INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

The sixth most populous city in America is known for its arts, culture, and colonial history. But INNOVATE® Philadelphia proves that the city is so much more. We sought the people and companies making the biggest waves in their industry, those forging ahead to make a brighter future for all. And we found them.

Supported by Thomas Jefferson University and the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, INNOVATE® Philadelphia is one of our heaviest volumes yet, packed with innovation stories and original pieces by some of the city’s most recognizable thought leaders—plus others you ought to know.

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

Finpay - Industry Leader In Pre-Care Patient Engagement

Finpay - Industry Leader In Pre-Care Patient Engagement

Finpay is the industry leader in pre-care patient engagement, specifically as it relates to enhancing a patient’s financial experience with their healthcare provider. It seems everyone in healthcare today is talking about re-thinking their Patient Financial Management strategy and the need to manage patient financial responsibility more effectively. Today in...

GIRL CONCRETE

BUILDING THE NEXT 250 YEARS

Philadelphia is the birthplace of American independence – a city where ideas of democracy, access, and public responsibility were first debated, documented, and declared. Two and a half centuries later, those ideals are sustained not only by words, but by infrastructure. Streets, sidewalks, schools, hospitals, transit hubs, and public spaces...

CENTURY THERAPEUTICS

ENGINEERING AN EVOLUTION IN CELL THERAPY

Century Therapeutics is a Philadelphia-based, biotechnology company working to reimagine the potential of cell therapy across a number of serious diseases. The company is developing investigational cell therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, to potentially treat autoimmune diseases, like Type 1 diabetes (T1D), as well as cancer....

Cescaphe

Philadelphia’s Premier Wedding Brand

Cescaphe is a Philadelphia-based hospitality and events company known for transforming historic spaces into extraordinary venues and redefining what full-service event production can be. Founded with the vision of creating once-in-a-lifetime, distinctive events, has grown into one of the most respected and innovative hospitality groups in the region. Founded by...

Philadelphia Youth Basketball

Bigger Than Basketball

Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) was launched in 2015 with a bold vision: to help young people build positive and powerful lives. PYB has spent the past decade leveraging the iconic game of basketball by building a holistic program, a robust organization, and a world-class Center that provides a comprehensive array...

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA

BUILT ON LEGACY. DRIVEN BY WHAT’S NEXT.

For 225 years, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia has championed the idea that Philadelphia is where ambition can find footing. Where infrastructure, relationships, and the shared belief in what’s possible can align in a way that turns ideas into industry. When a company is weighing a major location...

United Bank of Philadelphia

So Much More than Banking

Since opening in 1992 under founder Dr. Emma C. Chappell, United Bank of Philadelphia (“the Bank”) has upheld its mission: driving economic inclusion and opportunity in urban communities. Philadelphia has always been a city of visionaries and entrepreneurs, but vision does not turn into a successful business without capital. As...

Farm to Fishtown: Philly's First Urban Winery

Mural City Cellars | Urban Winery

Mural City’s commitment to minimal intervention is central to its identity. Grapes are sourced exclusively from trusted growers within 300 miles of Philadelphia, including vineyards in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, highlighting the potential of a winemaking landscape that has long been overlooked. The resulting wines are fresh,...

Eatible Delights

Working Tirelessly to Bring Customers’ Visions to Life

You may not find “Humble Beginnings” or “soul-searing passion” in the nutrition facts of any label – on any product – in all the world; but at 1540 E Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, it’s been a key ingredient. June 26, 2026 will make 30 years of business for David Simms....

Econsult Solutions, Inc.

Where Innovation Takes Root: The Economics of What Comes Next

Economic impact has a standard playbook: count jobs, measure spending, calculate activity, and produce a number. Oftentimes this approach defines how cities, institutions, and developers tell their economic story, but it can leave out the most important part—the context of the place and the tangible day-to-day impacts on the community....

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

OUT OF THE LAB, INTO THE WORLD

Temple University researchers are expanding the frontiers of knowledge and turning breakthroughs into solutions that hold the power to change lives. Every day at Temple University, faculty researchers are translating groundbreaking discoveries into innovations that improve lives, strengthen communities and drive economic growth in Philadelphia and beyond. “A vital anchor...

AUM BioTech

An AI-native biotech, helping scientists understand the causes of disease.

DESIGNED IN PHILADELPHIA. MADE IN USA. SHIPPED WORLDWIDE. Founded in Philadelphia in 2015 by an immigrant biomedical researcher, AUM BioTech now designs the precision compounds that scientists in nearly forty countries use to study how genes function, and understand what goes wrong in disease. In 2009, Veenu Aishwarya arrived in...

