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Technical.ly
03-04-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
The tech scene is blooming with these 26 community events in April
The phrase 'April showers bring May flowers' isn't just about precipitation and plants — it's about how activity in the present can yield results in the future. If you want your garden to grow, you have to water it, and if you want your skills, knowledge and network to grow, you have to get out there and make it happen. Luckily, there's a downpour of opportunities this month, including info sessions on the latest industry trends, conferences with experts and leaders, casual gatherings for networking and more. Explore this roundup to see what's available, then make your plan and get ready to meet your community. Who knows — the seeds you plant this month might grow into something beautiful. Check out the links below and browse the company directory for more info on the host orgs, and for more local tech community events (or to promote your own), visit Events board. Thursday, Apr. 3 FDA Modernization: Opportunities for patient impact and economic development — 'Each new drug requires over 15 years and $2 billion to evolve from the earliest stages of research to ultimate approval for use in patients. New tools — including AI models for drug discovery, bioprinting of organoids, and organs-on-a-chip promise to reduce the cost and timeline, although they have not yet been integrated into the regulatory pathway for medical products. The FDA Modernization Act of 2022 opened the door to the use of cutting-edge platforms in clinical and nonclinical development, providing a generational opportunity for innovators and ecosystem builders alike. Join panelists as they discuss the patient impact and the economic development opportunities made possible thanks to FDA Modernization.' Hosted by University of Maryland BioPark. Friday, Apr. 4 Biotechnology Sprint Student Showcase — 'Come see the final projects of our FirstHand™ Biotechnology Sprint high school students! With guidance from ThermoFisher mentors, students will prepare and deliver a sales pitch for a biotechnology instrument, supply, or reagent that they used during the semester. All are welcome!' Hosted by University City Science Center. Monday, Apr. 7 39th International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI39) — 'Get ready for InBIA's 39th International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI39), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Join entrepreneur support professionals from all over the globe to connect, explore new strategies, share best practices, learn about current trends and gather tools and resources. Peer-led sessions will focus on relevant topics, expert keynotes will share inspiring insights, and local ecosystem leaders will showcase their programs.' Hosted by International Business Innovation Association with support from University City Science Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Tuesday, Apr. 8 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. Artificial Intelligence in the Context of M&A Transactions — 'Join Doneld Shelkey and Ben Klaber as they provide a summary of significant market trends in M&A in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Wednesday, Apr. 9 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. Challenges to AI and Cyber Resiliency with the Emergence of DeepSeek — 'We will discuss the legal implications of DeepSeek, the new open source large language model from China.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Thursday, Apr. 10 Bitcoin, The Best ESG Asset? — 'Partner Hubert de Vauplane and Hugo Bordet co-created The Bitcoin Pro Club, a space for professionals to discuss bitcoin. For the Club's next event titled 'Bitcoin, the Best ESG Asset?' on April 10, 2025 and during Paris Blockchain Week, we are delighted to welcome M. Daniel Batten, who will share with us his expertise on the environmental challenges associated with Bitcoin. This exclusive event, organized by Sia Partners, Paymium, and Morgan Lewis, is designed for finance professionals passionate about bitcoin.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. — 'With any administration change will come new regulatory considerations across the life sciences industry. Join Morgan Lewis partners and former US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff Kelly Gibson and Carolyn Welshhans as they share some of their institutional knowledge as relates to the workings and priorities of the SEC for 2025.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Tuesday, Apr. 15 Benjamin H. Kohl Social Justice Lecture Series: Dr. Marianna Pavlovskaya – Seeing Solidarity Cities and What They Do for Urban Communities — 'Please join us for the Benjamin H. Kohl Social Justice Lecture Series. This year's speaker will be Dr. Marianna Pavlovskaya (Professor of Geography at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center).' Hosted by Temple University Geography and Urban Studies. Wednesday, Apr. 16 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. Thursday, Apr. 17 Tech Thursdays Spring Fling — 'Get ready for Tech Thursdays Spring Fling! Join us for an after work party filled with networking, tech trivia, and fun at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (Riverfront location 2nd Floor) on Thursday, April 17, 2025 starting at 5:30 PM.' Hosted by Tech Council of Delaware. — 'Federal Agencies invest millions of dollars to support medical innovations annually, directly or through their partners. Most innovators are only familiar with SBIR/STTR programs from a few agencies. However, numerous federal programs provide funding to help companies de-risk early product development and navigate the proverbial 'valley of death.' How do you navigate this federal funding space to identify the right opportunities for your technology and team?' Hosted by Amplify MedTech with support from TEDCO. Saturday, Apr. 19 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. Tuesday, Apr. 22 GIS Poster Session and Capstone Presentations — 'Graduating students in the Professional Science Master's in Geographic Information Systems present the work completed in their culminating capstone experience. Students from Health Data Analysis and Census Analysis with GIS will present their final projects in a poster session.' Hosted by Temple University Geography and Urban Studies. My Next Raise Founder Funder Investor Event — 'We are thrilled to announce our fifth My NEXT Raise Early Stage Founder Funder Event! Startups that are 'investor ready' and raising a current round of Seed to Series A funding may apply to be selected for 1:1 speed dating investor meetings (in person only) from 1 to 4pm on Tuesday April 22d at Shulman Rogers Offices in Park Potomac MD. Also during this time, several workshops will be hosted by My NEXT Raise Trusted Partners on a variety of topics critical to startup success.' Hosted by NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. Wednesday, Apr. 23 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.