Happy Monday, Baltimore. For those of you who sent little ones to school today: I hope their first days were as informational and chaos-free as possible.
Today, I have two pieces of local tech-related news to highlight for you. First, Comcast recently announced 100 Baltimore City-based
recipients of its Comcast RISE program packages, which include $5,000 grants, business and educational services, a tech makeover and more. Moreover, at least six of the recipients — Kalocyte, Melatech, Workforce Genetics, Arch Systems, Kubanda Cryotherapy and Adinkra Solutions — are tech or tech-adjacent companies.
Another tech company from further afield is making local waves, albeit with complications. According to the Baltimore Banner, Silicon Valley-based Zūm is working with Howard County's school district to
handle half of its school bus routes. Contracted for nearly $27 million, the company and its navigation tech allow parents and guardians to track their children's transit through an app — a service that should theoretically be helping parents in a school district where nearly 3,500 children were at risk of losing their district-supported transit.
But according to a follow-up report by the Banner, both children and parents — including those for whom Zūm took over their typical bus route — throughout the county
were still left stranded by late buses and transit issues on school's first day.
What do you think about either piece of news? Are you familiar with the companies Comcast supported? Did Howard County make the right call by contracting with Zūm? Let us know by replying to this email or emailing
baltimore@technical.ly.
