2025 TECH & SOURCING PHILADELPHIA SUMMIT BUSINESS – TRANSFORMATION AND THE DIGITAL LEAP FORWARD
Join Morgan Lewis and your colleagues in the region for our 2025 Tech & Sourcing Philadelphia Summit. This year we are expanding the agenda to allow more time for exploring issues that are top-of-mind for technology and sourcing lawyers. The summit will kick off with an hour of AI and ethics, followed by three hours of interactive presentations and workshops by market leaders in the technology and privacy fields. We will wrap up the day with a reception to allow attendees to connect with friends, old and new.
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Technical.ly
5 days ago
- Technical.ly
How Lithero is using AI to speed up pharma marketing compliance
Startup profile: Lithero Founded by: Nyron Burke Year founded: 2015 Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA Sector: Life sciences, AI Funding and valuation: $0.68 million raised as of May 2022, according to PitchBook Key ecosystem partners: Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Morgan Lewis, Drexel University, University City Science Center, Broad Street Angels, Ic@3401 In life sciences, everything takes longer. Nyron Burke, cofounder and CEO of the Philadelphia-based AI for life sciences company Lithero, learned that through years of working as a consultant with pharmaceutical companies that were always looking for ways to speed up the process of creating marketing materials. What may seem relatively simple, like a pharmaceutical pamphlet for a doctor's office, can take months to finalize due to compliance issues. The final draft, with its medical language and side effects disclosures, has to be just right, requiring multiple reviews by medical lawyers before it goes to print. It's a stark contrast to consumer marketing, where a marketing professional might be able to create a one-pager in a day. 'With life sciences, that just wasn't possible,' Burke told noting that the extra time it takes to make biotech marketing materials compliant also increases the cost tenfold. Burke founded Lithero in 2015, years before AI became a common part of everyday life. He knew that machine learning could make the process considerably faster by screening for compliance issues before a medical lawyer reviews it, cutting down on the number of reviews — and, crucially, time. 'Divine intervention' led to the development of the engine Before Lithero, Burke spent eight years working for the global professional services company Accenture, with a focus on pharma and biotech companies. 'The three things I spent my consulting career on were speed, cost and compliance in pharma marketing specifically,' he said. 'But with the aspirations that my clients had, I had to not just do a good job, but to fundamentally do something that was transformative.' The speed he wanted for his clients was impossible in the 2010s — each human review for compliance was necessary, but time-consuming. AI, Burke said, had no hype around it in 2015 when he had the idea to use it to help achieve the speed he was looking for. The one thing holding him back was that he didn't know enough about AI to build an engine that could do what he needed to do. Then he met Brandon Morton, an AI researcher at Drexel who was working on his doctorate at the time. 'We met at church randomly,' Burke said. 'It was like divine intervention … His research is really what powered our ability to actually do what we're doing.' Morton effectively became a cofounder of Lithero. Even with his leadership, Burke said, it was a challenge. 'AI is very, very difficult,' Burke said. 'People don't appreciate the beauty and the power of the human mind and how hard it is to get machines to simulate what we do.' An AI assistant that doesn't hallucinate The technology Lithero created is called LARA, Lithero Artificial Review Assistant. 'You could think of it sort of like an artificial lawyer,' Burke said. Once LARA has all of a client's necessary information, it essentially pre-screens the content. It's not meant to replace the client's human lawyer, just to make it so that the lawyer has less to do on each individual piece of marketing. Then, he said, LARA will understand the client-specific content well enough that the client can use the tool for other things as well, such as creating annotations and comparing content to customer behavioral data. While today people tend to think of large language model generative AI like ChatGPT when they think of AI, LARA still isn't generative — it doesn't generate content based on prompts, it is a screening and correlation tool that can be trained to know everything about a specific brand. As such, it is not susceptible to drawbacks like hallucinations, when an AI model randomly answers with false information presented as fact, often a result of insufficient data or bias. The public launch of generative AI did help the company, though, by making the concept of an AI tool less obscure. 'It has normalized what we're doing,' Burke said. 'We're in a very conservative, cautious, slow industry — it changed the conversations that I was having.' Now, he says, there is a lot of demand, and a lot of clients bringing them new ideas on how the company can continue to grow. 'Our future is not just compliance, it's also creative,' Burke said. 'We recently launched some creative assistants, and are seeing this amazing amount of excitement.' From one to ten To get to where Lithero is today, with a team of ten and a growing roster of clients, it spent years based at Ic@3401, a University City coworking and incubation space sponsored by Drexel University and the University City Science Center that closed in 2024. One of its earliest investors, apart from friends and family, was Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Burke also credits its law firm Morgan Lewis as a big supporter, as well as angel investment group Broad Street Angels.
