It’s been a tough year for startups, with many forced to tighten their belts and lay off employees as venture capital funding dried up. Despite the national funding slump, Philadelphia-area startups continue to prove they’ve got fight in them, with the region landing among the top metros for venture capital deals in the first quarter and being ranked among the world’s top 30 startup ecosystems with a value of $68 billion.
Even in the face of adversity, local startups continue to innovate. It is for their adaptability and persistence that we are recognizing this year’s Fire Awards honorees. Now in its second year, the Fire Awards are PHL Inno’s premiere awards program, showcasing the businesses, institutions and individuals driving the region’s innovation scene forward.
This year we are recognizing a total of 20 companies and individuals across four categories: igniters, igniting, ablaze, and blazers. Companies range from growth-stage startups to local tech pillars while individual honorees include founders, CEOs and investors.
In order to determine the honorees, PHL Inno sought nominations from the public as well as suggestions from our editorial team. Clink on the categories in the index below to learn more about what makes these companies and individuals so impressive – and how they’re setting Greater Philadelphia’s innovation ecosystem ablaze.
