On September 18, 2024, the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce in partnership with Temple University hosted an impactful tech competition and celebration of innovation: the Philadelphia Regional Tech Startup World Cup Pitch Competition.
This event was part of an exciting global series featuring over 100 regional pitch competitions, and we were so proud to be a part of it right here in our vibrant city.
We’d like to give a huge shoutout to our fantastic partners at Temple University! As a leading powerhouse in higher education and research, Temple truly made this event special. A special thanks to the Institute for Business and Information Technology and The Office of the Vice President for Research for co-hosting.
Meet our amazing winners
Meet the winners who impressed the judges with their innovative ideas:
- First Place: Carbon Reform – received $20,000 from the Department of Commerce and earned the chance to pitch at the Startup World Cup, the largest startup competition in the world
- Second Place: Ideate – received $5,000 from the Department of Commerce.
- Third Place: QuneUp – received $2,000 from the Department of Commerce.
And let’s not forget the other incredible finalists who showcased their groundbreaking ideas:
- Ethan Berg (Agora World)
- Helena Jaramillo (PamPam)
- Devin Abraham (Liiv Inc.)
- Francesca K. Augustine (Neftwerk Inc.)
- Mick Navin & Dr. Geoff Wright (UprightVR)
- Kristy McCann Flynn (Skill Cycle)
- Lilly Chen (FSH Tech)
A big thanks to our judges
We are grateful to our esteemed judges who lent their expertise to this exciting competition:
- Ben Kirshner, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Rick Nucci, Guru
- Stephen Nappi, Temple University
- Aston Pierce, GO PA Fund
- Blessy Thompson, Innovation Capital Growth Fund
- Eli Velasquez, Investors of Color
- Danae Mobley, Coded by & 1Philadelphia
Philly then shined on the global stage
We are especially proud that Carbon Reform represented Philadelphia as a TOP 10 global finalist in the Startup World Cup! Nick Martin, Co-Founder and COO, shared his excitement: “I am excited to keep growing my company in Philadelphia, a great city that has such a unique ecosystem to incubate companies along with talent and innovation. I was honored to represent Philadelphia and pitch at the Startup World Cup Pitch Competition for the opportunity to win $1M. The goal is to create jobs, expand our real estate footprint and lab spaces while continuing to have an impact on our decarbonizing efforts in Philadelphia.
At Carbon Reform, we are dedicated to reducing the impact that the built environment has on the climate crisis. We offer affordable solutions that utilize existing infrastructure and qualify buildings for incentives around clean air and energy reduction.”
Philadelphia’s diversity and commitment to technology are what make our city truly special. We’re dedicated to enhancing economic opportunities for all, supporting tech employers, and providing access to the capital needed to thrive.
The Department of Commerce is committed to advancing innovation in Philadelphia. We look forward to continuing our support for every unique tech journey in our vibrant ecosystem! Need personalized assistance? Email Tempest.Carter@phila.gov
