Two Philly nonprofits just got some serious cash to support local startups.
Immigrant resource nonprofit Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvaniansand University City tech hub Science Center just won half a million dollarsto launch Global Startup Accelerator, a forthcoming initiative for Philly companies looking to scale internationally.
The money comes from an i6 Challenge grant through the Economic Development Administration’s Regional Innovation Strategies program.
“This is an opportunity to harness the value of the immigrant entrepreneurial community in the city, not only as local job creators, but also as mentors, opening doors to global opportunities for the local startup community,” said Welcoming Center President and CEO Peter Gonzales in a statement.
Details are vague for now, but we do know the accelerator will be launched by January and start by focusing on startups looking to expand in Europe and India, specifically. Companies will be able apply to be part of program when it launches next year.
Welcoming Center has served immigrants in the Greater Philadelphia region for the past 15 years through programs such as its Immigrant Leadership Institute but recently expanded its services to American entrepreneurs who work in the international domain and likeminded organizations — including the Science Center: The two organizations have partnered before, on Welcoming Center’s Global Access Program.
But this isn’t the first time the Science Center has centered immigrants: Its most recent class of the Innovators Walk of Fame exclusively features immigrant entrepreneurs, and CEO Steve Tang is an outspoken supporter of immigrants and the benefits they bring to the region’s economy.
