Venture Cafe Capital Readiness Eli speaking with group Feb 2023

What We Do

We fuel life science startups and nurture a diverse STEM workforce.

Explore our programs

Our programs facilitate connections, foster collaboration, and help innovators turn inspiration into thriving businesses.

FirstHand™

Free, multi-week STEM education for middle and high school students in Philadelphia.

Capital Readiness Program

A 5-day intensive for health tech startups raising their first institutional round.

Application Period Open

Clinicians for Healthcare Excellence and Startup Success (CHESS)

Connecting healthcare startups with the clinical expertise needed to reach critical milestones faster and avoid costly missteps.

Venture Fellows Program

Learn to think like an investor and understand the operating realities of a founder.

Physician Innovator Series

A peer forum for physicians looking to shape medtech innovation as clinical advisors, CMOs, or investors.

Federal Funding Support

Comprehensive proposal development and sophisticated award management from SBIR/STTR to complex federal contracts.

SBIR/STTR Support

We offer Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) services dedicated to helping startups succeed.

Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ)

Sellable tax credits for qualifying early-stage tech and life sciences companies.

Find out if you're capital ready

Apply now for the chance to secure your spot in our December 2026 cohort

Apply now
Michelle Wei, Capital Readiness Program June 2024

Michelle Wei, Capital Readiness June 2024