Abell Foundation

The Abell Foundation, established in 1953, is a prominent non-profit organization based in Maryland, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life within the community. Initially focused on supporting schools, hospitals, and human service organizations for the disadvantaged in Baltimore, the Foundation has evolved over the past three decades to tackle the complex challenges of urban poverty. It prioritizes innovative solutions that promote accountability and inclusivity, recognizing that community success depends on the involvement of marginalized individuals. The Foundation allocates grants across various sectors, including community development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, and workforce development. Additionally, the Abell Venture Fund invests in companies located in Baltimore City, further supporting local economic growth. With assets exceeding $314 million, the Abell Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in Maryland, committed to fostering opportunities and hope for those in need.

Robert C. Embry Jr.

President

Frances M. Keenan

Senior Vice President, Finance

Kathleen Larkin

Controller

Eileen O'Rourke

Chief Financial Officer

35 past transactions

Marinalife

Series A in 2023
Marinalife provides premium content and valuable services for all types of boaters. The Marinalife Cruising Club membership offers boaters access to detailed marina information, travel resources including trip itineraries and destination guides to make their next boating adventure stress-free. In addition, the Marinalife magazine, a quarterly travel and lifestyle publication, provides boaters with entertaining and useful articles about destinations, marinas, cruising stories, captain's tips and more.
North American Wave Engine Corporation is engaged in the design and development of wave engines for jet wave engine Their technology leverages recent scientific developments to offer unparalleled levels of Thrust-to-Weight and Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption without the use of any moving parts.

SIMPLi

Seed Round in 2021
SIMPLi is an ethically-sourced ingredients company with a larger mission of tackling a fraudulent international supply chain. SIMPLi works directly with the growing communities in Peru, Greece and other countries to bypass all the middle parties to bring single origin, nutrient-dense ingredients straight to your kitchen.

ReGelTec

Series A in 2020
ReGelTec, Inc., a medical device company, develops minimally invasive spinal implants for lower back pain and degenerative disc disease. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Spine Align

Seed Round in 2020
Spine Align, LLC develops patent-pending imaging technology that enables 3D, full-length quantitative measurements of spinal alignment in surgery. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

NextStep Robotics

Convertible Note in 2020
NextStep Robotics Inc. manufactures a device to treat foot drop. The company provides clinics the ability to offer personalized robotic therapy through adaptive software that provides a personalized assistance as-needed approach. The software transitions into an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to assess and assigns training protocols optimized for each patient’s deficit. NextStep Robotics Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

BurnAlong

Venture Round in 2020
BurnAlong, Inc. develops an online fitness and wellness video application. Its platform allows people to work out with friends and fitness instructors across the country via video feed. It primarily serves corporate employers, municipalities, insurers and brokers, individuals, and senior citizens. BurnAlong, Inc. was formerly known as Paladym LLC. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in Pikesville, Maryland.

Lifesprout

Series A in 2020
LifeSprout is developing the next generation of synthetic soft tissue substitutes for aesthetic and reconstructive medicine. LifeSprout offers revolutionary products for aesthetic and regenerative medicine. Leveraging recent breakthroughs in materials science, we have created a platform that looks and behaves like the body’s own tissues. The company is turning this into a suite of products for millions of patients each year with soft tissue losses from aging, cancer, and metabolic disease.

NextStep Robotics

Seed Round in 2019
NextStep Robotics Inc. manufactures a device to treat foot drop. The company provides clinics the ability to offer personalized robotic therapy through adaptive software that provides a personalized assistance as-needed approach. The software transitions into an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to assess and assigns training protocols optimized for each patient’s deficit. NextStep Robotics Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Vixiar

Series A in 2019
Vixiar Medical develops non-invasive, cost-effective devices, and systems for monitoring cardiopulmonary diseases, particularly those with a significant clinical and economic burden. The Company’s first product, Indicor, is a handheld point of care device and digital platform for monitoring worsening heart failure.

ReGelTec

Venture Round in 2018
ReGelTec, Inc., a medical device company, develops minimally invasive spinal implants for lower back pain and degenerative disc disease. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pixelligent

Venture Round in 2018
Pixelligent Technologies, LLC specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced optical materials tailored for solid-state lighting, displays, and various optical components. The company offers a range of products, including starter kits and customized zirconia nanocrystal dispersions designed for LED and OLED applications. Its proprietary PixClearProcess® allows for the innovative engineering of PixClear® materials, which can be seamlessly integrated into standard manufacturing processes such as inkjet and photolithography. Pixelligent serves a global clientele that encompasses lighting and electronics companies, particularly in the LED and OLED sectors, as well as the optical coatings and films market. Founded in 2000 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, the company has established a strategic collaboration with Corning Incorporated to enhance its offerings.
North American Wave Engine Corporation is engaged in the design and development of wave engines for jet wave engine Their technology leverages recent scientific developments to offer unparalleled levels of Thrust-to-Weight and Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption without the use of any moving parts.
University of Maryland has enjoyed a remarkable rise in accomplishment and reputation over the past two decades. By any measure, Maryland is now one of the nation's preeminent public research universities and on a path to become one of the world's best. To fulfill this promise, we must capitalize on our momentum, fully exploit our competitive advantages, and pursue ambitious goals with great discipline and entrepreneurial spirit. This promise is within reach.

