Philly Tech Week 2025: A milestone year for innovation and collaboration

Philly Tech Week 2025 was a celebration to remember! 

This marked the 15th anniversary of our city’s signature tech event, and it exemplified everything that we know and love about Philadelphia’s innovation ecosystem. At 1Philadelphia, we were honored to support this long standing tradition and to contribute to the growing momentum that defines Philly’s tech community.

What stood out most for me wasn’t just the scale of the week — it was the energy. New core memories were unlocked for me as I watched crowds from the stairs of the Franklin Institute, seeing connections being made and new ideas being shared. Whether you attended an event with a packed room listening to a founder pitch their startup or at a community-led event in a neighborhood space, I hope you also felt a renewed sense of momentum, of possibility.

Now in its 15th year, Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast drew thousands of participants and featured over 50 events curated by more than 80 community partners. But it wasn’t just about the number of sessions — it was about the new voices leading them. 

First-time founders, funders from outside the region, students, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from all backgrounds were not just attendees, but architects of the week. Their presence shifted the tone. Seeing so many individuals and organizations come together under the shared mission of innovation was extraordinarily powerful.  

And perhaps that’s the point. What makes Philly Tech Week so powerful isn’t just the focus on technology — it’s that we use tech as a lens to talk about building the future we want. 

This year, we saw more founders take center stage, more conversations about access, ownership, and community-centered innovation. We saw a city that’s ready to bet on its own talent.

At 1Philadelphia, our commitment is to create the conditions for that talent to grow. We believe deeply in expanding access to tech across the city — especially those who haven’t always been centered in these conversations. Philly Tech Week gave us a chance to celebrate that progress, but also to fuel what comes next.

Looking ahead

From November 13–15, we’ll keep that momentum going by hosting our fourth annual Innovation Weekend  — a national convening for founders, funders, and ecosystem builders who are serious about creating equitable opportunities in tech. It will build on the spirit of PTW and deepen the conversations that matter most.

To everyone who brought their energy, ideas, and creativity to this year’s Philly Tech Week — thank you. You reminded us what’s possible when a city chooses to lead differently. Stay connected with us and remain part of the movement. Let’s keep building.