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Technical.ly
21-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly's new interim commerce director brings nearly two decades of city experience to the role
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at philly@ A management shakeup is taking place at a key Philadelphia government agency. The Commerce Department underwent a change in leadership, with former Commerce Director Alba Martinez stepping down and longtime city gov employee Karen Fegely taking her place. Plus, local startups are getting the chance to show themselves off through accelerators and pitch competitions this spring. Software company Ideate won the Demo Pit competition at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies' Phorum conference last month. The HiveBio Accelerator, which is focused on support for underrepresented life sciences founders, selected its first cohort. Check out all the details and more power moves below the chart, where we look at the top 10 desirable skills for jobs right now and how many job postings request each skill. Longtime city gov employee appointed acting commerce director Mayor Cherelle Parker appointed Karen Fegely as acting commerce director earlier this month. Fegely is taking over the position from Alba Martinez, who announced her departure from the Commerce Department in March to produce an original musical. The Commerce Department's role is to help economic development happen by creating initiatives to increase accessibility and equity, Fegely told This includes creating opportunities for Philadelphians to build wealth through a sustainable career, owning a business, owning property and more. 'Philadelphia is really well-positioned to do that,' Fegely said, 'to be in a place where we grow together.' Fegely has almost 18 years of experience working in the city's Department of Commerce, most recently as deputy commerce director of policy and strategic initiatives. She was also previously the deputy commerce director of neighborhood business services. Fegely now oversees initiatives that the Commerce Department already has in place, such as the Small Business Catalyst Fund and the PHL Open for Business initiative, which aims to streamline access to business resources. The goal is to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses, but also partner with orgs across the city that can support the business community in Philly, she told 'We have all the right ingredients,' Fegely said. 'It's just doing more and bigger, and making sure we're connecting to people, that people know to come to us for help.' Ideate wins PACT Demo Pit, will pitch at mid-Atlantic conference this fall Rahmi Halaby, founder of early-stage startup Ideate, won Best in Show at Phorum 2025, securing a spot to pitch at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies' (PACT) Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference in the fall. Ideate, which is developing a software product to automate operational tasks for designers so they can focus on creative work, was one of six companies selected to pitch at PACT's Demo Pit competition during the conference. The companies were all connected to the theme of AI in the workplace, but ranged in stage. Ideate is currently pre-revenue and pre-product launch, so it felt good to win next to other companies that are further along in development, Halaby told 'What really needs to set us apart is the story that we're able to tell and the vision of the product,' Halaby said. 'To have that recognized was very reassuring.' The company currently has a closed beta product and plans to launch a full product in the fall. Ideate is also raising a $500,000 seed round that it hopes to close in November, Halaby said. 'I'm really excited to, in the coming months, basically have a product that people can fully sign up for and use and save time within their day to focus on the creative work,' Halaby said. HiveBio Accelerator selects its first cohort Ten Philly-area startups were selected for the first cohort of the HiveBio Accelerator, which aims to support underrepresented life sciences founders. The chosen startups include five therapeutics companies, three medical device companies, one digital health company and one biotech supply chain company. 'I'm most proud of the diversity within our underrepresented founder cohort,' said Tia Lyles-Williams, founder and chief innovation officer of HiveBio. 'Of this cohort, eight are BIPOC-led, eight are first-generation-led, seven are woman-led, and seven are immigrant-led. I'm looking forward to working with this impressive cohort and supporting their unapologetic success.' The chosen startups include Ajaya Bio, BioLattice Ophthalmics, Bound Therapeutics, Cerespectus, Higher Medicine, QuneUp, Trevarx Biomedical, Valfard Therapeutics and Vasowatch. The nine-month program will provide mentorship, commercialization strategies, opportunities to meet investors and other resources to the companies. The accelerator program is supported by a $250,000 grant from the Knight Foundation. More power moves: The University City Science Center selected five life sciences entrepreneurs for the fifth cohort of its Founders Fellowship program. Grace Akinyele, Top Charoensombut, Tuhin Das, Josh Freedman and Thomas Tam will participate in a year-long program that starts with an educational curriculum about healthcare for aging populations. The second half of the program focuses on commercialization and turning product ideas into companies. Each fellow will receive mentorship, a $50,000 stipend and access to lab space. Center City District selected Adam Robinson as the new vice president of development and partnerships, where he will lead the org's non-assessment revenue team. Online safety company Kidas is partnering with esports and gaming platform PlayVS. Kidas' anti-bullying software will be integrated into esports programs across the country. Comcast Business acquired Nitel, a Chicago-based telecommunications services provider. The company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. Data security and privacy consulting firm Zaviant ranked No. 50 on Inc Regionals: Northeast list, which ranks companies