It’s about building an equitable future: the future of STEM talent and the future of startups.
In this post, we’ll strip down the walls off our ‘innovation dollhouse’ to show you what a day (December 7, 2023 to be exact) in the life at the Science Center really looks like.
FirstHand
Middle school students from Alain Locke participated in a final showcase as part of our FirstHand STEM education program. At the showcase they shared their final projects with the uCity Square community and competed for (ceremonial) investment dollars from attendees. In the nine weeks leading up to the showcase, these students created, tested, and designed biodegradable polymers while learning what it means to be a scientist.
FirstHand
BULB
Adult learners in our Building an Understanding of Lab Basics (BULB) program had a chance to hear from cell and gene therapy company WuXi AppTec, learning about the challenges and opportunities within the industries. Utilizing space at CIC labs, they also had an opportunity to role of up their sleeves while isolating wild and mutant type Drosophila DNA and running a gel electrophoresis.
BULB
Capital Readiness Program
Twelve companies in our Capital Readiness Program convened in Quorum to hear from experts covering IP, regulatory and compliance, HR and other topics critical to startup success. Throughout the week participants worked hand-in-hand with investors and advisors to ensure they’re prepared to raise their first round from institutional investors.
Capital Readiness
Proof Positive
Not pictured but no less important, the second cohort of our Proof Positive program wrapped up on Thursday. Focused on inclusive customer discovery, the final session featured founder presentations on lessons learned including insights from customer interviews conducted throughout the four-week program.
Venture Café Philadelphia
The connective tissue that binds our networks together, Venture Café Philadelphia convened 150 people for networking and a number of sessions on entrepreneurship including a fan favorite: Busting Common Investment Myths featuring our cohort 3 Capital Readiness Program Investors-in-Residence.
Venture Café Philadelphia
Independently, our programs are giving Philadelphians entry points into STEM careers and creating opportunities for the most promising healthcare innovations to get to market and improve lives. Together, that work is bigger than the sum of its parts, driving inclusive growth across Greater Philadelphia and beyond.
