In partnership with Philadelphia’s effort to promote itself as a hub for tech and startups at the SXSW Interactive Festival this week, the Department of Commerce relaunched StartupPHL’s website to serve as a resource for companies, investors, students and media to find information about Philadelphia’s entrepreneur and tech community. 

In a joint statement, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Commerce Director Harold T. Epps said, “Supporting the tech and startup community is a priority for the City and we believe relaunching www.StartupPHL.com is just one of the many innovative and impactful developments the Commerce Department will be a part of this year.”

StartupPHL originally launched in Oct. of 2012 to highlight the StartupPHL initiative, a $6 million public private venture fund managed by First Round Capital, and the Call for Ideas, a grant program to fund innovative proposals that support Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial community. 

The Department of Commerce's StartupPHL team developed the site in partnership with Comcast.

“We are excited to work with StartupPHL on this initiative, and together we have a shared goal to further attract top tech talent and innovative thinking to Philadelphia,” Sam Schwartz, chief business development officer of Comcast Cable, said in a press release.  “Our city’s collaborative culture helps startups thrive and this website serves as a one-stop-shop of valuable resources for the entrepreneurial community.”

The redesigned site includes connections to events and organizations; community resources for founders, students, job seekers, and media; an interactive map of the City's entrepreneurial spaces and Keystone Innovation Zones; guides to understanding the City's regulatory and tax processes.

The site also includes a platform for corporations and governmental departments to post project opportunities to solicit solutions from growing startups. The “Post a Pilot” section of the site will help foster connections and collaboration between Philadelphia’s leading anchor institutions and the City’s tech community.

“As we work to promote Philadelphia as a great place to start and grow a company, a tool like StartupPHL.com is crucial to getting our message out,” Director of Entrepreneurial Investment at the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Archna Sahay, said. "Not only does the site help folks who want to learn more about Philadelphia’s startup community, but also connects companies that are already growing in Philadelphia to resources here. www.StartupPHL.com is the first stop for anyone and everyone interested in all things innovation in Philadelphia.”