INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Innovations of the World
Innovate® Philadelphia

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

BESTMOW

FOR 250 YEARS, PHILADELPHIA HAS TRANSFORMED IDEAS INTO INFRASTRUCTURE. BESTMOW CONTINUES THAT TRADITION. THIS TIME, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS AUTONOMOUS.

Engineering the Autonomous Garden Industrial revolutions rarely announce themselves. They begin quietly – inside laboratories, within algorithms, in the convergence of disciplines that once appeared unrelated. BESTMOW represents such a convergence. What appears, on the surface, to be a robotic lawn mower is in fact a distributed low-speed autonomous driving...

Oat Foundry

Custom Signage and Analog Technology That Becomes Part of the Brand Experience

Our durable, low-energy Split Flap, Picture Flap, and Chroma Flap displays are designed to last for decades, and are crafted for spaces where permanence and presence matter. Founded in 2013, Oat Foundry was started by a group of engineering students from Drexel University. Fueled by the ambition to “build cool...

Penn Medicine

First then, first now: 275 years of medical innovation at Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Medicine

As the nation celebrates its semiquincentennial, Penn Medicine’s Pennsylvania Hospital marks its own milestone anniversary year with a new museum. This immersive experience highlights the hospital’s unique role in the history of medicine—while still actively making history. For nearly three centuries, Pennsylvania Hospital has been at the forefront of innovation....

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...

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...

HRP GROUP

REIMAGINING A LEGACY SITE

The Bellwether District and Philadelphia’s New Hub for Innovation On 1,300 acres in South and Southwest Philadelphia, a former oil refinery is being transformed into one of the most ambitious redevelopment projects in the United States, with more than 14 million square feet of innovation and industrial space planned. For...

SHIFT CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

SHIFT Capital’s Blueprint for Just Communities A Philadelphia-born B Corporation is rewriting the rules of real estate — proving that purpose and profit can build something greater than either alone. In the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked by conventional real estate investment, SHIFT Capital has spent nearly a decade...

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...

THE WISTAR INSTITUTE

TODAY’S DISCOVERIES, TOMORROW’S CURES

More than 130 years after its founding, The Wistar Institute, the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute, is in the midst of its most consequential chapter yet. In December 2025, the National Cancer Institute awarded Wistar’s Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center an “Exceptional” rating, recognizing the Institute’s role as...

Ensemble

Long-Term Capital, Real Assets, and Regional Growth: Ensemble’s Development Strategy in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s real estate landscape is rapidly evolving. Shifts in work patterns, the growth of life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and increased expectations for sustainability, affordability, and community impact are reshaping demand. In this environment, successful development requires more than opportunistic execution—it demands patient capital, long-term planning, and the ability to...

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia flag raising ceremony at City Hall

Bridging Cultures, Building Prosperity

In the vibrant mosaic of Philadelphia, where generations of Asian immigrants have shaped the city’s restaurants, corner stores, tech startups, and professional services, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (AACCGP) serves as a vital bridge between heritage and horizon. Founded in 1999 as a volunteer-led initiative, the...

CFI Workspace

Project Spotlight: Drexel University, Kelly Hall

Shaping the Future of Workplace Design

The spaces where people work, learn, and heal influence how they collaborate, perform, and grow. For more than four decades, CFI Workspace has helped organizations create environments that support those experiences through thoughtful workplace design and commercial furniture solutions. Founded in 1985, CFI Workspace partners with organizations across the Philadelphia...

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

INNOVATION THROUGH RESILIENCE

How the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE continues to pave the way 33 years later About the AACC Founded in 1993, the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE (AACC) was born out of a burning need to innovate. After decades of persistent discrimination...

Global Philadelphia Association

2025 World Heritage City Celebration

Connecting Heritage, People, and Global Ideas

Innovation as Civic Infrastructure in America’s First World Heritage City In a global landscape where cities compete for visibility, talent, and influence, innovation is often defined narrowly—through technology, startups, or commercial growth. The Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) offers a broader, more civic-minded model. Rather than innovating through a single product...

OSHUN Family Center

Rebuilding the Future of Maternal Health in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to some of the most respected hospitals and medical institutions in the country. And yet Black mothers in this city are still more likely to experience severe maternal complications, more likely to report feeling unheard, and more likely to navigate postpartum anxiety, depression, and trauma without sustained...

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,...

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...

Hopeworks

Reflecting the Evolving Spirit of Philadelphia

Reflecting the evolving spirit of Philadelphia Hopeworks is a nonprofit workforce accelerator that connects young adults ages 17–26 to living-wage careers while helping employers meet growing talent demands. Through paid, self-paced training, real-world work experience, and trauma-informed support, participants move from unemployment to careers with long-term growth and stability. Training...

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,...

Klehr

Redefining the Practice: A Law Firm at the Forefront of Philadelphia's Growth

Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP is a dynamic, multi-service law firm known in the business, financial and legal communities for its attorneys’ aggressive and creative problem-solving skills. Founded in 1975, the firm prides itself on prompt, insightful and business-focused legal solutions for clients ranging from entrepreneurs to large institutions. Klehr...

FIFTEEN

ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY

As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...

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...

ADULT YOU

LIFE IS A GAME, LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT WELL

A LEARNING PLATFORM DESIGNED FOR REAL ADULTS NAVIGATING REAL LIVE. What does Adult You do? Adult You harnesses industry-leading gamified learning to empower adults with essential life skills, making personal growth as engaging as the best games and social platforms. We’re here to help adults thrive in their everyday lives....

Naval Welding Institute

Forging the Workforce Behind America’s Maritime Future

Long before a vessel reaches open water, inspectors, welders, and engineers influence how it will perform under pressure. That responsibility continues shaping the work of the Naval Welding Institute, a Philadelphia-based organization focused on strengthening America’s industrial workforce through advanced manufacturing education, technical training, and workforce development. When Kristoffer Jones...

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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