On May 7th from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM EDT, Pennovation Works, along with Philly AI Connect, Code & Coffee, PhilaCon Valley, Philly Tech Council, Vets in Tech, Penn Vet, AgriGates, Philly Tech & AI Alliance, and m2i, are hosting a full-day gathering at Pennovation Center spotlighting the people, ideas, and institutions shaping the future of AI and tech in Philadelphia.
What to expect:
- A full-day Philly Tech Week summit at Pennovation Works
- Opening keynote on Philadelphia's opportunity and momentum in AI and tech
- Fireside conversations on capital, builders' journeys, talent, infrastructure, and long-term ecosystem growth
- Lightning talks and workshop-style sessions
- Startup and builder demos
- Networking over breakfast, lunch, and happy hour
- A room full of founders, builders, investors, researchers, operators, and ecosystem leaders
Agenda (View full agenda)
Opening Keynote | 9:40 – 10:25 AM EST
- "The Philadelphia Advantage" sets the tone and makes the case for Philly as a serious tech hub
- Speaker: Grace Francisco
Fireside Chats
- Builders’ Journeys: Voices of Startup Leaders and Founders | 10:35 – 11:20 AM
- Hear from startup leaders and founders about their building journey as part of the Philadelphia ecosystem and tech scene. Founders will share an overview of their story, followed by an intimate Q&A with the audience.
- Panel: Tejas Agarwal (Scout Robotics), Vera Hempel (KissUX), Logan Jones (Ticker)
- Moderator: Tempest Carter (Phila Commerce Dept).
- Capital & Community: Exploring Tech Funding & Investment | 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
- "Capital & Community" bridges the practical and the aspirational — giving founders in the room real intelligence on the funding landscape while showcasing local investor momentum.
- Panel: Jonathan Hakakian (SoundBoardVentures ), Nick Valeriano (Robinhood Ventures), Martin Fedorko (White Rose)
- Moderator: Emily Foote (Saxbys)
- Talent Infrastructure & the Long Game: Policies, Institutions, & Capital | 1:30 – 2:15 PM
- This panel will dive into what makes Philly sticky for tech talent and companies long-term, touching on workforce development, anchor institutions, and policy alongside capital.
- Panel: Alex Hill (Indy Hall), Ben Williams (Exyn), Mike Gadsby (1682/O3),
- Moderator: Talia Tomarchio (Philly AI Connect)
Lightning Rounds
- AI in Practice: What it Actually Takes to Build, Deploy, & Scale | 10:35 – 11:20 AM
- Panel: Mark Tripoli (Adyton), Anthony Christi (Power Home Remodeling), Yasmine George (The Trend Lab), Alyssa VandeBunte (ZeroEyes)
- Moderator: Andrew Maza (Vets in Tech)
- Philadelphia Robotics: The Future of Working & Living | 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
- Join leaders from some of PA's most innovative robotics companies for an unfiltered conversation about where the industry is headed, what it takes to build in this space, and why Philadelphia is one of the most important cities in the country for the future of robotics, tech and AI.
- PA Agriculture: The Economic Keystone for AI | 1:30 – 2:15 PM
- Panel: Michael Roth (PA Dept of Agriculture), Dr. Thomas Parsons (Penn Vet), Luke Zerby (CNH)
- Moderator: Daniel Foy (AgriGates)
Workshops
- Light Heart Labs: Dream Server with Michael Bradley | 10:35 AM – 12:05 PM
- From PRD to Prototype: Hands-On Vibe Coding for the Product Team (Separate registration through Product Tank) | 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Closing Keynote | 2:30 - 3:30 PM
- "A Call to Build"
- Panel: Chairman Danilo Burgos (PA House of Representatives); Dr. CJ Taylor (Penn GRASP Lab), Dean Andy Hoffman (Penn Vet)
Happy Hour | 3:30 to 5:00 PM
- Join us for Happy Hour and networking
*Lunch will be provided between 12:15 and 1:30 PM
We can't wait to bring the Philly AI community together during Philly Tech Week!