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Thursday, Apr. 24 Virtual Rocket Pitch + Power Networking by CONNECTpreneur — 'CONNECTpreneur Virtual Rocket Pitch events are the World's Largest investor pitch events, with the greatest number of accredited investors, VCs, private investors and angels.' Hosted by CONNECTpreneur with partnership from NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. 1Philadelphia Spring Meetup — 'We're back with another 1PHL Meetup on April 24th! Join us at Indy Hall for an evening packed with networking, inspiring ideas, and incredible energy as we connect Philly's tech ecosystem. Not only will this be a chance to connect with Philly's thriving tech scene, but get a special sneak peek at what's in store for Philly Tech Week. Grab a drink, network with other technologists, and most importantly make connections!' Hosted by 1Philadelphia. Data Center Bytes: Cybersecurity, Privacy and National Security — 'Join us for Data Center Bytes, an insightful webinar series exploring the critical legal and operational considerations shaping the data center landscape. This series will address key legal issues, industry trends, and challenges impacting development, operations, and strategic growth in the ever-evolving data center ecosystem. Whether you're a developer, operator, investor, or industry stakeholder, these sessions will offer invaluable perspectives to help with navigating complex legal frameworks and emerging industry trends.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Tech Founders Tax Insights with Withum — 'Join Withum's Founders & Tech Executives Practice on April 24th for our Tech Founders Tax Insights webinar that will delve into several critical topics within the tech industry.' Hosted by Withum. Friday, Apr. 25 Founders Q&A with Anthony Millin — ''An open session for founders to ask serial entrepreneur, venture capital partner, startup attorney, and Founder of NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers Anthony Millin questions about launching and growing a company.' Hosted by NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. Sunday, Apr. 27 2025 MEDA Annual Conference — 'The 2025 MEDA Annual Conference will explore collaboration across Maryland's regions, highlighting ways to strengthen regional partnerships, leverage collective resources, and develop innovative strategies that benefit the state as a whole.' Hosted by Maryland Economic Development Association with support from TEDCO. Wednesday, Apr. 30 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. Cellicon Valley '25: The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies — 'The fourth biennial Cellicon Valley '25: The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies, presented by Penn's Abramson Cancer Center and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will take place from April 30 to May 2, 2025.' Hosted by Penn Center for Innovation. Business Operations: The Convergence of Digital Solutions and BPO — 'With digital solutions enabling critical business operations and processes across the enterprise, traditional business process outsourcing (BPO) is converging with information technology outsourcing. Join us to break down how digital solutions are transforming the way companies are outsourcing.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis.
Technical.ly
30-03-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Where business incubators started, and what's next
In the 1870s, we invented invention. Many books and graduate papers have argued why the Industrial Revolution happened when and where it did. But more than anything else, over the 'long twentieth century,' as economics historian Bradford deLong calls it, science, policy and the market codeveloped the corporation and the research lab. Thomas Edison was as much an entrepreneur as a scientist. Then, during the Second World War, more military spending went into research and development than ever before. A working paper revised in 2023 demonstrated that where R&D spending went in the 1940s influenced where patents, tech talent and high-growth entrepreneurship flourished over the next half-century. As researchers in lab coats professionalized processes for identifying ideas, business people in suits developed systems for commercializing those ideas. In upstate New York in the 1950s, the Batavia Industrial Center became the first business incubator — yes, the word 'incubator' was a reference to chickens from the beginning. Others followed, commonly in response to emptying manufacturing corridors and hope in squeezing the most out of homegrown inventors and entrepreneurs. By the 1960s, what became Philadelphia's University City Science Center was the first urban version, mixed in with messy urban renewal politics. The model mixing physical space with mentorship and basic business services began showing up across the country. Enough examples were active by the 1980s that leaders wanted a place to convene. And so launched what is today the International Business Innovation Association (inBIA), which boasts 1200 members across 30 countries. Next week, inBIA hosts its 39th annual conference in Philadelphia. 'Entrepreneurship unlocks tremendous economic potential,' said Charles Ross, the group's President and CEO. 'Incubators help communities harness that power.' Incubating tiny chickling businesses has always been different than chasing the already-fattened chickens of the corporate world. But the discipline was long seen as a fool's errand for policymakers and civic leaders: Why focus on ideas that might not go anywhere when you can hunt for those that have already become established businesses? Well, for one, it's getting harder to move big business. Second, entrepreneurship is booming, so economic development is undergoing a renaissance in what is lovingly called ecosystem building. Around the world, when economic development leaders seek examples of where to find hometown startups, they often look to a member of Ross's association. Entrepreneur needs are different in their early days. 'Entrepreneurs consistently tell us community is the most valuable part of incubation programs,' Ross said. So those entrepreneurs go, and stay, where they can find community, which typically looks like programming, resources and identity — all of which is aided by storytelling, a topic that features at the inBIA conference. 'Entrepreneurship is a team sport,' Ross said, 'but it's also a lonely endeavor. Physical spaces foster community, trust, and sharing, essential for entrepreneurial success.' His members range in size from big institutions to entrepreneurship centers that pop up at colleges and universities, like ones at Boie State and Coppin State. On average, members receive as much as 15% of their funding from federal sources, including the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation. That means current DOGE-powered budget battles aren't existential but threatening. Business incubation started in the Eisenhower years, was formalized in the Reagan 80s and grew under Clinton and Obama. Entrepreneurship is bipartisan and incubators show up in places that tilt both Republican and Democratic, so Ross is confident their work will continue. 'Place-based entrepreneurial support enables community, trust, and sharing — all crucial for startup success,' Ross said. 'We need entrepreneurs now, as much as ever.'
