It’s no secret that Maryland has become a growing hot spot for innovative minority businesses, particularly in the tech space. In fact, new rankings place Maryland third in the U.S. for the percentage of black-owned businesses.
 
To honor Black History Month, we’ve profiled just a few of these pioneering businesses that call Maryland home.

Divaneering Lab Brings Tech to the Beauty Industry
Divaneering Lab  has set out to transform the beauty tech industry by making beauty maintenance practical. Shawna Stepp-Jones and her team have created the first ever, no heat dryer for wigs and bundles, appropriately named the Spundle . The invention limits heat damage and significantly minimizes drying time of detachable hair pieces.

In addition to its innovative take on the beauty industry, Divaneering offers workshops to K-12 public schools and community organizations, helping to engage girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through the use of unique manufacturing and design challenges. The company states its vision statement as creating “a world where women and girls of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds are in the mainstream of science, technology, engineering, innovation, and math.” Since 2013, Divaneering has reached over 500 girls domestically and internationally, providing an accessible gateway to a bright future.

People-First Tech Solutions from Vine Technology
Donte Lewis, CEO and founder of Vine Technology Solutions  provides integrated technology solutions to business and mission challenges. The company says that oftentimes, efforts to keep up with tech modernization in the business and government community fail. Vine Tech works hand in hand with clients from government, non-profit and commercial industries to provide a holistic approach to overcoming these challenges by integrating tech, systems, and people solutions.

Vine Tech uses a “people first approach” to tap into the collective strengths of employees and partners. The company identifies primarily as a people development company, investing in people and the workforce, so it can change the world. The business mission boasts that change is less strenuous and more impactful when strengths are leveraged collectively, providing a strong foundation to build upon and make better IT related decisions.

A Virtual Experience from Zero Latency VR
New to the Owings Mills area, Zero Latency VR  is an international virtual reality gaming spot co-owned by Pamela Kolbert Thomas and Denise Johnson. The business owners have capitalized on the artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) industry by turning it into something everyone can enjoy. From date nights to family game nights, visitors can choose from a variety of action packed virtual gaming experiences including zombie apocalypses, competitive VR sports, and of course, kid-friendly options! Using VR headsets and controllers, gamers are able to journey into a virtual world, with plenty of space to explore and roam.

Spray Solution from BC3 Technologies Revolutionizes Wound Care
BC3 Technologies , led by CEO and Co-Founder Wayne Grube Jr., develops and manufactures a hemostatic wound spray which is changing the way that health care providers and first responders manage life-threatening arterial bleeding. BC3's solution forms a strong barrier over wounds and helps stop bleeding within seconds and without pain.

The company is on the fast track to changing the way the health industry handles wound care and life-threatening injuries. Based in Baltimore, the team has also recently gained international traction through sales around the world for its wound spray, with recurring orders from responders on the ground in war zones such as Ukraine and Israel.

AI Firearm Detection by PerVista
PerVista  leverages artificial intelligence to analyze video streams from surveillance cameras in real-time to detect firearms and proactively notify police and other public safety authorities, with the goal of reducing the number and intensity of active shooter events in schools and other public places. Founder and self-proclaimed tech-whisperer Vennard Wright says the Prince George’s based business originated from the idea that every student deserves to learn in environments free from fear of guns and shootings.

PerVista operates under the premise that school safety should no longer be a matter of luck or quick response; it should be a matter of advanced technology and insightful design. To that end, the business takes a holistic perspective in helping organizations remain secure in the Digital Age, by using a mixture of cutting edge technology and partnerships with public safety authorities.

A Next-Gen Stethoscope by Sonavi Labs
Ellington West of Sonavi Labs  is at the forefront of innovative medical technology. Coming from a long line of innovators and entrepreneurs herself, Ellington has taken the work of her family and made it her own – by using her own father’s patent invention of the foil electret microphone for the basis of Sonavi’s cornerstone medical device: the Feelix smart stethoscope. Although Ellington started her career in sales at a national health care company, she quickly saw an opportunity to take the technology created by her father to market. Thus, in 2017, her company Sonavi Labs was born.

The lab currently manufactures medical devices and software heavy in artificial intelligence to change the way various respiratory diseases are identified and treated. Sonavi Lab’s main focus is based around lowering the infant mortality rate related to pneumonia. The company’s Feelix smart stethoscope can listen to the sound of a patient's chest and easily diagnose respiratory diseases with the same accuracy as a physician, leading to easier identification and treatment methods.