Philly weekly roundup: A look back on 2024; New Penn AI building; $660,000 Hopeworks grant

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Philly’s tech industry runs on collaboration

Collaboration is key as Philadelphia continues working towards the reputation of being a top tech market. Nonprofits, startups, universities and local government all work together to keep Philly on a path forward. 

Philadelphia has a strong life sciences sector, helped by local universities that provide resources and networking for spin-out companies. The region also has attention from venture capitalists and federal agencies that help fund these companies. 

➡️ Read more about the current state of Philly’s tech economy

Peek inside Penn Engineering’s new building

Located at the corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets, Amy Gutmann Hall will serve as Penn Engineering’s new data science and artificial intelligence center. The building is equipped with classrooms and lab space for AI research. 

The six-story, 116,000-sq.-ft. structure is considered the city’s first mass timber building, a sustainable construction technique that uses solid and engineered wood as the main building materials.

➡️ Take a look inside the new hall

News Incubator: What else to know today

• We surveyed the 2024 RealLIST Startups honorees to see what progress they’ve made this year. Out of 13 respondents, almost all of them reported securing new funding or revenue this year. [Technical.ly]

• It’s National Apprenticeship Week! Tech apprenticeships are actually pretty rare because of industry degree requirements and necessary evolving skillsets, writes Technical.ly CEO Chris Wink. [Technical.ly]

• The University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education announced a new education degree in artificial intelligence. This is the third AI degree Penn has announced this year, one at the undergraduate level and one online master’s program. [Penn GSE/Technical.ly]

• Local robotics company Burro announced a partnership with UK-based robotics company Fieldwork Robotics. Both companies address needs in the agriculture sector. [Fieldwork Robotics]

•CallSine, an AI-based sales outreach platform, raised $1 million in seed funding.  [EIN Presswire]

• Mary Purk, executive director of AI at Wharton, spoke to the Forum of Executive Women on Tuesday about why women should feel empowered to use AI. She described the tool as an equalizer in the job market. Women with AI skills are 8% more likely to be hired than men without those skills, she said. [Technical.ly Slack]

• AI-powered gun detection software company ZeroEyes announced Temple University will be the first local university to implement its technology. ZeroEyes raised a $53 million Series B this summer. [Temple News/Technical.ly]

•  Gen Z wants to do impactful work and make connections, Krystal Burgess, university and diversity programs lead at Campbell Soup Company, said on a panel at the talent attraction and retention conference Young Smart and Local last Thursday.  [Technical.ly Slack]

•  Workforce development nonprofit Hopeworks received a $660,000 grant from the Haines Family Foundation. The funding will support a scholarship fund for students pursuing medical certifications. [Email]

Get ‘smart’ about your career

Looking to make a savvy job upgrade? CubeSmart has upskilling, continuing learning and professional development for employees built into its culture.

“We believe in providing all teammates with training and development opportunities to succeed in their role,” said Jen Schulte, chief HR officer at the tech-forward self-storage company. “We plan, design and deliver training programs for all levels of the organization, from orientation and general job skills to enhancing leadership capabilities.”

Current openings include senior application developer and lead software engineer.

➡️ Explore career opportunities at the Malvern, PA-based company

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🗓️ On the Calendar

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

• PCI Ventures Pennovation Works Showcase is on Nov. 20 [Register here]

• Interested in geographic information systems? Join Temple University for GIS day on Nov. 20 [Register here]

• Philly Startup Leaders is hosting its annual Founder Factory event on Nov. 20 [Buy Tickets]

• Indy Hall is hosting a Lunch and learn about using ChatGPT for legal tasks on Nov. 21. [Details here]