RoundTrip

Seed Round in 2018
RoundTrip, Inc. operates a digital marketplace that facilitates non-emergency medical transportation by connecting patients with a network of ride providers. Founded in 2014 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company offers a user-friendly software platform that allows healthcare organizations and transportation companies to schedule, dispatch, and monitor patient rides. RoundTrip serves hospitals and health plans in ten states, aiming to improve care coordination and reduce patient no-shows. The platform provides access to various transportation options, including medical cars, wheelchair vans, and stretcher vehicles. RoundTrip has established strategic partnerships with notable healthcare organizations, enhancing its service offerings. The team behind RoundTrip consists of professionals with experience as paramedics and in healthcare management, which informs their approach to addressing the challenges in medical transportation.

Lifesprout

Seed Round in 2018
LifeSprout is developing the next generation of synthetic soft tissue substitutes for aesthetic and reconstructive medicine. LifeSprout offers revolutionary products for aesthetic and regenerative medicine. Leveraging recent breakthroughs in materials science, we have created a platform that looks and behaves like the body’s own tissues. The company is turning this into a suite of products for millions of patients each year with soft tissue losses from aging, cancer, and metabolic disease.

Snag-A-Slip

Series A in 2017
Snag-A-Slip is a cloud-based technology platform that connects boaters with marina owners and allows boaters to book transient slips with ease and confidence wherever and whenever they choose. No booking fees for the boater. Ever. Just…Explore. Book. Boat. Marina owners have access to a cloud-based back-end inventory management system to easily maintain available slips. Marinas pay a transaction fee only when slips are booked. No Commitment. No Risk. As an avid boater and 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Dan Cowens, Founder and CEO of Snag-A-Slip, sought to build a company that would make boating easier and more fun for everyone. Snag-A-Slip has made tremendous traction changing the way boaters and marinas owners think about the boating experience.

Sugar

Seed Round in 2017
Jetpack, Inc. is a company that specializes in the online retail and delivery of both food and non-food products, focusing on nighttime service. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Stanford, California, the company primarily serves college students by providing essential consumer products on-demand. Jetpack aims to streamline convenience for its customers by ensuring that necessary items are readily available in real-time, thereby enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Vixiar

Seed Round in 2017
Vixiar Medical develops non-invasive, cost-effective devices, and systems for monitoring cardiopulmonary diseases, particularly those with a significant clinical and economic burden. The Company’s first product, Indicor, is a handheld point of care device and digital platform for monitoring worsening heart failure.

Arbit

Seed Round in 2017
Arbit, Inc., founded in 1983 and based in Forest Hill, Maryland, operates in the technology sector with a focus on a real-time polling application. This platform allows brands and individuals to create polls, share opinions, and analyze results instantly. The application is particularly valued by businesses for understanding consumer sentiment and engaging their target audiences effectively. With features that facilitate video surveys and interactive content, Arbit empowers brands to enhance their customer engagement and acquire new customers. The company has garnered support from notable NBA players, which has contributed to its growing prominence in both the sports and pop culture arenas.

Sonavex

Series A in 2017
Sonavex, Inc. is a Baltimore-based company founded in 2013 that specializes in advanced imaging technology for surgical patients. The company's primary focus is on developing an ultrasound-based method to detect anastomotic blood clots, which are critical for patient recovery post-surgery. By providing clinicians with real-time visualization of essential data directly at the point of care, Sonavex aims to enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Their proprietary technology platform allows for the measurement of crucial intravascular flow metrics, enabling the early detection of post-operative clots and contributing to better overall surgical results.

Marigold Health

Seed Round in 2017
Marigold Health uses AI-augmented chat support groups to reach and retain patients with behavioral health needs in community-based treatment. Patients receive a personalized wraparound support while care teams see dramatic gains in capacity using patients to engage each other. We partner directly with treatment providers and managed care organizations in the Medicaid market.