Technical.ly
16-04-2025
- Technical.ly
2025 TECH & SOURCING PHILADELPHIA SUMMIT BUSINESS – TRANSFORMATION AND THE DIGITAL LEAP FORWARD
Join Morgan Lewis and your colleagues in the region for our 2025 Tech & Sourcing Philadelphia Summit. This year we are expanding the agenda to allow more time for exploring issues that are top-of-mind for technology and sourcing lawyers. The summit will kick off with an hour of AI and ethics, followed by three hours of interactive presentations and workshops by market leaders in the technology and privacy fields. We will wrap up the day with a reception to allow attendees to connect with friends, old and new.
Technical.ly
04-03-2025
- Technical.ly
March yourself to these 21 tech community events
The old saying goes 'March goes in like a lion, out like a lamb,' but the weather isn't the only thing changing this month — you can transform your business and career thanks to an exciting slate of local tech community events across the mid-Atlantic. If you're a founder looking for guidance and resources for your startup, there are panels and workshops to help you find funding, refine your pitch and navigate your company's growing pains. And if you're a technologist working to increase your knowledge, there are webinars on the latest AI trends, info sessions on coding bootcamps and mixers to grow your network. No matter your goals, this rundown has what you need to unleash your inner lion (or lamb). Check out the links below and browse the Company Directory for more info on the host orgs. For more local tech community events (or to promote your own), visit the Events Board. Wednesday, Mar. 5 PCI Ventures Office Hours with Yi-Yen Chen (Virtual) — 'Meet virtually with a member of the PCI Ventures team to discuss your business questions on topics ranging from company formation and legal agreements to benefits and insurance.' Hosted by Penn Center for Innovation. AI: It's All About the Data — 'Join us for a discussion of the latest developments impacting AI solutions and associated data—from use cases to the overall landscape.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Thursday, Mar. 6 Unlocking Value: Developing an Effective IP Strategy for Business Success — 'Are you looking to protect and leverage your innovative ideas and technologies? Join us for a dynamic session on Building an IP Strategy that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to strategically plan and manage your intellectual property. In this presentation, our experts will guide you through the essential steps of developing a robust IP strategy for your startup. We will help you identify and prioritize valuable IP assets, enabling you to fully capitalize on your innovations.' Hosted by University City Science Center. Fasten Your Seatbelts: Health Tech Founders on the Messy Middle — 'You've built something great—now what? The hardest part isn't innovation, it's adoption. Breaking through the messy middle means navigating complex regulations, securing funding, and proving long-term value. Startups that scale don't just build—they adapt. As Science Center CEO and President, Tiffany Wilson, points out, founders who master capital efficiency, deep customer alignment, and the shift from founder to CEO are the ones who break through. This series brings those lessons to life—spotlighting founders tackling these challenges in real-time.' Hosted by University City Science Center. — 'The US Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies are focused on incorporating AI into their platforms while collaborating with industry to advance AI-powered solutions. While these developments present opportunities for companies to grow their customer base and access new funding, they can also pose challenges in safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring compliance with export control requirements.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Tuesday, Mar. 11 TEDCO's DefTech Monthly Office Hours — 'Come to the office hours to discuss how DefTech can support your business by leveraging cutting-edge technology, facilities, equipment, and expertise found in the Maryland Department of Defense Labs.' Hosted by TEDCO. Wednesday, Mar. 12 PCI Ventures Office Hours with Melisa Lopez-Anton (Virtual) — 'Meet virtually with a member of the PCI Ventures team to discuss your business questions on topics ranging from company formation and legal agreements to benefits and insurance.' Hosted by Penn Center for Innovation. Zip Code Virtual Admissions Session — 'Get information about both 12-week programs during this session. Our Candidate Recruiter will cover the curriculum, financial assistance, job placement and more! Zip Code Wilmington now offers two 12-week immersive coding programs! The Java bootcamp teaches object-oriented programming with a focus on Java, one of the most in-demand and highest paying programming languages in the country. The Data Engineering and Analytics bootcamp focuses on data engineering methods and processes, database setup, and R programming with an introduction to Python. Both programs are held Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm (Tuesdays & Thursdays are 8am-5pm). There are also required evening sessions 1-2 nights a week.' Hosted by Zip Code Wilmington Tuesday, Mar. 18 Copyright and AI: Controlling Rights and Managing Risk — 'The relevance of copyright law to the future of AI can hardly be overstated. Key issues include whether the foundational practice of training large language models constitutes infringement or fair use, and whether AI-generated output can be registered and protected. Additional concerns involve whether AI output infringes copyright; misappropriates name, image, and/or likeness rights; or qualifies as fair use. These are all issues that will impact content creators, content users, and AI service providers globally. Join us for a lively discussion on copyright law, current AI litigations, and legislative developments that may influence creative industries, technology companies, and society at large for years to come.