in the region based on revenue growth between 2021 and 2023. Anna Paulson is the new CEO and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Fed also appointed John Grady of Wexford Science & Technology, Warren E. Moore of Inspira Health and Brian Schaller of Wawa to its Economic and Community Advisory Council. PACT welcomed Amanda Arroyo as its new director of membership and Roland Nichols as its new marketing manager. Temple University's Institute for Business and Information Technology recognized David McGettigan, Rick Nucci and Craig Conway at the 2025 Information Technology Awards. Montgomery County Community College's esports team won its fourth national championship from the National Junior College Athletics Association Esports. The Novella Center for Entrepreneurship launched in Trenton, New Jersey, earlier this month. The Novella Center is licensing business accelerator curriculum from the Baltimore-based Conscious Venture Lab. Clinical trial payment company Greenphire won best patient portal at the MedTech Breakthrough Awards. It was also recognized as a finalist for the Citeline Awards for Innovative Clinical Trial Solutions. The Moore College of Art and Design is partnering with the Franklin Institute to support a new entertainment design major. The program will teach students about interactive design for immersive experiences. Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Technical.ly
17-04-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly has big dreams for its small businesses. Here's how you can spotlight your own.
Small business may not yet be considered the backbone of Philadelphia's economy, but it's surely central to the city's culture and famously vibrant neighborhoods. That's why is setting out to highlight entrepreneurs from all 48 neighborhood zip codes and dig into what it means to build a business here. The project is part of the Grow Philly strategic priority outlined by the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. If you're a Philly-based small business owner, we want your perspective. Fill out our Grow Philly interest form by June 30 for a chance to be featured. Why small business matters Cities everywhere are rethinking their economic development strategies. Instead of throwing all their resources at landing giant corporations, many have found that investing in local entrepreneurship pays off in more sustainable growth. If you're proud of what you've built in Philly and want to inspire others, take a moment to complete the Grow Philly interest form As of 2023, the number of small businesses operating in the city stands at about 90% of pre-pandemic levels, according to a Pew Trusts Business Recovery Dashboard. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's administration in February announced a $5 million Small Business Catalyst Fund, aimed at helping local ventures finish rebounding from the pandemic and scale up when they're ready. In Philadelphia, more than 80% of businesses employ fewer than 20 people, according to a 2017 report by the Economy League. The Chamber of Commerce initiative called Select Greater Philadelphia is all about making small and mid-sized companies a key driver of job creation across the region. Rather than luring big brands that might leave as soon as they can wrangle a more favorable deal, supporting homegrown founders keeps economic benefits closer to the communities that need them most. It's an approach that lines up with broader civic goals, including inclusive growth and equitable access to resources. The highs and lows of doing business here Ask around and you'll hear about the tough side of Philly's small business scene. Complex regulations and tight profit margins can feel like constant hurdles. And not every entrepreneur has equal access to capital or mentorship — especially those operating outside more recognized corridors like Center City or University City. The Commerce Department has tried to address these gaps with its Mayor's Business Action Team, offering hands-on assistance to help entrepreneurs navigate permits and approvals. On the flip side, Philadelphia's distinct neighborhood culture can be a major asset. Loyal customer bases, strong local pride and an ever-growing network of incubators and accelerators help many founders build momentum. Word of mouth travels fast, and tapping into the right community or alumni network can open doors in unexpected ways. With new development happening in all corners of the city, and a wealth of potential partners looking to collaborate, small business owners who connect can find a highly receptive market. Grow Philly: Storytelling that connects At we've seen firsthand how putting a spotlight on local business owners can jumpstart conversations, attract new customers and spark ideas for policymakers. Throughout the year, we'll be traveling across the city to interview and photograph the founders behind everything from beloved mom-and-pop shops to rapidly scaling startups. The result? A series of in-depth features that capture the everyday realities of running a business in Philadelphia: the joys, the headaches and the unpredictable twists. It's not just about the founders, though. These stories can also help neighbors discover hidden treasures in their own backyard and remind officials which challenges need the most urgent attention. How to be part of it If you're proud of what you've built in Philly and want to inspire others, take a moment to fill out the Grow Philly interest form by June 30. Share your business details, tell us how long you've been at it, and let us know if you'd be open to a photo or video session. We'll keep you updated as coverage rolls out throughout the rest of the year. And while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Philly's entrepreneurial world. We'll be spotlighting not just the founding stories, but also the lessons that can help other local visionaries get ahead. After all, Philadelphia's future doesn't just belong to major corporations — it belongs to the corner restaurants, the creative pop-ups, the civic historians and the scrappy upstarts that make each neighborhood its own patch in the living, breathing fabric of the city.
