During the 2025 fiscal year, there were 119 press mentions for PCI-supported programs, startups and partners. Some of the most popular and widely circulated stories are listed below:
PCI’s 10th Anniversary Highlighted in Penn Today
PCI was featured as the lead story in the January 17th issue of Penn Today in recognition of its 10-year anniversary. The article includes in-depth interviews with John Swartley, MBA, PhD, Penn’s inaugural Chief Innovation Officer, and Ben Dibling, PhD, Associate Vice Provost for Research and PCI Managing Director, and their reflections on the evolution and impact of technology transfer at Penn.
Formally launched in 2014, PCI takes a proactive and flexible approach in engaging with the commercial sector and supporting new venture creation to help faculty and researchers transform their discoveries into real-world applications that benefit society. PCI supports the advancement and development of a broad range of technologies resulting from Penn’s substantial research enterprise, including therapeutics, diagnostics, robotics, software, devices, AI and more.
Study Highlights Growth and Impact of Greater Philadelphia’s Booming Cell and Gene Therapy Industry
The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce published a comprehensive snapshot of the region’s cell and gene therapy sector entitled, “Leading the Way: Cell and Gene Therapy in Greater Philadelphia.” The study found that the Philadelphia region is now home to more than 10% of the world’s cell and gene therapy companies. Collectively, those 60 companies employ more than 7,000 people and have reeled in more than $7 billion in private investment capital over the past five years. As a result, the industry sector has become one of the most important economic drivers in the region over the past decade. Penn’s research and commercialization activities are highlighted throughout the report as important contributing factors for the sector’s success.
PCI’s 10th Anniversary Recognized by Technical.ly Philly
The annual list features 20 individuals from education, venture capital, city government, and workforce development who collaborate with the tech community to foster inclusivity in Philadelphia. Read the full list here.
PCI’s Managing Director Ben Dibling, PhD, Named a RealLIST Connector of 2025
The annual list features 20 individuals from education, venture capital, city government, and workforce development who collaborate with the tech community to foster inclusivity in Philadelphia. Read the full list here.
2024 Philadelphia Venture Report Recognizes Regional Growth in Venture Funding and Exits as well as Showcasing Thriving Penn Spinouts
The 2024 Philadelphia Venture Report, developed by the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology (PACT) in collaboration with PitchBook, highlighted the Philadelphia region’s growth in startup exit activity and early-stage investment. The report identified Penn as a key contributor to Philadelphia’s status as a leading hub for life sciences venture funding, and several Penn startups were featured for their recent successes, including:
EpiVario, co-founded by Shelley Berger, PhD, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in Penn Medicine and Penn Arts & Sciences, and Phillip Mews, a former graduate student in the Berger Lab, is developing neuroepigenetic modulators to treat memory related addiction and psychiatric disorders. The company was recognized for raising $1.5 million to date and securing two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) federal grants.
GEMMA Biotherapeutics, founded by James Wilson, MD, PhD, the Rose H. Weiss Orphan Disease Center Director’s Professor at Penn Medicine, which exemplifies the region’s strengths in academic excellence and groundbreaking medical research, and its commitment to advancing gene therapies.
Exyn Technologies, co-founded by Vijay Kumar, PhD, the Nemirovsky Family Dean at Penn Engineering, is a pioneer in autonomous drone navigation and an example of Philadelphia’s thriving ecosystem for AI-driven startups.
Read the full report here. Read Technical.ly’s article about the report here.