I attended last night's first ever "Maryland TechCrawl," an event where startup companies from all walks of Baltimore life gave 60-second pitches to whomever showed up at their booths.

I didn't have time to get through all 21 booths, and indeed, only got through six pitches. But I was blown away by all the smarts in the building over at the Emerging Technology Center in Canton, where the event was held. (Check out my story about the event from yesterday.)

I listened to Videntity, Heliograph, Localist, Figure 53, Lookingglass, mp3car and Direct Dimensions.

Direct Dimensions, by the way, won a $500 award for having the best 60-second pitch highlighting their product, Shape Shot, a 3D-photographic imaging device.

I regret not being able to hear pitches from Juxtopia, Nuvo Technologies, TrustedValet, AllegianceNano Solutions, Bloominescence, AwayFind, Vesta Mobile, Salar, ndexable, OtherInBox, Ark Sciences, Encore Path, 6th Street, and SmartLogic Solutions.

The organizers have grander designs for the event next year, I'm told.

If you're looking to get a flavor for some of the cool/geeky/techy things that are percolating in the Baltimore area at the startup level, the TechCrawl should probably be on your list of events to check out next year.