PHILADELPHIA — Today, the Philadelphia Department of Commerce announced the launch of StartupPHL’s latest Call for Ideas. Submissions are now being accepted for the sixth round of Call for Ideas, a grant program to fund innovative proposals that support Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The application is available online and must be completed by Friday, June 2, 2017.
While all proposals are welcome, this round of Call for Ideas is focused on exposing Philadelphia youth to tech. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee comprised of representatives from the City of Philadelphia, PIDC, and members of the entrepreneurial community.
“With this round of Call for Ideas, we want to challenge local businesses and organizations to think about how they can help prepare our young people for the future,” said Commerce Director Harold T. Epps. “We know that tech is already a dominant force in today’s economy, and its influence will only continue to grow in the years ahead. When we talk about education and getting Philadelphia youth ready to start their careers or launch their own businesses, tech has to be part of that conversation. It is never too early to connect students with the tools they will need for long term success.”
The Call for Ideas program provides small grants to organizations with ideas or initiatives that meet one or more of the objectives of StartupPHL, which include:
- Increasing business and job creation in Philadelphia;
- Enhancing collaboration between organizations that support entrepreneurs;
- Fostering networks and creating space for entrepreneurs to develop businesses and connect with mentors, advisors, talent and capital;
- Deepening integration and coordination between city government, citizens, students, and the startup community.
“I am particularly excited we have decided to focus our latest Call for Ideas on youth,” said the City’s Director of Entrepreneurial Investment Archna Sahay. “Philadelphia’s students have a great deal of potential, and I believe our local tech community has what it takes to unleash that potential. I would love to see applicants think outside the box with this prompt. Tech doesn’t just have to mean coding – this is an opportunity to teach young people about other areas of tech such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and more.”
The first StartupPHL Call for Ideas was launched in October 2012 as part of the larger StartupPHL initiative. Twenty-six Call for Ideas grants have been awarded to date. Past grant awardees include: Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, Coded by Kids, Tiny WPA, TechGirlz, Schoolyard Ventures, SecondMuse and Zivtech.
About StartupPHL
StartupPHL is a collaborative effort between the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). More information about StartupPHL can be found at www.startupphl.com.