InstaHub, Cocoa Press team up to 3D print PPE
A team of social entrepreneurs, Penn alumni, and other community members are working together with their combined expertise, equipment, and time on a new initiative, called Project SHIELDS, to support and save lives. This is the kind of innovative collaboration promoting the common good among private entrepreneurs and inventors that Penn envisioned when it created the Pennovation Center.
Pennovation Works innovators InstaHub and Cocoa Press have partnered with Philly startup Fulphil, to mass produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare providers serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael Wong, founder & CEO of InstaHub, Evan Weinstein, founder & CEO of Cocoa Press, and Tiffany Yau, founder of Fulphil, (all Penn alumni) have halted their business operations to focus their 3D printing and social entrepreneurship expertise to support PPE production.
Members of the Penn Engineering Research and Collaboration Hub (PERCH), located on the third floor of the Pennovation Center, have joined in to help fabricate and assemble face shields outside of InstaHub's office at the Center.
Currently, they are assembling 100 face shields per day, with ten 3D printers mass producing the face shields around the clock. Their goal is to print and distribute at least 25,000 face shields locally in Philadelphia over the next four to six weeks, with hopes to scale further. Follow their progress with their impact reports.
Lead Team Members:
Michael Wong (Penn alum, Wharton '19): Michael Wong is a Gates Millennium Scholar from Oakland, CA. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, he launched a clean tech business, InstaHub, to eliminate energy waste using snap-on automation without replacing existing building infrastructure. He is leveraging his automated 3D print farm and is volunteering 7 days a week to help make this possible.
Evan Weinstein (Penn alum, Engineering '19): Evan Weinstein is the CEO of Cocoa Press, a chocolate 3D printing company which allows anyone to create custom and artisanal chocolates on demand. Evan is a maker and 3D printing enthusiast, supporting this initiative with the supply of filaments.
Tiffany Yau (Penn alum, College '18, Social Practice & Policy '19): Tiffany Yau is a social entrepreneur who founded Fulphil, which has taught 1,500+ students across the country to create 500+ social impact startup ideas for their local communities, from gender non-conforming clothing lines to biodegradable cafeteria trays, by the time she graduated from Penn.
John Gamba (Penn alum, College '92): John Gamba is a serial entrepreneur with a track record for converting innovative ideas into industry transforming ventures. Over the last 20 years, John has served in founding roles of edtech startups that were successfully funded, scaled, and exited with strong return-on-investment for stakeholders. Currently, John serves as Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and Director of Innovative Programs at Catalyst @ Penn GSE where he works with entrepreneurs, researchers, and practitioners to incubate new edtech ventures and advance innovation in worldwide education.
