startup acceleration

High-impact programming twice a month.

Accelerate Forum171

About Venture Café Philadelphia

Through our FREE, twice monthly Thursday Gatherings, Venture Café offers a menu of programming regularly attracting hundreds of guests each week.

Part of the Venture Café Global Network, Venture Café Philadelphia is a place to connect with makers, doers and thought leaders across the region.

Selena Lopez-McKenzie

Program Manager and Experience Designer

Venture Café Thursday Gathering

  • Twice monthly from 4p - 7pm

    University City Science Center
    3675 Market St. 3rd Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19104

    How to get here

Program Benefits

Create

Create deeper connections in the local ecosystem. It’s not limited to any one industry to topic any specific type of person. That’s the beauty of the Venture Café Network.

Attract

We attract a diverse audience of participants and speakers. It’s like a mini conference. Choose from a menu of sessions with high impact speakers and topics to spark ideas.

Foster

We aim to foster inspiration and inclusivity. Innovation is for everyone—that means professionals, students, neighbors and everyone in between.

Engage

Experience the Venture Café Thursday Gathering, twice a month. Free and open to all.

Volunteer

Become a Venture Café Ambassador.

Inspire

Are you a subject matter expert? Thought leader? Have an interesting story to tell? Tell us about yourself and we’ll plug you into our programming.

2024 Trend Nights

December 12

Resilient Systems

Developing capabilities, business models, and integrations to endure crises such as pandemics, social disruption, and economic instability. Resilient systems need to sustain themselves between crises – from the molecular to the societal – to better achieve outcomes that advance American health and well-being.

Program Impact

10,000+
Venture Café Philadelphia Attendees
100+
Thursday Gatherings Held
1,500+
Volunteer Hours from Philadelphia Ambassadors

Program FAQs

Become a Venture Café Ambassador

We’re always looking for an extra hand at our weekly Thursday gatherings. If you want to give back to the community or support entrepreneurship, check out our volunteer program that trains ambassadors to assist in a variety of areas.

Get Involved
Venture cafe woman presenting