigan Thursday: Recruiting Rumors Are Flying

This is the time of year where you can't believe everything you hear or read.   Kids change their minds as quickly as a new Instagram post.   One of things we try to do this time of year is predict who is and isn't in the class.   This year it's pretty close to impossible as updates seem to change by the hour.

• Rumor alert: 4 Star OT Erik Swenson who has been committed to Michigan since 2013 might not end up in the class.  He was a Hoke recruit and we're not sure how Jimmy's staff ranks him on their board.   With only two official weekends left before signing day, I believe these 3 commits have not taken an official visit to A2 which is a clear sign:  Swenson, Enis and Weaver. 

• Michael Onwenu finally got offered by MSU and will take a visit.  He said he is just enjoying the recruiting process.  I don't expect him to flip.  

• FL WR Eddie McDoom will visit this weekend and now considers Michigan is leader.   I hope it's warm in A2 this weekend!  Oregon is expected to use his scholarship on defense, so it seems Crawford would stay in Michigan's class.   What does this do for Stewart who is visiting this weekend and Pie Young, I have no idea?

• Speaking of wide receivers.  Nate Johnson visited ND this weekend and PSU next.  Doesn't solid like he is a solid commit at this point.

• NJ DT and PSU commit Michael Dwumfour who visited last weekend seems to have enjoyed his stay in A2.  Mike is great friends with Gary and if Dwumfour did commit, it could be a slam dunk with Gary.  Mike is doing his official at PSU this weekend. 

• Michigan is in the top 5 for TX LB Dontavious Jackson along with Alabama, Florida, Florida State, and Texas.  He is not expected to end up in the Wolverines class, but he sure is needed!

• David Long loved his visit with the Michigan coaches last night and it seemed Jimmy even climbed a tree.  He commits on ESPNU on Thursday.

• TE Chase Allen is expected to have an in home with the Michigan coaches on Thursday.  I would expect a commitment shortly after that.

• Jimmy is expected to do an in home visit with AZ DE Connor Murphy tonight and is expected to sleep over.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-thursday-recruiting-rumors-are.html

State forms partnership with Pride of Baltimore

Michigan Monday: Recruiting Blitz

• Michigan fans are a bit nervous with Rashan Gary's recruitment.   We all remember too well Deshawn Hand's recruitment and leading for what seemed forever to have him commit to Alabama.   Gary is expected to do another unofficial this weekend but visited USC this weekend:  "Oh my gosh," said Jennifer Coney, Rashan's mother. "L.A. is absolutely beautiful."Gary already made official visits to Mississippi, Auburn and Michigan, and he is contemplating a visit to either LSU, Alabama or Clemson. Ohio State is also trying to get involved with a Monday in-home visit. "He could definitely go to USC," Coney said. "The visit was a game-changer."
  Gary, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound athletic marvel, spent time with USC players Kenny Bigelow and Oluwole Betiku. He also met up with Rasheem Green, whom he initially met during The Opening in July 2014."They were all very nice," Coney said. "We had (dinner) with Kenny Bigelow and he is a very nice young man. We really enjoyed it. The kids on the team are very nice. "The trip allowed Gary and his mom to get their first in-depth look at USC, and in between the trip to Beverly Hills and to see the famous "Hollywood" sign, they were able to see the campus and meet with academic advisors. "I learned that USC is a great school academically," Coney said. "They showed me their plan for success for Rashan, how they will implement his classes to his schedule, individualized tutoring. Most campuses that we have been to have the same thing, but I know Michigan and USC are two of the better academic colleges, where their degrees hold weight. "They encourage their football players to get internships. It's very comparable to what I felt at Michigan, but the weather was good."  YIKES!

• David Long is expected to announce his decision Thursday on ESPNU at 6:00.  He visited UW this weekend.  I believe Michigan is in great shape for his commitment.

• Last weekend's visitor athlete/safety Khaleke Hudson seemed to have gone well.  Many insiders are now predicting a Michigan commitment soon.

• Lavert Hill visited Penn State this weekend and they committed a recruiting violation by introducing him at a hockey game and walking him out to center ice.

• WR Eddie McDoom with the best name in recruiting had been committed to Oregon, but told the coaches he wanted to visit Ann Arbor and the coaches pulled his scholarship.  Eddie is expected to visit Ann Arbor this weekend.  What does this mean for the likes of Crawford, who really liked Oregon and Nate Johnson who is getting recruited hard by ND, we should know soon.

• Speaking of The Ducks, they just hired Brady Hoke as their Defensive Coordinator.  The guy can recruit, not sure what he will be like running a defense and wearing a head set.

• TE visitor Chase Allen had a great visit and considers Michigan his leader. 

• As you know we expect some more de-commitments from the current class and it seems Rashad Weaver to Temple and Kiante Enis to IU are gaining momentum.

• Michigan also offered DB Isaiah Simmons this weekend.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/michigan-monday-recruiting-blitz.html

This iPhone case has a built-in charging cord

The team behind Boomerang wants to make sure that as long as iPhone users have their phones, they also have a way to stay charged up.

How? The Columbia-based company is looking to bring an iPhone case to market with a built-in charging cable.

Ryan Bogle said the idea grew out of his own need for charging on-the-go, which he found was an issued for lots of people he knows.

“They never sit still long enough to charge their phone at all. You charge it up to 10 percent and you run out, and you’re gone,” he said.

The built-in cord, team members said, negates the need to remember a charging cord as one of the many things you need when you’re walking out the door. Within the case, the retractable USB cable is located in a small door on the back of the phone. The cord, which is stored inside the case, can stretch two feet from the phone, and retracts with a button.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/this-iphone-case-has-a-built-in-charging-cord/

3 data-backed ways to make Baltimore neighborhoods more equitable

The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance-Jacob France Institute (BNIA-JFI) has issued 13 editions of its Vital Signs report. It’s a neighborhood-centered approach to tracking quality-of-life indicators, and a wealth of statistics.

With all of the coverage on the issues behind the unrest that followed Freddie Gray’s funeral, Vital Signs was quoted often. Before releasing this year’s Vital Signs in a couple of months, the staff at BNIA-JFI dug into the data they already have, and found some takeaways.

They boiled it down to three goals for city leaders and advocates to focus on as they look to stave off population losses in a new report called “What Happened in Baltimore and What Can We Do? A Neighborhood’s Perspective,” which was published last week. The idea is to connect all of the dots that are plotted on many maps of the city that the University of Baltimore-based organization produces.

Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/3-data-backed-ways-to-make-baltimore-neighborhoods-more-equitable/

Derrick Green Is Out

Bleacher Report

We all knew this was coming.   The rumor was he wasn't on the sideline for the OSU game and he for sure didn't make the bowl trip.     So today's announcement that he was transferring was not a surprise.   Derrick came to Michigan a little heavy and had trouble running the ball his first year.   He got injured and when Jimmy and staff came in he was way down on the depth chart and even behind a full back.  

He is graduating in 3 1/2 years and will be able to play right away next year.    So hopefully he finds a spot that can use him as a starter.   Good Luck Derrick and hopefully you will have the luck the other Michigan RB transfers have had!




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/derrick-green-is-out.html

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