Technical.ly
04-03-2025
- Business
- 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
Technical.ly
17-02-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly's Science Center hosts Israeli startups, with a goal to get them to put down roots in the city
Ten Israeli healthtech startups visited Philadelphia in early February as part of a collaboration between the University City Science Center and Startup Nation Central (SNC), a nonprofit non-governmental organization that supports startups and the innovation economy in Israel. The founders participated in programming that showcased resources in Philly and helped them better understand the US market, like how to approach investors. Putting on these events with companies outside the region ultimately spreads the word about Philadelphia and increases the potential for economic development, said Sandra Gomberg, strategic advisor for the Science Center. 'It's ultimately jobs and economic development for the city of Philadelphia,' Gomberg said. 'Many of these companies, while they're going to start small, they're going to hire, they're going to need a place to put down their roots, and we want them to put those roots down here in Philadelphia.' The startups came to the Science Center for two days to meet various investors interested in healthtech, including local firms like Robin Hood Ventures and Empactful Capital. Israeli startups have boomed since the beginning of the country's war with Hamas, raking in more than $3.1 billion in funding as of April 2024. Eden Eini, ecosystem growth manager at SNC, puts the number even higher at over $12 billion in private funding in 2024. 'Despite the ongoing war and local challenges, Israel's tech sector continues to evolve into a scale-up powerhouse, reinforcing global investors' confidence in its innovation ecosystem,' Eini said. Meanwhile, Palestinian founders have been forced out of their home countries to keep their companies — and lives — safe. The ongoing conflict continues to take a toll on the sector, and the people in the region, as instability leaves an uncertain future. The Science Center said it is open to opportunities to partner with other global nonprofits looking to commercialize life sciences and healthcare, but did not specifically name any programs working with Palestinian founders. 'Philadelphia remains a global leader in developing and nurturing ideas and talent, and we're always eager to maximize opportunities to showcase the region's strengths,' Kristen Fitch, senior director of marketing at the Science Center, told Founders navigate the US business scene The companies attended sessions about working with US investors, accessing partnerships, and navigating business culture in the US. Founders also had one-on-one meetings with investors and local healthcare stakeholders to ask questions. 'It's not about them selling themselves,' Gomberg said. 'It's about them asking for guidance and learning so that they can improve their understanding of entering the US healthcare market.' For example, Tal Shapsa Heiman, cofounder and CEO of palliative care platform Epilog which is based in both North Carolina and Tel Aviv, was specifically looking for partners that her company can build a long-term relationship with. Heiman already had a history with the Science Center from participating in its Global Market Access Program in 2022. Generally, the ecosystem feels welcoming to new people and her ongoing relationship with the org makes her feel like a part of the community, she said. 'It's more of a collaborative approach, for me coming from somewhere else that is less like that, it's huge learning [opportunity],' she said. 'It's very unique to this [region].' A tour of the US to connect with regional opportunities This visit was part of a multi-city tour where SNC brought founders to similar startup resource orgs in New York and Chicago before coming to Philadelphia. Each city offered something different, and ending the tour in Philadelphia allowed startups to slow down and absorb individualized feedback from Philly investors, Eden Eini, ecosystem engagement manager for SNC, told The Science Center has been connected to SNC for a few years, working on virtual programs that introduce Israeli healthcare startups to the United States market, Gomberg said. Philly's research and healthcare environments are reasons why SNC was interested in bringing startups to the Science Center for this program, Eini said. It was an opportunity to meet stakeholders ranging from investors to academics. 'It's really interesting to see how tech, academia, research, is kind of combined and intertwined together,' Eini said. 'That's really interesting to see as an outsider, how [the] economy grows like that.' Building a reputation beyond 'eds and meds' The Science Center hosts other programs with companies outside the region, like the Capital Readiness Program which is for companies looking for fundraising guidance. The goal is to help founders see that Philadelphia is willing to invest in innovation, Gomberg said. Partnerships also bring more high-quality companies into the ecosystem and bring more interest to local investors and other local stakeholders like CIC Philadelphia and other resources. They also want to show that Philadelphia has a startup friendly ecosystem, she said. Introducing founders to Chambers of Commerce, for example, creates those connections. 'It's not just that we have a lot of eds and meds,' Gomberg said. 'We have an environment that is welcoming to innovation that comes from global places.' 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.
