Explore Innovation for Social Change: Science Center, Venture Café and CIC Partner to Offer Philly Tech Week Event

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (April 24, 2018) – Social needs can’t be addressed by maintaining the status quo. Change requires a holistic exploration of the people, policies and issues surrounding a problem – and a willingness to think beyond existing circumstances. On Monday, April 30th, the University City Science Center will partner with the Venture Café Global Institute and CIC to deliver Innovation for Social Change: A Venture Café Experience as part of Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast.

Innovation for Social Change will focus on people invested in movements and will take deep dive into the ideas and businesses developing scalable, systems-changing solutions. The program will offer a sampling of Venture Café powered by Quorum and offer a glimpse into the dynamic programming that will become a weekly occurrence here in Philadelphia this fall.

Agenda:
3:30 p.m. Registration

4:00 p.m. Social Action Panel

  • Margaret Berger Bradley, Director of Investment Partnerships, Ben Franklin Technology Partners
  • Evan Brandoff, Chief Executive Officer, LeagueSide
  • Brian Linton, Founder & CEO, United by Blue
  • Gabriel Mandujano, Founder and CEO, Wash Cycle Laundry
  • Judy Wicks, Founder, White Dog Café
  • MODERATOR: Nathan Render, Director of Operations, Venture Cafe Global Network

5:15 p.m. Breakout sessions

  • Cocktails & Capital: Investing in Social Impact, sponsored by Cozen O’Connor
  • Omar Woodard, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund
  • Annarie Lyles, President, Investors Circle, Philadelphia
  • Office Hours (advisors TBA)

6:15 p.m. Networking

7:00 p.m. Adjourn

This event is free to attend but registration is required.

About the Science Center

Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that catalyzes and connects innovation to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. For 50+ years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development in the life sciences, healthcare, physical sciences, and emerging technology sectors. As a result, graduate firms and current residents of the Science Center’s incubator support one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing resources and programming for any stage of a business’s lifecycle, the Science Center helps scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators take their concepts from idea to IPO – and beyond. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org

About the Venture Café Network

Venture Café is a global movement working to build stronger and more inclusive innovation ecosystems and accelerate and enhance the innovation process, in cities around the world. Venture Café is a network of independent nonprofits that offer high-touch programming, spaces, storytelling, and broad innovation engagement.

About Venture Café powered by Quorum

The Science Center will strengthen and enhance its Quorum program by joining the Venture Café Network and offering Venture Café powered by Quorum programming every Thursday beginning fall 2018. This free and inclusive gathering will give the Greater Philadelphia region’s innovation ecosystem an additional opportunity to convene, connect and spark new ideas.

Media Contact:

Kristen Fitch Headshot 2024

Kristen Fitch

Senior Director, Marketing