Sisu Global Health

Seed Round in 2016
Sisu Global Health provides clinically proven, patented, high margin devices, starting with Hemafuse, a highly effective alternative to donor blood. With a simple push and pull of a handle, the device transfers blood from where it is pooled in internal bleeding to a blood bag: blood is salvaged and immediately re-transfused. Sisu achieved regulatory approval in Ghana and Kenya and Hemafuse and signed two distribution contracts. Founded in 2014 by Carolyn Yarina, Gillian Henker, and Katie Kirsch, Sisu Global Health is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pixelligent

Series C in 2016
Pixelligent Technologies, LLC specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced optical materials tailored for solid-state lighting, displays, and various optical components. The company offers a range of products, including starter kits and customized zirconia nanocrystal dispersions designed for LED and OLED applications. Its proprietary PixClearProcess® allows for the innovative engineering of PixClear® materials, which can be seamlessly integrated into standard manufacturing processes such as inkjet and photolithography. Pixelligent serves a global clientele that encompasses lighting and electronics companies, particularly in the LED and OLED sectors, as well as the optical coatings and films market. Founded in 2000 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, the company has established a strategic collaboration with Corning Incorporated to enhance its offerings.

Loople Mobile

Seed Round in 2016
Loople Mobile offers a business intelligence product and marketing solution for the alcohol industry. The smartphone application enables individuals to find and go to bars and restaurants in the vicinities based on drink specials, seating arrangements, and offers. Loople Mobile was founded by David Phelan and Philip DiMuro in February 2014 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sonavex

Seed Round in 2015
Sonavex, Inc. is a Baltimore-based company founded in 2013 that specializes in advanced imaging technology for surgical patients. The company's primary focus is on developing an ultrasound-based method to detect anastomotic blood clots, which are critical for patient recovery post-surgery. By providing clinicians with real-time visualization of essential data directly at the point of care, Sonavex aims to enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Their proprietary technology platform allows for the measurement of crucial intravascular flow metrics, enabling the early detection of post-operative clots and contributing to better overall surgical results.

Perceptive Navigation

Seed Round in 2015
Perceptive Navigation LLC is a pre-clinical stage medical device company based in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on developing innovative interventional medical devices for the image-guided surgery market. The company's flagship product, Vu-Path, is an intracorporeal ultrasound device that combines front-viewing ultrasound imaging with a working portal for introducer needles, biopsy needles, guide wires, and therapeutic delivery. Designed to enhance the safety and efficacy of minimally-invasive procedures across various medical disciplines, including radiology, cardiology, interventional oncology, and urology, Vu-Path addresses significant limitations of existing imaging techniques. Traditional methods often involve high costs, complexity, and risks, particularly in challenging cases. By providing accurate and precise access to internal structures without occupying a lumen, Vu-Path aims to streamline surgical procedures, reduce equipment and staffing needs, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The company was established in 2012 and continues to advance its core technology in response to unmet clinical needs in the field.

CoolTech

Grant in 2015
CoolTech develops transnasal cooling technology for non-invasive fever control and neuroprotection. Its CoolStat device is small, lightweight, and portable, able to move throughout the hospital with the patient. The device generates a source of filtered air that is delivered to the patient via a single-use air tubing set.

Pixelligent

Venture Round in 2013
Pixelligent Technologies, LLC specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced optical materials tailored for solid-state lighting, displays, and various optical components. The company offers a range of products, including starter kits and customized zirconia nanocrystal dispersions designed for LED and OLED applications. Its proprietary PixClearProcess® allows for the innovative engineering of PixClear® materials, which can be seamlessly integrated into standard manufacturing processes such as inkjet and photolithography. Pixelligent serves a global clientele that encompasses lighting and electronics companies, particularly in the LED and OLED sectors, as well as the optical coatings and films market. Founded in 2000 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, the company has established a strategic collaboration with Corning Incorporated to enhance its offerings.

SeeFuture

Seed Round in 2013
SeeFuture allows college students to sign up as early as freshmen year and apply to their member companies for mentorship. Once accepted students are paired with a mentor from the company who works with the student through company specific learning modules. All interaction between students and mentors is conducted face to face via webcam technology built into the SeeFuture platform. From their students are immersed into the organization, are able to build real networks, and have a better chance at securing an internship or even entry level job with the company.

Common Curriculum

Grant in 2012
Common Curriculum, Inc. provides a platform designed to assist teachers, teams, and schools in planning lessons effectively. Founded in 2012 and located in Baltimore, Maryland, the company focuses on streamlining the lesson and unit planning process. Its platform allows educators to organize their lessons, collaborate with colleagues, and enhance instructional planning, thereby facilitating a more efficient educational experience.

GiveCorps

Angel Round in 2012
GiveCorps' mission is to nurture an online community where people find their passion to GIVE , local non-profits find their CORPS supporters, and local merchants reward donors for giving. Highlighting compelling local projects, GiveCorps seeks to raise more than $5 million a year in each city by inspiring at least 500 local citizens daily to give $25 to improve the quality of life in their City.

TidePoint

Series A in 2000
A provider of business partner infrastructure solutions

IC-USA

Series B in 2000
IC·USA is dedicated to improving outcomes for critical care patients.