CARBON REFORM

WHEN BUILDINGS START WORKING FOR THE PLANET

CARBON REFORM TURNS EVERYDAY HVAC INFRASTRUCTURE INTO A PLATFORM FOR ENERGY SAVINGS, CLEAN AIR, AND CARBON REMOVAL Most climate solutions feel far removed from everyday life. Direct air capture, industrial-scale carbon removal, next-generation infrastructure – these approaches matter, but they often feel inaccessible or years away from practical use. Carbon...

LABORATORY TESTING

BUILT FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

For more than 40 years, Laboratory Testing (LTI) has inspected the parts that keep aircraft flying, Navy submarines diving, and defense platforms operational. The work is quiet, exacting, and non-negotiable. When an aircraft engine spins up at takeoff, or a submarine eases away from a pier on its first underway...

Children's Crisis Treatment Center

Creating a sense of hope for children and their families

For more than 50 years, Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC) has played a critical role in supporting the mental and behavioral health of children and families across the Philadelphia region. Each year, the organization serves more than 3,500 children and caregivers, providing care that is grounded in both clinical expertise...

Integral Molecular

Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation and Impact

Philadelphia has long been a city of innovation. For the last 25 years, Integral Molecular has helped write that story, advancing better, safer antibody drugs and developing tools that accelerate vaccine discovery. Founded and grown in Philadelphia, Integral Molecular develops and applies innovative technologies to study and target membrane proteins...

MYMONITOR.AI

STANDARDIZING THE SUBJECTIVE AND THE NEW ERA OF MELANIN-AWARE DERMATOLOGY

For over two centuries, Philadelphia has served as the crucible of American medicine. From the founding of the nation’s first hospital to the birth of modern dermatology, the city has consistently redefined how we understand the human body. Today, a new chapter in this legacy is being written by MyMonitor.Ai,...

DesignPhiladelphia

From Foundation to a Future Designed For and By All

In 2009, AIA Philadelphia launched an ambitious initiative to ignite public interest in architecture and design, resulting in the creation of the Center for Architecture at 1218 Arch Street. Conceived as both a physical destination and a community resource, the Center served as a hub for exhibitions, programs, and dialogue....

UNIVERSITY PLACE ASSOCIATES

BUILDING THE FUTURE WITH INTENTION

How University Place Associates Is Redefining Mission-Driven Development in University City In the heart of University City , one of the most innovation-dense districts in the country, University Place Associates (UPA) is quietly reshaping what modern development can and should be. This is not development for development’s sake. It is...

SW BIO CARE, LLC

BRIDGING THE GAP

A New Paradigm for Equitable Life Science Innovation in Southwest Philadelphia The establishment of the SW Biotech Park in Southwest Philadelphia represents a transformative shift in urban development, moving beyond traditional real estate to a mission-driven model of “equitable bio-innovation.” Spearheaded by SW BIO CARE, LLC—a strategic joint venture between...

DVIRC

FORGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING

In 1988, DVIRC was founded to bolster Southeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial base, a home to more than 6,500 manufacturers. The region’s future as a critical manufacturing hub hinged on its ability to compete in an increasingly global economy. DVIRC was established to accelerate that competitiveness, pioneering the right-sizing of best practices...

AIA Philadelphia

A Legacy of Advocacy, Design, and Community Impact

AIA Philadelphia is a membership association representing more than 1,800 architects, over 250 architecture firms, and more than 175 allied members, organizations that collaborate with architects across a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, construction, planning, and design technology. As the second-oldest chapter of the American Institute of Architects in...

US WorldMeds

How the Navy Yard is Expanding What’s Possible in Rare Disease

US WorldMeds is a specialty pharmaceutical company guided by a clear purpose: to improve the lives of patients facing rare and serious conditions. With a focus on areas that are often overlooked, the company is committed to identifying unmet needs and delivering therapies that create real impact for patients, families,...

SHARE FOOD PROGRAM

FOOD IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND HUNGER CAN BE SOLVED

Hunger is solvable, and one organization headquartered in North Philadelphia maintains that they know exactly how. Founded 40 years ago, Share Food Program is the leading hunger-relief organization on food bank in the Greater Philadelphia region. Though food distribution, education, and advocacy, Share serves around 500,000 individuals each month, more...

Load More

The Publisher

Glen Edwards

Glen Edwards was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University and served in the United States Marine Corps Services. For the next 10 years, Glen worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Philadelphia, counseling underprivileged children in North and West Philadelphia. In 1983, Glen left the court and went to work... click to read more

The Publisher

Glen Edwards

Glen Edwards was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University and served in the United States Marine Corps Services. For the next 10 years, Glen worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Philadelphia, counseling underprivileged children in North and West Philadelphia. In 1983, Glen left the court and went to work... click to read more

Other Ecosystems