Here’s what our program participants, community members, and leaders from across multiple industries had to say about our work and the impact we are making:
“The next generation of scientists are right here in Philadelphia- preparing to power up our labs to create even more breakthroughs. STEM education is an investment in our future. FirstHand at the University City Science Center, with support from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is one of many programs recognized by Technical.ly Philly for making this possible.”
Peter Grollman, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
"The Science Center’s intentions seem very pure in supporting companies through their unique challenges. We love that aspect and community that they’ve built. It’s really rare to see that. A lot of people advertise that, but ic@3401 is the real deal."
Sid Kandan, Co-Founder and CEO, Stel Life, ic@3401 member
"They never judge you, they accept you, they nurture you, and they push you. And even after you have moved on, they still come back and check in on you. That’s a family. It’s a family-oriented space where you can feel safe. BULB is like a sanctuary, like an oasis.”
Elizabeth Barden, Nursing Student, Customer Service Specialist, United States Federal Government, BULB participant
“Working on any prolonged project tends to impact you on a certain level. If you're doing things right, the concept consumes your life in the best way. This was the case working with our teens for the 2021 Biodesign Challenge. What impacted us most was the way that the kids related to the creative process, and it was an incredible feeling to find that the method of art-based research empowered them to make an actual impact on the world. With a little guidance, the students were able to express their thoughts and passions in a constructive way. Working with them was a reminder of our human need for play, exploration, empathy, and community.”
Genefer Baxter, Facilitator, AULA Future, FirstHand mentor for the Biodesign Challenge
"They never judge you, they accept you, they nurture you, and they push you. And even after you have moved on, they still come back and check in on you. That’s a family. It’s a family-oriented space where you can feel safe. BULB is like a sanctuary, like an oasis.”
“It was fantastic working with the entire team planning Founder Factory. It was a big deal for us to have this signature event in person [in Quorum], and to be able to facilitate connections in a safe environment. We felt secure with the mask mandates, signage and the layout of the space. Thank you and we can't wait to be back!”
Beth Lawrence, Director of Program and Events, Philly Startup Leaders
"When we came to ic@3401, we thought, ‘we have to do better.’ Eamon gave us a shot. Gave us flexibility. We figured the co-working space wouldn’t be permanent. There was a consensus on day one, that once we hit a million dollars in software sales we would move back into our own space. Now we are at a million, we can’t hire fast enough, and nobody wants to go anywhere!”
Raheem Ghouse, Vice President of Sales, SETVI, ic@3401 member
"When we came to ic@3401, we thought, ‘we have to do better.’ Eamon gave us a shot. Gave us flexibility. We figured the co-working space wouldn’t be permanent. There was a consensus on day one, that once we hit a million dollars in software sales we would move back into our own space. Now we are at a million, we can’t hire fast enough, and nobody wants to go anywhere!”
“If not for Launch Lane my company might still be a single-region sole proprietorship with just another good idea instead of the multi-metro health-tech corporation that it is today, working to fundamentally transform healthcare technology management around the globe.”
Connor Roberts, Founder, Opal HTM, 2021 Launch Lane cohort
“I find Venture Café to be a hidden gem within the Philadelphia community. There is a lot of relevant thought and consideration that goes into their programming decisions. I’ve cultivated relationships with several people over the past few years thanks to attending these events. We continue to connect and find ways of helping each other.”
Peter Russell, Founder & CEO, Kindling
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Raheem Ghouse, SETVI, ic@3401 member, photo by Rachel Wisniewski -
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Peter Grollman of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia speaking with FirstHand students -
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Connor Roberts, Founder, Opal HTM, Launch Lane cohort -
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BULB participants conducting at-home experiments -
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Sid Kandan, Co-Founder and CEO, Stel Life, ic@3401 member
Your support helps sustain Science Center programming and our mission to power progress that advances healthcare innovation, uplifts communities, and improves lives.
For information on corporate memberships, partnerships, and more, check out our Support Us page or reach out to us directly at development@sciencecenter.org.
