This event and the awards are made possible only through the generous support of these sponsors
Thank you!
Congratulations to our Runner Up prize winners!!
Andre “Dre” Andrews - Dre’s Water Ice & Ice Cream
Melissa Lamarre - Mel’s Butter Blends
Shakina Small - Flexipads
Gregory J. Arnold Jr. - Gregory Jerome LLC
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Rise Up - Music & Vocals by Nicola Elliott, Music Production - Sencitymuzic, Video Production - Signature Filmworks
This year Rise Up Philly is putting the tools of opportunity into the hands of aspiring and established entrepreneurs, with a focus to benefit communities of color. This is a serious effort to “Hack” into economic solutions and opportunities for people who have been left behind.
We have assembled teams of experts - speakers and mentors - who can bring new ideas, needed recovery strategies, and access to networks, tools, and capital to Rise Up Philly’s audience and participants: helping propel entrepreneurs and businesses forward to new futures and enhanced economic well-being.
Our Speakers
Anyone can join us for an incredibly exciting lineup of speakers and inspiring stories.
$100,000 in Awards!
Alongside cash prizes, we will be offering access to critical business resources, including prototyping facilities, as well as top notch financial and start-up advice in the Rise Up Philly entrepreneurial competition.
The competition aims to support entrepreneurial residents of the City of Philadelphia who meet BOTH of the following requirements:
Have a business that operates in the city or intend to start a business in the city.
AND
Identify as a person of color, have a business that serves a community of color, or intend to start a business that serves a community of color.
Competition Tracks
Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Has COVID impacted your ability to make a living? Are you thinking about turning your side hustle into your full time livelihood? Or using your knowledge from your job (past or present) to start your own small company? If you have a skill and you know how you could use it to create a business, but are held back because you don’t own the supplies, tools or licenses you need to get your business off the ground, then This is the track for you!
Emerging Entrepreneurs
Has COVID affected your small business and you need to pivot toward a new option that you want to explore? Or do you have an idea to scale up or expand your existing business and you need some additional funding, supplies, or tools to get to that next level? If your business has revenues of $100k a year or less, or you have been in business for less than one year, then This is the track for you!
Prototype Concept
Maybe you’re a fan of Shark Tank, and you have an idea for a new product or service that you think people would want to buy. But you don’t know how to make the product or how to connect with customers to make a business out of providing the new service. Got an idea for the next big thing? This track is for you!
Established Entrepreneurs
You (and your partner if you have one) have your own business and your revenue exceeds $100K a year. But you can see a way to grow your business if you had some additional funding and support. Maybe you’ve sustained financial losses from COVID that can’t be recovered? This is the track for you!
#RISEUPPHILLY
This event was organized and hosted by Innovation at Thomas Jefferson University
and Jefferson Health in partnership with the City of Philadelphia.