Name

Philly Startup Leaders

Legal name

Philly Startup Leaders

Website

https://phillystartupleaders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Startup community
• Entrepreneurship support
• Founder mentorship
• Startup ecosystem
• Nonprofit incubator

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Startup Leaders relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and philanthropic organizations to fund community events, educational programs, mentor matching, and founder coaching services.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: The organization generates revenue through corporate sponsorships, with visible partners including Wipfli, Morgan Lewis, Tactix, and LiftLabs. Sponsors support the startup ecosystem programs in exchange for brand visibility and association with the entrepreneurial community.
3. Event Tickets and Registration: Revenue generated from event tickets sold through Eventbrite platform for community events, workshops, and educational programs including Global Entrepreneurship Week and Startup Science initiatives.
4. Membership Program: Community membership program offering benefits to founders, with a Welcome Wagon onboarding process and various membership tiers providing access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Startup Leaders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports startup founders through community events, educational programs (Startup Science, Expert Library, Recommended Reading List), mentor matching, founder coaching, investor introductions, professional development, and corporate innovation partnerships. The organization serves as a central hub connecting over 13,000 founders, mentors, and investors in the Philadelphia regional ecosystem, with funding derived from donations, sponsorships, event ticketing, and community memberships.

Product overview

Startup Leaders is a nonprofit entrepreneurship support organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services designed to support founders at every stage of their journey. The core offerings include community events, educational programs (Startup Science, Expert Library, Recommended Reading List), mentor matching, founder coaching, investor introductions, professional development, corporate innovation partnerships, and business consulting. The organization serves as a central hub connecting over 13,000 founders, mentors, and investors through both in-person events and structured programs like the Welcome Wagon onboarding and Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Events Regular meetups, gatherings, and networking events connecting founders with mentors and investors in the Philadelphia startup ecosystem.
• Educational Programs (Startup Science)
• Mentor Matching Program connecting founders with experienced mentors tailored to their specific needs and startup stage.
• Founder Coaching One-on-one coaching services helping founders navigate challenges and accelerate their startup growth.
• Investor Introductions Facilitates connections between founders and investors through organized matchmaking and networking opportunities.
• Expert Library Repository of expert knowledge, articles, and insights available to community members.
• Recommended Reading List Curated collection of books and materials recommended for entrepreneurs to build knowledge and skills.
• Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025 Annual international initiative celebrating entrepreneurs and showcasing startup ecosystem activities through coordinated events and programming.
• Welcome Wagon Onboarding program for new community members to help them integrate into the startup ecosystem and access available resources.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wipfli LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWipfli LLP is a professional services firm (accounting and consulting) listed as a partner supporting Startup Leaders. Michelle Berkoben, Partner at Wipfli, serves on the Startup Leaders board, providing financial and operational expertise to the organization.
• Morgan LewiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMorgan Lewis is a global law firm listed as a partner. Mike Crossey, Corporate Deal Lawyer at Cozen O'Connor, serves on the board, suggesting legal partnership support for the startup community.
• TactixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTactix is listed as a partner logo on the Startup Leaders website, representing consulting or professional services support for the ecosystem.
• LiftLabsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiftLabs appears as a partner supporting Startup Leaders' mission, likely providing mentorship, coaching, or innovation support services.
• Black women talk techcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack women talk tech is a strategic partner focused on supporting underrepresented founders. This partnership directly supports Startup Leaders' goal of equitable entrepreneurial growth and access for minority entrepreneurs.
• Philly Financial ScholarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhilly Financial Scholars is a partner organization providing financial education and literacy resources to the startup community in Philadelphia.
• Philly Tech Council (Philly Tech Entrepreneurs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilly Tech Council is a strategic partner representing the broader Philadelphia technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem, enabling cross-promotion and ecosystem collaboration.
• TribajacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribaja is a partner focused on diversity and inclusion in tech and entrepreneurship, supporting Startup Leaders' mission to develop equitable paths for entrepreneurial growth.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Startup Grind: Global community-led nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs through local events, mentorship, and education. Directly comparable to Startup Leaders in mission, community-driven model, and focus on connecting founders to resources and mentors, though Startup Grind operates at a much larger global scale.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Membership-based community for entrepreneurs offering peer learning, mentorship, and accelerator programs globally. Comparable to Startup Leaders as a founder community providing structured programming, networking, and resource access, though EO focuses on established founders generating $1M+ in revenue.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator that supports early-stage founders through structured programs, mentorship, and investor connections. Comparable to Startup Leaders in serving founders at the ideation and early stages and providing structured educational curriculum, though Founder Institute is equity-backed and operates globally.
• Dreamit Ventures: Philadelphia-based startup accelerator and investor supporting early-stage founders. Direct regional peer competing for the same Philadelphia founder pool and offering more structured capital-backed programs, making it Startup Leaders' most direct local competitor.
• Betamore: Baltimore-based startup academy and coworking community that educates and connects entrepreneurs. Comparable regional peer offering similar community building, educational programming, and founder support services in a Mid-Atlantic urban ecosystem.
• Capital Factory: Texas-based startup community, accelerator, and coworking hub connecting founders with mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Comparable in operating as a regional founder community hub offering educational programs, mentorship, and corporate innovation partnerships.
• Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT): Philadelphia-area nonprofit technology and entrepreneurship organization connecting startups with capital, talent, and corporate partners. Direct regional peer with similar nonprofit structure and mission to grow the local tech and startup ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network operating programs in 20+ countries with structured mentorship, capital investment, and alumni network. A much larger incumbent offering overlapping founder support but with significant capital, equity stakes, and global brand that Startup Leaders cannot match.
• Y Combinator: Premier global startup accelerator providing seed funding, mentorship, and network access to early-stage founders. Operates broadly in the same space as Startup Leaders but at a vastly different scale with investment capability, making it the dominant incumbent for top-tier founder talent.
• gener8tor: Multi-city accelerator and venture fund operating programs across the U.S. and beyond. Comparable in providing structured founder support, mentorship, and investor connections, but as a well-capitalized for-profit entity offering capital that Startup Leaders cannot match.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philly-startup-leaders
• Xx.com/startupleaders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments17 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Philly Startup Leaders