Philly weekly roundup: Recent SEPTA delays explainer; Vote in the Technical.ly Awards; Entrepreneur’s career journey

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Vote in the 2024 Technical.ly Awards

Cast a ballot for your favorite people, programs and products in the 2024 Technical.ly Awards. After soliciting nominations from our community and reviewing the past year of reporting, we narrowed down the nominees list to just four per category. 

This year’s awards have an all-new slate of categories: Product of the Year, Educator of the Year, Program of the Year, Creator of the Year, Power Move of the Year and Money Move of the Year. You have until Nov. 18 to cast your vote. 

➡️ Check out this year’s nominees

An entrepreneur always up for a challenge

Throughout her career, Sushma Rajagopalan has experienced every facet of the business world, moving from HR to sales to leadership and, finally, venture capital. Her career even spanned across the world as she moved between the United States and India. 

Rajagopalan said she often thinks about where she’d be if she stuck to one thing, but ultimately she has no regrets. Her career taught her how to embrace and learn from challenges, she said. 

➡️ Read more about how Rajagopalan embraced entrepreneurship

News Incubator: What else to know today

• After 19 years in the Office of Innovation and Technology, Andrew Buss made the jump to the city’s Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. [Technical.ly]

• SEPTA’s “Ghostbus-ters” team is tackling the issue of buses that never show up through an online form and digital signage. [Technical.ly]

• The Philadelphia Phillies is suing online reputation services company LifeBrand. The company had a marketing partnership with the sports team and never paid for the last year of the deal. LifeBrand is facing multiple other lawsuits from former investors and laid off its entire staff earlier this year. [Philly Biz Journal/Technical.ly]

• Jefferson’s Center for Connected Care partnered with Esperanza Health Center to release a research study about digital health barriers in the Latino community. The researchers found that lack of digital literacy, language barriers and distrust of digital health platforms were all challenges. [The Nexus]

•  The Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience launched an online tool to help people and organizations find and apply for state grants. Governor Josh Shapiro established CODE PA in 2023 to make government services more accessible.  [PA.gov/Technical.ly]

• Montgomery County Community College’s Challenger Learning Center is launching an “Earth Odyssey” mission in January. This simulation will require students to catch a satellite using a robotic arm, analyze its data and release a new one. [Technical.ly/MCCC]

• Ambler-based RoundRight Software Solutions developed software to help healthcare providers provide patient safety in psychiatric hospitals. [Philly Biz Journal]

• The Philadelphia Water Department released an interactive service line material map. [PHL Water Department]

Health tech work that makes a difference

Philadelphia region software company Kleer and Membersy empowers dental providers to design, implement, and grow a successful membership plan that transforms their revenue and profit model while providing patients with an accessible option for dental care.

Plus, it’s built a reputation as a great place to work. “It’s fulfilling to know the work I do helps bridge gaps and ensures essential care reaches the people who need it most,” said senior support manager Jorge Gonzalez, who’s been with the company 4 years. “I get to collaborate with colleagues who share the same passion and commitment to making a difference.”

Explore career opportunities at the Wayne, PA-based firm, including current openings for a senior software engineer, director of growth marketing, director of partnerships, and revops specialist. 

➡️ See available jobs and read more about the company

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🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner Event: The Young Smart & Local conference is back for another year. Join 1,000+ emerging professionals and mentors in Philadelphia on Nov. 12-14 for learning, networking and fun. [Register here]

• Sports Business Leaders will host a meetup on Nov. 13 at Victory Brewing Co.[Details here]

• Data Science Philadelphia is partnering with Temple University for its next talk on Nov. 14. [Sign up]

• Philadelphia JavaScript Club’s next hack night is Nov. 14 [Register here]

• Attend Klein News Innovation Camp just 10 days after the presidential election on Nov. 16 for a day of themes that will include: artificial intelligence, content creators and the outcome of the election. [Register]

• Pletly is hosting its EmpathyTech 2024 conference on Nov. 19. [Register here]

• BioLabs Philadelphia and BioStrategy Partners are hosting a life sciences job fair on Nov. 19 at the Curtis Center. [More details]