Startups, brands and artists all have the same problem. Here’s how we solve it together.

Remember the nursery rhyme, the more we get together, the happier we’ll be?

Unpopular opinion, but what if preparing for 2026 could be that simple? Now, before you think I’m asking you to add any more work to your already overflowing plate (I would never), I’m simply asking that we start speaking up and learn how to work together. 

After gathering data and asking my favorite question,  ‘what do you need?’, to over 50 revenue-generating teams, I found two common problems: money and market. It’s imperative we start preparing and practicing in 2025 for all the events, people and prosperity coming for us in 2026 — and now’s the time to do it.

It’s blooming season here in Philadelphia and we’ve got that builder energy — you can feel it in the local tech meetups, the empowering events like Comcast Lift Labs Ceilings to Skies last month, and even in the rumbling of construction here in Fishtown.

As a Philly builder, artist entrepreneur, 2024 RealLIST Connector and place-based investor, I was honored to be a part of the team that helped Philadelphia become an EDA Tech Hub and move up two spots to No. 25 best place in the world to build your startup.

I’ve seen it all, from traditional business models to the hungry artist ventures and in the end, I love our city. I love our people, and I’m even starting to love our problems. 

Now, I’m sharing what I’ve learned so far about bringing artists, businesses, and brands together. 

Artists and startup founders aren’t so different

Artists and early-stage tech founders are both trying to translate ideas into income. 

Whether you’re an artist launching an independent album, a startup building the next great connection platform, or a family-owned shop with a limited runway, you might be wrestling with the same exact problems:

• Access to funding
• Finding your market
• Staying inspired and avoiding burnout

But instead of sharing strategies, we’re often working in silos.

I’m starting to believe we’re not meant to solve these problems alone. Maybe our biggest breakthroughs could come from collaboration between creative and tech ecosystems.

There are social and financial returns in these creative collaborations. They draw attention, bring new customers, humanize tech and help artists tap into sustainable funding.

Here are some dreamy collabs I’m witnessing of startups, communities and businesses already working together.

• M Scooot’s temporary installation at Indy Hall: The recent colorful addition by M Scooot to the lobby of our nation’s oldest co-working space, Indy Hall in Northern Liberties, has returned joy and hopefully some new annual memberships.
• RYLA for Philly Tech Week: The community platform for connections, RYLA (a 2025 RealLIST honorable mention), hosted a design competition that invited creative locals to help them with their street team design, merch and giveaways for PTW 2025. It was a great reminder that visual art and tech just makes sense.
• Doing A Little Better podcast: Creative accelerator and startup, A Little Better Co., helping purpose-driven businesses. I’m now co-host of ALBC’s new podcast, where we share ways to get creative (without the capital), providing a fresh perspective for brands to get unstuck. 
•  FSH Technologies and Tori Serazi: I happily attended the new HQ open house of community-rooted startup FSH. They worked with interior designer and artist Tori on their new, well-designed location in Chinatown. 
• PamPam and Debora Charmelus: Map-maker PamPam, makes emerging tech feel human, helping people reconnect with their neighborhoods in new, thoughtful ways. The friend and favorite creator of mine, led a West Philly walk with PamPam. It was a perfect collaboration of exercise, people and technology.

Identifying collaborators for your creative revolution

I get it, you don’t necessarily travel in packs of artists, creators and innovators like I do, but once you start, you’ll see something special happening here in Philadelphia.

When looking for creators, start by exploring the social platform where your brand is most comfortable. If that’s on Instagram, check out someone local to you that feels authentic, if TikTok or Substack, head there. 

Note: The best artists are often hidden in plain sight, driving Lyft or working in your favorite local brewery/coffee shop. Keep your ears and eyes open for local talent. At StarCity, we’re building a network of artists & businesses so matchmaking isn’t so difficult. 

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite, culture-bringing creatives in Philadelphia: 

• The Between Us Girlies podcast for brand awareness and sponsorship: This podcast is truly the voice of the younger generation. I love these friends and admire them for making a more fun, safe and conscious Philadelphia.
• @Bran_Flakezz for fun content: One of the stars of the Between Us Girlies podcast, Brandon Edelman, just reached 1 million TikTok followers (go Brandon!), and was recently featured in the Inquirer. I love love love the safe space and joy he brings, also his love for Philadelphia runs deep (just like mine).
• <3URMOM for music mentions and art collectors: Temple alum and international music artist with over 30M streams, <3URMOM, is the next Basquiat/Picasso. Ask him to mention your brand name in one of his songs or invest in his affordable art for your home.
• Jai Monee for styling, festivals and charcuterie: Jai is one of those geniuses who can do anything and everything. You bring her in when you need set design, a photoshoot to look cooler, and/or to create a to-die-for charcuterie at your next gathering
• Tynecia Wilson for fitness and wellness content: Beautiful inside and out #healthywealthygirl and Ms. Philadelphia 2024 is a local news, wellness and lifestyle creator. From leading Zumba classes to meal prep, when you need a partner in amplifying your company’s good choices in wellness, she’s the one.
• Lydia Conner for video storytelling: Lydia is the founder, filmmaker, and award-winning narrative storyteller of Two Acre Films. Hire them to tell your brand story through video.
• Debora Charmelus for the Philly creatives: Calling aligned partners, Debora is one of the leaders, curating art spaces, telling us where the art is and designing new collaborative partnerships as a cultural consultant.
• Calan the Artist for speaking about good capital: Hi, me again, feel free to invite me in as a creator consult or speaker on building a more connected creator economy in Philly.
• Conrad Benner for the Streets: Philly was named No. 1 (again) in USA Today for street art and I’ll attribute that to the works of Conrad and Mural Arts.

Collaboration starts with trust

The truth is, we may not need another report or summit. We need each other.

The more we get together, the happier — and more successful — we’ll be. Artists and founders help each other grow. This kind of collaboration might just be Philadelphia’s next big advantage.

Thanks to the artist founders in our season one accelerator, we’ve been learning how to solve our problems big and small, together. Here are our takeaways for good teamwork:

• Know who you are. Clarify your identity and values as an individual. It builds trust and makes you easier to work with.
• Simplify what you do. Say it in one sentence. If people understand you in ten seconds or less, they can connect the dots faster.
• Say what you need. Whether it’s visibility, money or tech support, say it clearly and tell at least eight people.
• Find a shared outcome. Aim for a win you all can claim, like new clients or customers, exposure or shared storytelling.
• Start small, build trust. A repost. A referral. A conversation. The most powerful networks start with tiny acts of care.

One of our podcast guests, Dr. Kimberly McGlonn, entrepreneur and author of Build It Boldly, recalled what her friend said, “Progress moves at the speed of trust.”

It’s imperative, above all, that we trust each other as we build our future together.