our community
Your support directly impacts our entire community of 10, 000+, including over 200 graduates of the Founded in Philly Accelerator Programs.
Within the ecosystem, we have several free digital communication channels available to our founders:
PSL Slack has 4500 members and counting, and is one of our legacy online groups that has become more vibrant since the pandemic began;
PSL Talk is our most popular listserv, with 5000+ members from across our community;
Founders & CXOs of Philly Tech is a place where founders and executives can advise one another on a peer-to-peer level;
PSL Connect is our self-directed guide to all that PSL has to offer, where members can create individual and company profiles, list job opportunities, share wins and invite community members to their events.
The PSL Impact Report covers our community engagement initiatives; program data and the Underrepresented Founders Fund; event impact and more.
THE PSL PROGRAM IMPACT…
In 2021 alone, we helped 25 alumni founders grow their startups through our 12-week , Founded in Philly accelerator programs. To track their progress, we’ve included a section on how much their companies have improved since joining the Program.
The Founders
There were a total of 25 founders who participated in the program and graduated. These founders are from various ethnicities, demographics, and industries.
Here’s an overview of the voluntary data submitted by our Founders:
Demographics
Among those 25 Founders, 60% were male and 40% were female.
48% of Founders described themselves as white; 28% identified as Black or African American; 4% identified as Latinx, and 4% as Asian; the rest of our Founders identified as multi-ethnicity.
Company Information
Most of our participants have businesses that are currently operating. Here are some details:
Of our 25 alumni, 22 are currently operating. Of the three that are not operating, one is starting a new company.
Of the 22 companies that are operating, 73% of them have their headquarters in Philadelphia;
Another 23% are in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
The one outlier is headquartered in Wilmington, DE but the Founder lives in Philadelphia.
A Variety of Industries
Our participants come from various fields:
Consumer Products 5%
Health/Wellness 20%
HR Tech 10%
Cleaning 5%
Ecommerce 5%
Robotics 5%
Education 20%
Knowledge Marketplaces 10%
SaaS 5%
Hospitality 5%
Sports/Sports Tech 10%
Other industries include: Home Decor, Nonprofit, Parenting, the Arts, and various consumer technology fields.
The 22 companies still operating are the following.
How We Impacted Their Business
According to PSL’s post-program survey, 60% of the graduated companies were pre-revenue, 36% were making $1-$100,000.
Investment and Funding Growth
Of the 25 graduated Founders, 12 were seeking funding at the date of graduation, and 2 Founders were only seeking grants.
Collectively, the Founders who graduated from our program in 2021 raised $837,250.00 in recorded funding.
Other notable funding news includes some significant gains by Founders who went through our program, such as Series I 2020 Alumni Lula Delivery, who raised $5,500,000 in funding in 2021.
What the Founders are Saying About the Program…
Findings from the Post-Program Survey indicate that 66% of Founders are extremely likely to recommend PSL’s Accelerator program; however, 100% of PSL’s graduated Founders are likely to recommend PSL’s Accelerator programs.
93% of Founders rated PSL a 5 out of 5 in PSL’s value for maintaining a long-term relationship; 7% gave PSL a 4 out of 5.
“The community and mentorship have been outstanding. As a solo entrepreneur, it really helped me–both in my business and mentally/emotionally. Being alongside other founders who are going through the same challenges you are, makes a big difference. And the expertise and feedback from the speakers and mentors were especially helpful in guiding the direction of Plynth.” – Jono Matusky, Founder of Plynth.
“The program has exposed me to an amazing group of mentors and coaches, along with a huge network of supporters and friends from my cohort. We're all in this together and the support I received and have provided to my fellow founders feels like it's just starting. It's rewarding to have founding conversations with people in similar startup states or just a bit ahead of me.”
– Peter Yeargin, Founder of Sage
“Being part of Founded in Philly helped during this time because it offered a support base of well-connected, bright startup leaders to network with and grow our business through throughout the past 5 months. Additionally, reaching out to other founders in the program and offering any help we could provide, and even just making pleasant connections, was always a pleasure.” – Cody Eddings, Founder of SnapRefund
“Despite the COVID-19 impact, Founded in Philly has given me the confidence and tools I needed to navigate starting a business when it seems like the odds were all stacked against me. As a Black woman, mother, and working professional, I had my fears and longed for a community that wanted to understand and support my dreams - Founded in Philly understood, empathized, & gave me a great foundation that I can use for all the dreams I plan to make a successful reality! Lastly, Founded in Philly planted a seed that I plan to pass on to other budding entrepreneurs.” – Carrol Franklyn, Founder of gigU
Want to Learn More About PSL’s Impact?
Discover how PSL is helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential.
SIGN UP For OUR NEWSLETTER
ABOUT PHILLY STARTUP LEADERS
Philly Startup Leaders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was created for those hoping to find a community (and success) around technology and entrepreneurship in Philadelphia.