Gregory Pranzo is a Baltimore-born entrepreneur and tech innovator who built his career on the idea that local change can drive global progress. As the Founder and CEO of PranzoTech Solutions, LLC, he helps small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments use technology to work smarter and serve their communities better.
Gregory grew up in a working-class family in Lauraville, where his father’s love of tinkering and his mother’s dedication to education shaped his values. He discovered computers early and turned that curiosity into a lifelong passion. After earning a degree in Information Systems from Towson University, he launched his career in IT consulting, leading digital transformation projects for public and private clients.
In 2018, he founded PranzoTech Solutions from his apartment in Charles Village. What began as a one-person operation has grown into a trusted partner for organizations across Maryland. His company focuses on smart city technology, automation, and digital equity—helping communities modernize without losing their human touch.
Outside the office, Gregory mentors students through Code B’More and the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition, promoting access to tech education for underrepresented youth. His leadership has earned recognition from the Maryland Tech Council and features on podcasts like Future Baltimore: Tech, Equity, and Community.
Driven by purpose, Gregory believes innovation should be inclusive. His work reflects a simple idea—when people and technology grow together, entire communities rise.
Gregory Pranzo on Success, Grit, and Building Something That Lasts
How do you personally define success?
Success, to me, is seeing progress you can touch. It’s not about titles or numbers—it’s about movement. When I help a local nonprofit automate their systems and they save time to focus on their mission, that’s success. When a student I mentored lands their first tech internship, that’s success.
I grew up watching my parents work hard—my dad was an electrician, my mom a public school teacher. They never talked about success as something you arrive at. It was always about showing up, doing your best work, and helping others do the same. I carry that with me every day.
You’ve built a successful company from the ground up. What was the biggest turning point early in your career?
The real turning point came before I even started my company. I was working at the Baltimore City Department of Technology & Innovation, leading small data modernization projects. I loved the work, but I started noticing a gap. The city needed more tech talent, and small local organizations couldn’t afford to hire big consulting firms.
So, I began doing small freelance projects after hours—building dashboards for nonprofits, migrating old systems to the cloud. Those projects showed me that I could make a bigger difference working directly with communities. By 2018, I decided to take the leap and launch PranzoTech Solutions. I had one laptop, no office, and a rescue dog who thought he was my assistant. But the mission was clear: use technology to solve local problems in a sustainable way.
The first six months were rough. I was coding until 2 a.m., cold-calling clients, and learning how to manage cash flow. My big break came from a local health center that needed a new patient tracking system. We built something simple but effective—and word spread. That’s when things started to grow organically.
Many entrepreneurs talk about hustle, but you emphasize patience and balance. Why?
Because burnout doesn’t build anything lasting. In my twenties, I thought success meant working nonstop. But over time, I realized that clarity matters more than hours. Cycling in Druid Hill Park or playing guitar helps me think better than staring at code all night.
There’s this idea in tech that if you’re not grinding 24/7, you’re falling behind. I completely disagree. The best ideas come from rest, reflection, and observation. That’s where you see connections others miss.
Success isn’t speed—it’s sustainability. I’d rather grow slower and stay aligned with my values than scale fast and lose sight of why I started.
What role has education played in your idea of success?
Education was everything for me. I went to Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which really shaped how I think. The school focused on engineering and applied science, but also on discipline. That mix of creativity and structure carried through to college at Towson University.
At Towson, I led the Tech Collective, and that experience taught me leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about creating space for others to shine. Later, I started mentoring with Code B’More because I wanted to give that same support back to younger students.
Education doesn’t end when you get a degree. Success means staying curious. Even now, I take online courses in AI ethics and urban design just to keep learning.
What’s a failure or mistake that taught you something valuable about success?
Early on, I tried to take on every project that came my way. I thought saying “yes” to everything was the key to growth. It wasn’t. I overextended, missed deadlines, and stressed out my small team.
That experience taught me that saying no is a leadership skill. You can’t do everything well. Focus creates excellence. Once I started being selective—choosing projects that matched our values and expertise—our quality and reputation grew fast.
Failure forces you to clarify what matters. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s honest. I’ve learned more from the projects that didn’t work than from the ones that did.
Success often means leading others. How do you approach leadership at PranzoTech?
My approach is pretty simple: hire people who care, then trust them. I don’t believe in micromanagement. We hold each other accountable, but we also give space to experiment and fail safely.
When someone joins PranzoTech, I tell them, “Your ideas matter here.” That’s not just talk. Some of our best innovations—like an automation tool for local grant management—came from junior developers.
Success as a leader isn’t about being the boss; it’s about building an environment where people feel seen, respected, and motivated to do their best work. If your team succeeds, you succeed.
You work at the intersection of technology and community. How does that shape your definition of success today?
I think the future of success will be measured by inclusion—who benefits, who participates, who’s empowered. If technology only works for a few, it’s not innovation, it’s isolation.
Through initiatives like the Digital Bridge program, we trained hundreds of Baltimore residents in digital skills. Seeing someone in their fifties learn to navigate online tools confidently—that’s a form of success you can’t quantify.
For me, success isn’t about leaving a mark. It’s about helping others create theirs. If Baltimore becomes a more connected, equitable city because of the work we’ve done, that’s enough.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone chasing success, what would it be?
Don’t chase the finish line—build the road. Success isn’t a destination; it’s a habit. Show up, stay curious, take care of your people, and keep your purpose close.
It’s easy to get caught up in “what’s next.” But if you can find meaning in what’s now, you’re already doing better than most.