Now is a great time to start a business in Philly:
Philadelphia Startup Leaders has steadily grown to 1,800 members and launched PSL University, The City gained its
first seed fund and an
Office of New Urban Mechanics, and
First Round Capital is taking lead in bringing more VC’s back inside our urban boundaries. The upcoming
PSL Founder Factory—at World Café Live on Thursday, Nov. 15—will prime entrepreneurs with true-to-life lessons from exemplary risk takers.
“There are similar challenges that companies at any stage face,” Gloria Bell, event organizer for PSL and founder of
Red Stapler Consulting, says. “Each year we have focused on a different aspect of building and running a startup using the collective wisdom of local entrepreneurs.”
Previous Founders Factories helped hopefuls polish their pitches and investor sweet talk. This year, in response to member surveys and talk-list discussions, PSL broadens the programing, hosting talks from a diverse range of experienced local entrepreneurs—
Leadnomics,
PTM Solutions and
Chariot Solutions, are represented—followed by workshops and small group discussions. Topics cover the essentials including customer development, internal metrics, and company culture. Josh Kopelman of First Round and Michael Golden, co-founder of
GSI Commerce and president and founder of
ShopRunner, are the keynote speakers and will share the changing realities of entrepreneurship. Hint: Kopelman, an accomplished Wharton grad and founder of successful tech ventures including
Half.com, recently moved First Round near two of Philly’s thriving universities. It’s a sign of things to come.
“There has been such tremendous growth in the startup community,” Bell says. “The recognition of business and city government of the contribution of the startup community to the overall economic health of the region has been a strong motivator. The area's entrepreneurs are well-equipped to build strong, sustainable, profitable companies."
Source: Gloria Bell, Philly Starup Leaders
Writer: Dana Henry