B. PHL innovation fest

Thanks for an AMAZING B. PHL 2020! Even though we weren't physically together, we felt (and sent!)  brotherly and sisterly love through the screen.  We couldn't B. more grateful to our speakers and our attendees. We will B. in touch soon!

At B. PHL, we believe innovation is best when aligned to a purpose. The 2020 B. PHL Innovation Festival will be virtual and focus on supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts in the Philadelphia region. Tickets to attend B. PHL are free, with the option to donate to the PHL COVID-19 fund. No donation is too small to help! Also, look out for exclusive experiences available for an additional donation.

B. PHL is 3 days of talks, workshops, meet ups, and curated experiences from Philadelphia and around the world.

The B. PHL innovation fest welcomes the addition of Academy Award nominated screenwriter, film director, producer, and philanthropist M. Night Shyamalan to its exciting growing list of speakers. Shyamalan will join B. PHL Executive Director Michelle Histand in an impactful conversation focused on the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, which supports the grassroots efforts of emerging leaders as they work to eliminate the barriers created by poverty and social injustice in their communities. Shyamalan will elaborate on his foundation’s work and how it’s driving real change in areas that need it most. Attendees will hear firsthand about their mission and unwavering commitment to never take “no” for an answer. The session, “The Global Fight Against Poverty and Injustice: A Conversation with M. Night Shyamalan,” is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, at 11:00AM. 

The B. PHL innovation fest welcomes the addition of activist and award-winning actor, producer, & director America Ferrera. Listen to America Ferrera as she discusses the importance of voting as well as her passion for women-owned businesses with her new venture of co-owning a National Women's Soccer League team in Los Angeles.  Join us Wednesday, September 16 at 12:15 pm EST for Igniting Real Change: Fighting for what's Right

The B. PHL innovation fest welcomes the addition of, Global Superstar, producer, activist, philanthropist and overall everyone’s Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull. Hailing from Miami, Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull) has earned international fame by using an innovate mix of musical styles and an electrifying stage show to produce a string of hit albums and a huge fan base. But behind the showmanship is someone who cares for his community.

We're kicking off the 2020 B. PHL innovation Fest with none other than Nick Offerman! Loved by many for his portrayal of Ron Swanson on NBC's Parks & Recreation, Offerman takes a break from his time in front of the camera to pursue his passion for woodworking. He'll be sharing insight on his creative process with us and attendees will have a chance to chat with Nick himself through a live Q+A moderated by Founder and Creative Director of YOWIE, Shannon Maldonado!

Philly Mag Interviews B.PHL Innovation Fest executive director Michelle Histand and co-founder Dan Whitzer 

The B. PHL innovation fest has announced the addition of actress, Issa Rae, to its growing list of diverse speakers. Rae is best known for creating and starring in the hit HBO show, Insecure, for which she received an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations. Register today to see this session and the many others that are part of B. PHL this year!

Breaking News! Voting is now open through August 28^th! It's time to pick the top 5 college startups that will move on to the B. PHL College Innovation Classic Finals on Sept 15. The top 5 most voted for startups will pitch to our panel of judges in hopes of being crowned the best college startup in the Philadelphia region. Make sure to watch all the videos and cast your vote for the best team to move on to the finals. You can only vote once, so choose wisely!  Tune in on September 15^th at 6PM to watch the top 5 pitch to a panel of judges to win the title and take home awesome prizes!

NEW DATE, NEW FORMAT, FREE TICKETS! Our top priority is the health and well-being of our B. PHL community. After careful consideration of the risks and regulations around COVID-19, we have decided to shift the format of the 2020 B. PHL festival to include virtual sessions and a mix of curated, in-person small group experiences. As the City of Philadelphia looks to open parts of the economy, we are committed to jumpstarting the rebuilding and recovery process in support of these efforts. As such, we are moving our dates to September 15-17 to jumpstart recovery and making B. PHL accessible to everyone, with an option to donate to support COVID-19 relief efforts.