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. M&A Considerations Across the Evolving Life Sciences Sector — 'Join Laurie Burlingame and Luciana Griebel for an overview of current market trends in M&A and partnerships within the life sciences sector.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Wednesday, Mar. 19 Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Forum — 'CONNECTpreneur Forums are bi-monthly in person networking mashups, which have been attended by over 30,000 business leaders over the past 13 years.' Hosted by CONNECTpreneur with partnership from NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. PitchMasters — 'At this virtual, workshop-style event, companies seeking to become 'pitch-perfect' will present their investor decks to the group and receive feedback to help refine their pitch before they go in front of investors. This is a great opportunity for companies to get ready for that 'ask.' Founders receive 6 minutes to pitch and 5 minutes of feedback.' Hosted by NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. Data Center Operations: The Vendor Perspective — 'Data center operations are the systems, processes, and workflows that keep a data center running. Data center operators rely on a wide range of internal and third-party services to ensure reliability, protection, and efficiency, including utilities, connectivity, facilities management, equipment maintenance, automation, and security. Join us for a discussion of the issues impacting data center operators when they contract with third parties.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Thursday, Mar. 20 Speak with Confidence: Engaging Your Audience & Owning Your Message — 'Whether giving an update to your board, leading a team, or sharing the impact of your innovation, your voice is one of your most powerful tools. In this interactive session, Maiken Scott—host and executive producer of WHYY's weekly health and science show The Pulse—will share expert strategies for speaking with confidence while staying true to your authentic self. Drawing from her extensive experience in radio and storytelling, Maiken will also dive into vocal techniques that enhance delivery, helping you refine your message, connect with your audience, and communicate in a way that inspires action.' Hosted by University City Science Center. Fasten Your Seatbelts: Health Tech Founders on the Messy Middle — 'You've built something great—now what? The hardest part isn't innovation, it's adoption. Breaking through the messy middle means navigating complex regulations, securing funding, and proving long-term value. Startups that scale don't just build—they adapt. As Science Center CEO and President, Tiffany Wilson, points out, founders who master capital efficiency, deep customer alignment, and the shift from founder to CEO are the ones who break through. This series brings those lessons to life—spotlighting founders tackling these challenges in real-time.' Hosted by University City Science Center. FDA's Regulatory Policies Impacting the Rise of AI in Intelligent Medical Product Development and Operations — 'AI, machine learning (ML), and other digital health technologies have the potential to transform healthcare by accelerating the development of new medical products, including both pharmaceuticals and medical devices; optimize medical product operations; and revolutionize healthcare delivery. As these advanced technologies become more prevalent in the medical space, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been updating its regulatory policies to keep pace. This webinar will discuss the FDA's policies on the use of AI/ML for pharmaceutical and medical device development and operations, how the FDA regulates AI/ML intended for health-related uses, and recent FDA developments related to AI/ML.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Wednesday, Mar. 26 TEDCO's Investment Open Forum — 'Come to the Open Forum to discuss topics related to venture capital investing and learn more about the TEDCO Investment Funds.' Hosted by TEDCO. PCI Ventures Office Hours with Bhavana Mohanraj (Virtual) — 'Meet virtually with a member of the PCI Ventures team to discuss your business questions on topics ranging from company formation and legal agreements to benefits and insurance.' Hosted by Penn Center for Innovation. — 'The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OAA EOP) will host this annual program to celebrate Women's History Month. Women in STEM is open to the Penn community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, partnering institutions, and members of the external Penn community. Now in its tenth year, this year's program will focus on the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), Penn's one-stop solution for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship.' Hosted by Penn Center for Innovation. AI and Algorithmic Pricing: Recent Antitrust Developments — 'Please join us as we discuss the latest developments in antitrust cases and proposed regulations involving algorithmic pricing, the Trump-Vance administration's approach to AI, and the potential antitrust implications for companies that are using or plan to use AI tools.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Friday, Mar. 28
