(Co)nnect: Philly’s AI Ecosystem Summit
On May 7 2026, Pennovation Works and Philly AI Connect co-hosted (Co)nnect, a free summit designed to bring together the people building, supporting, and growing AI and technology across Philadelphia. Over 600 attendees with another 100 on the waitlist packed the Pennovation Center for a full day of programming that spanned keynotes, fireside chats, lightning rounds, workshops, demos and networking. Founders, builders, researchers, operators, investors, educators, civic leaders and students focused on how to grow Philadelphia’s AI ecosystem. Weeks of collaboration between nine community organizations and more than a dozen sponsors paid off in a summit that felt both hyper-local and future-focused.
Opening keynote
“The Philadelphia Advantage.” A high-profile ecosystem builder set the tone, making the case for Philly as a serious tech hub, and challenging the room to think big.
Fireside chats
Three discussions explored Builders’ Journeys, Capital & Community, and Talent, Infrastructure & the Long Game, giving founders, investors and civic leaders space to share what it really takes to grow here.
Lightning rounds
Rapid‑fire sessions covered AI in Practice, Philadelphia Robotics and PA Agriculture, showing AI’s impact across sectors.
Workshops
Hands‑on labs like Light Heart Labs: Dream Server and From PRD to Prototype let product teams and builders experiment with local tools.
Closing panel
“A Call to Build.” Leaders from energy, life sciences, robotics and agriculture looked ahead and issued a collective challenge to build with intention.
Throughout the day, attendees could explore startup demos, research projects, and community activations. The tables and hallways were buzzing; some sessions were so popular we had to redirect people to other rooms. Even during networking breaks, conversations covered everything from robotics to public policy to venture funding.
Philly Wins
Making waves in the Philly tech community
Philadelphia’s AI community is growing rapidly, but until now many efforts have been siloed. (Co)nnect put the full ecosystem on one stage and showed how much can happen when we build together. As one attendee put it, “Philadelphia isn’t just part of the AI race, we are leading it.” With the upcoming America 250 milestone, it’s also a reminder that our region has been a cradle of innovation for centuries, and we’re ready to claim that story again in the AI era.
Partner power
Pennovation Works, Philly AI Connect, Code & Coffee Philadelphia, PhilaCon Valley, Philly Tech Council, VetsInTech, AgriGates and m2i
Sponsors & support
Kforce, Hitachi Vantara, Penn ISC, United Effects Ventures, Archer Public Affairs and Grayson Sky
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Expect more meetups, deep‑dive workshops, and next year’s (Co)nnect
