Official spinoff event of SelectUSA will highlight the Baltimore Region’s investment strengths as a market that garnered $4.5+ billion in economic activity in 2024

(Baltimore, MD) – The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is excited to announce that David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group and a principal in the Baltimore Orioles’ ownership group, and Sashi Brown, President of the Baltimore Ravens, will headline the 2025 Baltimore Region Investment Summit (BRIS), an official spinoff of the SelectUSA Investment Summit, taking place on May 15, 2025, at Baltimore Center Stage.

SelectUSA, hosted annually by the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the nation’s premier event connecting international companies with economic development opportunities across the United States. The Baltimore Region Investment Summit is one of only a few official SelectUSA spinoff events in 2025, providing a unique platform to showcase Baltimore’s economic momentum to global investors. The Baltimore Region joins Phoenix, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago, and Seattle as one of several major metropolitan areas hosting official spinoff events. The summit is also an official event of the inaugural Preakness Festival, a reimagined celebration of the iconic Preakness Stakes that will take place across Maryland for the first time in 2025.

Registration is now open for this highly anticipated event, where more than 300 leaders from across business, government, and the innovation economy will discuss how their projects and investments are positioning Baltimore for national and global growth. The event comes on the heels of the GBC’s release of its 2024 Baltimore Region Scorecard, which highlights more than $4.5 billion in economic activity.

“We’re building the economic development machinery, which includes our recent regional brand, to position the Baltimore Region for immediate and long-term investment and expansion opportunities,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. “SelectUSA has been a committed partner to help the Baltimore Region thrive against an increasingly competitive landscape and give us this important platform to amplify our economic vision to local and foreign direct investment decision makers.”

Featured Speakers include:

  • David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group and Baltimore Orioles, ownership group
  • Sashi Brown, President, Baltimore Ravens
  • J.D. Mowery, Division President, Bora Pharmaceuticals
  • Ellington West, CEO & Co-Founder, Sonavi Labs
  • Mike Bailey, Director, U.S. ARMY DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center

“The 2025 summit provides an opportunity to showcase the Baltimore region’s investment potential to global decision-makers,” said Lakey Boyd, Chief Economic Officer of the GBC. “We’re eager to engage foreign direct investors and demonstrate how Baltimore’s strengths in biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries make it a compelling destination for investment.”

The 2025 summit marks the first milestone event following the integration of UpSurge Baltimore into the GBC, bringing together UpSurge’s deep startup ecosystem expertise with GBC’s commitment to civic and economic leadership. GBC and UpSurge Baltimore will co-host the 200th Equitech Tuesday on May 13, 2025, during which UpSurge Baltimore will release its State of the Baltimore Region Tech Ecosystem report, providing an in-depth analysis of the region’s progress and future potential. Registration for this event will be available soon at upsurgebaltimore.com/equitech-tuesday.

“GBC integrating UpSurge Baltimore’s team and mission to build a thriving tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem is a bold move and offers a new and exciting narrative about the Baltimore Region’s innovation economy,” said Kory Bailey, Chief Ecosystem Officer of UpSurge Baltimore. “With the release of the State of the Baltimore Region Tech Ecosystem report at the 200th Equitech Tuesday, we’ll have the data and insights needed to inform the stories of key sectors and big wins and guide our efforts in making Baltimore a thriving hub for innovation.”

The 2025 Baltimore Region Investment Summit will take place on May 15, 2025, from 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N Calvert St, Baltimore, MD 21202. Interested participants are encouraged to apply for attendance by visiting https://gbc.org/events/ before May 12, 2025.

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ABOUT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, providing economic and civic leadership to drive collective impact. Representing more than 400 organizations, GBC advocates for policies and investments that foster the prosperity of the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, visit gbc.org.