In April, Pennovation Works hosted 85 children and parents for Take Our Children To Work Day. The theme, "Big Ideas for a Better World" aimed to provide children with insights into various career trajectories while fostering a sense of responsibility towards contributing positively to society's progress.
We recently caught up with some of the past Pennovation Accelerator cohort members to learn more about the growth of their companies and and how they've advanced their products and services since participating in the program. Learn more about each Accelerator Alumni below in our Where Are They Now? Q&A series.
We are excited to announce the 2024 Pennovation Accelerator!
The Pennovation Accelerator invites a cohort of local startups to engage in a six-week program to develop their business strategy and cultivate their network. Cohort companies will participate in weekly educational sessions presented by subject matter experts. Each company is paired with an experienced mentor to advise them on their journey. In addition, curated networking opportunities help the companies make connections into the larger Philadelphia entrepreneurial community.
Penn Upward Bound high school students from West Philadelphia toured the Penn Smart Aviary, GRASP Lab, and the Penn Vet Working Dog Center during a recent visit to Pennovation Works. During the tour, students learned the benefits of cognitive science for various careers in technology, health care, and research.
We tackled all things taxes during the month of March. Our exclusive Pennovation Works Tax Series
program was designed to help members propel their businesses forward through one-on-one sessions
and webinars with tax professionals from Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), Stephano Slack and EisnerAmper.
In 2023, Pennovation Works continued to evolve and cultivate an innovative and collaborative environment for its more than 100 companies and research entities. The 23-acre innovation hub is powered by its robust community of researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners working to solve real-world problems and translate inventiveness into viable ventures.
As we wrap up Women's History Month, we're spotlighting some of the women who play a crucial role in the daily operations of the companies within Pennovation Works. Through this month-long series, we've discovered that entrepreneurship and STEM careers can be challenging paths. However, with the right support, determination, and mentorship, we can uplift each other, shatter glass ceilings, and inspire future generations!
Jill Harris, VP of Operations at Tozuda
How has a female mentor impacted your career?
As part of Women's History Month, we are recognizing some of the inspiring founders and leaders from the Pennovation Works ecosystem. Women have long held pivotal roles in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers and Pennovation Works is proud to work with, and support numerous women-led companies. Learn more about the all the women making HERstory at Pennovation Works in the interviews below.
In celebration of Black History Month, Pennovation Works would like to shine a spotlight on UHP Wireless Networks and recognize the contributions they’re making to help Philadelphia reach its technology goals. We recently sat down with John Cureton, co-founder of Urban Harvest Partnership (UHP Wireless Networks). As part of his role, John focuses primarily on program management for delivering wireless technologies. Learn more about UHP Wireless Networks in the interview below.
On February 1st, Pennovation Works hosted Launchpad students and faculty for a tour of the ecosystem, a Q&A session, and demonstrations from a robotics company and the Polyhedral Structures Lab, a University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design research unit.