Join the PSL Board of Directors in 2022!
We believe entrepreneurship can make the Greater Philadelphia region, and the world, a better place. PSL has made enormous strides in facilitating equitable economic development and now, we’re setting our sites on long-term, systemic change.
With several three-year board terms coming to an end, PSL is accepting applications and nominations for two (2) new individuals to join our Board of Directors! We have a big vision for PSL in the next 5 years, and we’re looking for incredible leaders from diverse backgrounds to help guide our mission and ensure its execution.
While it has evolved, PSL’s core mission remains constant: to help current and future founders succeed in Philadelphia and beyond. Board members work closely with our Executive Director and staff to support both day-to-day operations and long-term planning, and ensure that our equitable ethos remains centered in everything we do:
We believe that the success of Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem depends on empowering even more founders, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in Philadelphia, and that is why we are opening our idea-stage accelerator programs to a wider audience, and offering specialized MVP-stage programs in emerging industries. We are looking for Board Members who have a deep understanding of donor development and fundraising; a demonstrated drive for entrepreneurship and mentoring new & existing founders; connections to other successful startup ecosystems in the US and globally; and above all, a passion and dedication to the success of the Greater Philadelphia area.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to every aspect of what we believe in, and the lens with which we examine all elements of our organization. As the largest network for early-stage entrepreneurs in the city, it’s important that we are mindful of accessibility and visibility in everything we do. We are committed to breaking down the generations of systemic barriers to entry that stand between great founders, scalable ideas, and their success.
Continue reading to learn more about PSL’s Mission, Vision, and Values, the current board, and for the link to nominate someone for the 2022-2025 Term!
Thank you for your support and engagement!
-PSL Team
PSL’s Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
Our mission is to help current and future founders succeed in Philadelphia and beyond.
You may be thinking, What is a startup? At PSL, we view our core audience as companies that have the potential to find success, grow exponentially, and create jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region. While many companies in the community participate in the tech sector, our membership is not limited to any one industry. In fact, our ecosystem is made up of a variety of industries from local flagships - healthcare and education - to human resources, hardware, sports & entertainment, consumer packaged goods, and more. We’re home to 12,000+ entrepreneurial folks and have aided in the growth of countless startups.
Vision
We envision our city to be a place where everyone can achieve their entrepreneurial potential, as part of a collaborative and innovative startup ecosystem.
We believe in collaboration over competition, both peer-to-peer and industry-wide. Philadelphians are not here to compete with other cities — we’re here to hold ourselves to a high standard of consistent growth and progress, which will lead future founders to victory by example. Our problems aren’t unique, though they are pronounced. By building scalable, sustainable solutions, our impact can be felt around the world.
Values
Since our inception in 2004, we remain committed to the following core values. No matter the economic outcome, if we fail to live up to these values in achieving our vision, we have failed in our work.
Collaboration
We care about progress, not credit. PSL is committed to working collaboratively with other organizations in our community, and we will always prioritize results over recognition.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We believe that every Philadelphian should have the opportunity to participate in our city’s growing startup ecosystem, and will proactively invest to create such opportunities. Our events, programming, and the content will be designed and executed inclusively, and those involved will be representative of the city in which we live.
Transparency
Our community has a right to know who leads PSL, how we are governed, and how to provide feedback that can shape our decisions. We will be transparent, accessible, and receptive to feedback.
Focus
While there are countless ways to give back and create value in our city, we will focus our resources on one: The PSL mission. Our skills make us uniquely positioned to create value in this area, and that focus will increase our chances of success.
Board of Directors
The PSL Board of Directors is comprised of experienced and passionate leaders in the Philadelphia startup ecosystem. Visit our leadership page to learn more about them and connect with them on LinkedIn.
Nomination Process and Timeline - Updated
The current PSL Board of Directors will review nominations and make a selection in early January. If selected, your three-year term will begin in February 2021.
December 8 - February 28: Application window
March 23: Invite finalists to interview
March 23rd - April 8th: Interview dates
Week of April 11th: Selected board members are notified
April 19th: Quarterly PSL Board Meeting, new members are welcomed!