Technical.ly
12-03-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Piano raises $120M for biz analytics tools, with plans to hit $100M in revenue this year
Philly companies have been busy raising multi-million dollar funding rounds, through both investments and grant opportunities. Tech companies Piano and Carbon Reform both recently raised venture capital. Piano, a data analytics software company, secured $120 million in funding through a Series D round and a loan. Carbon Reform announced a $5.5 million round to support commercialization of its Carbon Capsule product. Plus, the City of Philadelphia is helping companies access funding through a new $5 million fund to further support small businesses in the city. Get all the details on the latest money moves below the chart, where we look at the top 10 companies hiring for tech jobs in the Philadelphia market and how that's changed since the previous month. VCs invest a $45M Series D and $75M in loans in Piano Software company Piano announced $120 million in financing last month. This includes a $75 million loan from Runway Growth Capital and a $45 million Series D fundraising round. 'We appreciate Runway's confidence in our vision and look forward to advancing our mission to empower businesses with the tools they need to understand and influence customer behavior,' said Trevor Kaufman, CEO of Piano. Piano is currently profitable and expects to hit $100 million in revenue this year, reported the Philadelphia Business Journal. Piano's platform uses data analytics to help clients understand customer engagement. The funding will go towards continued development of its platform and help expand market presence. The company's US headquarters is in Philadelphia, but it also has 15 offices around the world. Carbon Reform raises $5.5M Carbon Reform raised $5.5 million as part of a Seed+ round. The funding will support commercialization of its Carbon Capsule product, which connects to existing HVAC systems to remove carbon dioxide and other contaminants from indoor air. 'This funding allows us to scale our commercialization throughout the mid-Atlantic this year and secure our position as the best solution for buildings to reach net zero,' said Nick Martin, COO of Carbon Reform. The former RealLIST Startup raised a $3 million seed round in 2022, right before moving its headquarters from Delaware to Center City. Last fall, the company won $20,000 from the Philly Startup World Cup pitch competition and had the opportunity to pitch at the global championship competition. City launches $5M Small Business Catalyst Fund The City of Philadelphia launched the $5 million Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund last month, which will provide funding and other resources to local entrepreneurs. Interest forms for the fund will open in April and eligible businesses must demonstrate growth potential, have plans for expansion and generate less than $2 million in revenue. Companies must also show their impact on their communities. The Department of Commerce will host outreach events to spread the word about the fund. Selected companies will receive funding, mentorship and business education opportunities. 'We designed this initiative based on direct insights from local businesses, diverse Chambers of Commerce, and industry experts,' Alba Martinez, director of the Department of Commerce, said. 'Through a streamlined application process, proactive outreach and a data-driven approach, we are dedicated to eliminating outdated methods that slow small business growth.' More money moves: Center City-based biotech company Imvax raised $29 million from existing investors. The funding will support continued development of its brain cancer treatment. Vetigenics, a University City-based biotech company specifically for animal therapeutics, raised a $6 million seed round. Agtech company AgriGates received a $31,000 Agricultural Innovation Grant from the Shapiro Administration. AgriGates' platform gathers agricultural data into one spot for users. AI gun detection software company ZeroEyes won a $2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Commission of Crime and Delinquency. The funding will allow the Conshohocken-based company to offer its platform to 15 school districts in Pennsylvania. West Philly research institution the Wistar Institute will be expanding its life sciences apprenticeship training program thanks to a $600,000 PASmart Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Workforce development nonprofit OIC Philadelphia plans to make its Green Jobs Training Network a statewide initiative through a $250,000 grant from the Philadelphia Energy Authority via the American Rescue Plan's Good Jobs Challenge. Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
