University City Science Center

06/16/2026

You've got the deck. You've got the vision. But when an investor asks to see your data room, cap table, IP filings, and board records — are you ready?

That's the question the University City Science Center's Capital Readiness Program is built to answer. Five days. Five investors. No pitching — just the honest, substantive feedback most founders never get until it's too late.

Free for selected companies. Cohort 12: December 7–11. Apply by August 21.
🔗 sciencecenter.org/programs/capital-readiness

06/15/2026

Less searching, more building. We've gathered this month's top opportunities for startups and innovators.
With resources from:
PSF (Public Spend Forum)
Verizon
Allstate
Mayo Clinic
Novella Center for Entrepreneurship..and more

➡️ Find the full breakdown of grants, programs, events, and other resources here: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?e=be5f115bf6&u=41b0abadcfef311f3b24c2628&id=c6bfc5e926

06/12/2026

In this episode of the Life Science Insights podcast, Heath Naquin joins Dan Mazzucco to unpack the philosophy behind the Capital Readiness Program.

This conversation is for medtech founders who are raising beyond friends and family and want to understand how investors actually make decisions — not how founders imagine they do.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lq1rbXx3T1PcxxLr70wuD?si=NGLW8NHZRFuKOw-ash0IqA&nd=1&dlsi=63ec3726ed02487f

06/09/2026

Physicians bring a perspective to healthcare innovation that no one else can. Join the next Physician Innovator Series, a peer forum for physicians interested in engaging with medtech, health tech, and life sciences startups as advisors, executives, founders, investors, and more.

This session will feature Dr. Saumitra Thakur and Dr. Neal Kinariwala for a candid discussion on innovation, leadership, and navigating opportunities at the intersection of medicine and entrepreneurship.

📅 July 9, 2026
📍 Virtual
💲 Free to attend
🔗 Registration required

More info and register: https://sciencecenter.org/programs/physician-innovator-series

06/08/2026

Think like an investor, build like a founder: the Science Center's new Venture Fellows Program teaches you how to do both.

This 12-month, paid fellowship gives grad students and early-career professionals hands-on experience evaluating life science, medtech, and health tech companies. Fellows will conduct market research, support alumni founders, build an investment thesis with their cohort, and learn directly from investors.

Participants will leave with a portfolio of real work, relationships in the local innovation ecosystem, and a deeper understanding of both investing and company-building.

🗓️ Apply by July 24 for Sept. 7 start date
🕑 Commitment of 20-24 hours per week for 1 year
💲 $40/hour
📍 Onsite in Philadelphia

Learn more and apply: https://sciencecenter.org/programs/venture-fellows-program

06/08/2026

We're now on Threads! Follow us at: https://www.threads.com/

06/05/2026

One missed form or confusing notice can mean losing access to healthcare, food assistance, and other critical benefits. Join a 6-week innovation challenge bringing together diverse perspectives to design and test solutions that help people stay connected to the support they rely on.

Join Health Access Philly for the kickoff event:
🗓️Tuesday, June 16, 2026
⌚️5:30 to 7:00 PM ET
📍Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA
🛜Virtual option available

In person RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jeffsolves-health-access-sprint-challenge-kickoff-event-in-person-rsvp-tickets-1990609616950
Virtual RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jeffsolves-health-access-sprint-challenge-kickoff-event-virtual-rsvp-tickets-1990611144519?aff=oddtdtcreator

A citywide summer sprint to protect health and food benefits. The kickoff sets the table. Come build with us. Join in person or virtually!

06/01/2026

The World Cup is headed to Philadelphia, and all the preparations are a reminder of something we know well: behind every major breakthrough is an entire ecosystem making it possible. In this month's newsletter, find updates from:

💠Cosm Medical
💠HEARTio
💠Avocado Health
💠Yumlish
💠Calla Lily Clinical Care
💠Airalux Medical
💠SweetBio, Inc.
💠Freyya
..And more! It's all here:
https://mailchi.mp/sciencecenter.org/june-newsletter-2026

05/28/2026

The strongest fundraise you can make isn't your next round. It's revenue.

Three investors break down what capital discipline actually looks like from the other side of the table — and why disciplined founders are the ones with leverage in today's market. Here's what they told us:

➡️ https://sciencecenter.org/blog/capital-efficiency-isnt-a-defensive-posture-its-a-power-move

Featuring:

Adrianna Samaniego (she/her/ella) of Cherryrock Capital, Maren Nelson of the Alliance of Angels, and Erica Murdock of Unseen, powered by Seae Ventures, Chirag Goel, Principal at Propellant Ventures, and Tiffany Wilson, President and CEO of the Science Center

05/19/2026

Watch👀: with Airalux Medical, Josh Freedman and co-founder Yi-An Hsieh are re-designing a familiar device. It’s transforming how patients with lung complications breathe deeply – and lowering costs for hospital systems.

And the Science Center's network gave the startup access to the clinical, regulatory, and commercialization expertise it needed to keep moving forward.

➡️ Read the full story: https://sciencecenter.org/blog/a-better-way-to-breathe-the-airalux-story