Ben News

Angels To The Rescue? What Phila. Startups Can Learn From Pilot Program

September 27, 2018

Five months after a pilot program aimed at preparing companies led by female entrepreneurs and founders of color for investment wrapped up in Philadelphia and two other cities, a new report details what worked and how much more has to be done to reach parity in the startup world. The report was released this week […]

‘Critical’ Point for Philadelphia’s Global Identity

September 10, 2018

Two rounds of interviews and 18 applications from national and international firms later, Philadelphia officials picked a consultant that will help the city navigate through a “critical” step in its global identity project to make it more competitive. And, for the family-owned firm’s chief executive, it’s been a long overdue project he’s been advocating for […]

He Will Not Rest

August 2, 2018

The passing of civic icon and Citizen Chairman Jeremy Nowak leaves a void for those who loved him and for the city he loved “Man plans, and God laughs.” That’s an old Jewish axiom that Jeremy Nowak—public intellectual, Philadelphia civic icon, and our Chairman here at The Citizen—liked to say. He’d chortle at the vicissitudes […]

University City Science Center Names New President and CEO

July 30, 2018

Three months after being forced out as CEO of the investment firm Safeguard Scientifics, Stephen Zarrilli has been chosen to be the next president and CEO of the University City Science Center, starting October 1, the center announced Thursday. A member of the center’s board of directors since 2014, Zarrilli will assume the role almost a year after the former president […]

Scenes From the 2nd Annual PHL Innovation Picnic

July 19, 2018

This year’s PHL Innovation Picnic pulled in more than 800 registrants from all across the Philadelphia region’s tech and innovation communities. As attendees celebrated the wins of Philly’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with games, food, drinks, music and fun, they also raised funds for some of the region’s most well-known tech and business education nonprofits. Picnic attendees […]

Back These 3 Tech Nonprofits at the PHL Innovation Picnic

June 15, 2018

Last year’s PHL Innovation Picnic raised $10,000 for nonprofits in its inaugural run, so the bar is set high for the event’s second iteration, happening June 28 at the Navy Yard’s Marine Park Grounds. Last year, TechGirlz, iPraxis and Spark split the proceeds from ticket sales. This year, the event looks to back Coded by Kids, NFTE and Hopeworks ‘N Camden, three local nonprofits “supporting skills-based, hands-on educational opportunities for […]

The PHL Innovation Picnic is Back!

June 12, 2018

Last year’s PHL Innovation Picnic attracted a diverse group of nearly 900 people from the area’s tech scene, including entrepreneurs, investors, community builders, and tech leaders to our front lawn, and this year we expect more! And while food and fun are enough of a motivator to purchase tickets, there are many more reasons you […]

It’s Almost Time for the Second Annual PHL Innovation Picnic

May 21, 2018

The sun will eventually come out, and when it does, it’ll probably be just in time for the PHL Innovation Picnic. You know, that Navy Yard event that basically everyone in Philly’s startup community attended last year? It’s back for a second year next month, and tickets are already on sale. The early summer shindig is meant […]

How the VC Pathways Program is Boosting Equality in Philadelphia’s Startup Scene

May 2, 2018

The problem: people of color and women are drastically underrepresented in Greater Philadelphia’s tech and startup ecosystem. One potential solution Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Village Capital and UBS just tried out: prepping those founders for investment and growth at the ground level. Last week, the three organizations marked the end of the VC […]

What 7 Companies Got Out of the Philly Startup Leaders Accelerator

May 2, 2018

A comedy club really is a great stand-in for a pitch room: under the bright, hot spotlight, seven startups pitched their stuff on Tuesday at Helium Comedy Club, as part of the finale of this year’s Philly Startup Leaders accelerator program. The room had gravitas: from government officials like Mayor Jim Kenneyand Councilman Allan Domb, to corporate giants like Comcast and IBM, reps from […]