uCity Square IP to Impact Summit 2025
Join us on Thursday, May 22 at uCity Square for the inaugural IP to Impact Summit, a free & dynamic tech transfer event!
Build your Rolodex, hear from successful founders, learn about capital resources
The uCity Square IP to Impact Summit presented by uCity Square and CIC Philadelphia provides groups with the opportunity to connect with companies ready to continue their entrepreneurship journey moving out from academia, or those entrepreneurs building their companies from the ground up.
- Post Doc, Grad School and entrepreneurial university students
- Entrepreneurs looking to understand and connect to take their next steps
- CIC Community members looking to build their network
8:30: Check-in and Coffee Networking
8:45 – 9:30: Opportunity Starts Here: Growing Your Business with Philadelphia and PA’s Support
9:30 – 10:15: How to Transition from a Founder to a CEO
10:30 – 11:15: What You Don’t Know Your Need When Starting Your Company
Sponsored by Charles River Laboratories
11:30 – 12:15: Positioning Your Company for Financial Success with Alternate Capital & Venture Capital
12:45 – 1:30: Lunch and Fireside Chat: Building for Impact: Starting Strong with Vision, Strategy & Support
- Stop by nonprofit & local government resource tables
- Philadelphia Commerce Department
- Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
- Drexel’s College of Computing and Informatics
- International House
- And more…
- Meet select vendors representing important business development functions
- AOIC
- Gann Pharmaceuticals
- STEMCELL Technologies
- STERIS Life Sciences
- Swagelok NYC | NJ | Philadelphia
- Tecan
- And more…
- Get a new professional headshot from J Nicole Photography
- Drop down for some coworking time
Panel at 8:45: Opportunity Starts Here: Growing Your Business with Philadelphia and PA’s Support
Thinking about starting or scaling your business in Philly? Hear from the City’s Commerce Department, the Chamber of Commerce, and Pennsylvania’s Innovation & Development Zone as they share how the region fuels business growth. From local resources to global expansion support, discover why opportunity starts here.
Moderator: Michelle Ottey, Global Head of Centers and Labs at CIC Labs + Innovation Campuses
Panelists:
- Pierre-Olivier Lugez, Pierre-Olivier Lugez at City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
- Lindsay Hover, Manager of Business Attraction & Expansion at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
- Tara Santore, KOZ Program Manager at PA DCED Innovation & Development Zones
Panel at 9:30 AM: How to Transition from a Founder to a CEO
Turning a great idea into a growing company takes more than hustle—it takes leadership evolution. Join us as three founders share how they navigated the shift from scrappy builder to strategic CEO. From hiring and delegation to mindset shifts and growing pains, this panel offers hard-earned insights for founders ready to lead at scale.
Moderator: Tiara Durham, Director, New Ventures at University City Science Center
Panelists:
- Ben Doranz, President and CEO at Integral Molecular
- Aaron Oboh, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Liife
- Nafees Norris, CEO & Founder at Nafees Innovations LLC
Panel at 10:30: What You Don't Know You Need When Starting Your Company
Starting a company in biotech or life sciences is a bold leap—but even the most visionary founders can’t foresee every challenge ahead. This panel brings together strategic experts who support companies behind the scenes: from financial infrastructure and staffing to global expansion and R&D support. Featuring Danforth Advisors, Medix Staffing, World Upstart, and Charles River Labs, this conversation will uncover the critical—but often overlooked—foundations that help early-stage companies thrive. Learn what pitfalls to avoid, when to bring in outside expertise, and how to set yourself up for sustainable success from day one.
Sponsored by CRADL.
Moderator: Barb Carlin, Managing Director, Mid Atlantic Region at Danforth Advisors
Panelists:
- Anthony Alonso, Senior Business Development Manager at Medix Life Sciences
- Karina Sotnik, Founder & CEO at World Upstart
- John Farrar, Business Development Director at Charles River Laboratories
- Demet Aybar, CEO & Founder at US Lab Partners
Panel at 11:30: Positioning Your Company for Financial Success with Alternative Capital & Venture Capital
Raising capital isn't one-size-fits-all. Join experts from a VC firm, a state-funded investment agency, and a law firm specializing in compliance as they share how to position your business for sustainable growth. Learn how to navigate funding options, stay legally prepared, and align with the right investors at the right time.
Moderator: George Davis, Executive VP Strategic Advisory at Evergreen Advisors
Panelists:
- Squire Servance, Senior of Counsel at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Kathie Jordan, Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Group at Ben Franklin Technology Partners
- Rick Jones, Advisory Partner at BioAdvance Capital
Fireside Chat at 12:45: Building for Impact: Starting Strong with Vision, Strategy & Support
A forward-looking conversation about how founders can set the tone early—from defining company culture and mission, to building networks and finding the right support at the right time.
- Laurie Actman, Chief Marketing, Communications and Program Officer at Penn Center for Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania
- Lori Gough, Partner at Epidarex Capital
