FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: media@1phl.org

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Innovation Weekend Returns October 22–24 for its Fifth Year

1Philadelphia’s flagship convening for founders, funders, and operators enters year five with an even more focused program built to turn relationships into capital, deals, and momentum.

PHILADELPHIA, September 14 — Innovation Weekend, 1Philadelphia’s annual event for the innovators shaping the city’s tech ecosystem, returns October 22–24, 2026. For its fifth year, Innovation Weekend is sharpening its focus with a series of events built to move beyond conversation and into capital, partnership, strategy, and action.

At the center of Innovation Weekend is a simple idea: the right connection can change the trajectory of a company. A conversation can lead to an introduction. An introduction can become a customer, an investor, a partner, or the person who helps solve a problem that has been standing in the way of growth. Innovation Weekend creates spaces for more of those conversations to happen.

“Five years ago, Innovation Weekend was built to showcase what a diverse tech ecosystem could look like, to celebrate its progress, and to create the unplanned collisions that turn into real momentum for the founders, funders, and builders who make growth in Philadelphia happen,” said Danae Mobley, CEO of Coded by. “In 2026, you’ll see Innovation Weekend evolve. The Startup Summit, Capital House, and PHL Gaming are each built to deliver insights, share knowledge, and strengthen the relationships that lead to real progress for businesses and the ecosystem around them.”

The 2026 lineup includes:

•    Startup Summit (October 22) at the Fitler Club brings founders, operators and startup leaders together for practical conversations about building and growing companies, along with opportunities to connect with the people and resources that can help them move forward.  This event will be hosted by 1Philadelphia and powered by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs.

•   Capital House (October 23) at Convene CityView brings founders and investors together in an environment built for conversation, relationship-building and deal flow. The day will consist of company presentations and thought leadership from leaders in the region.

•    PHL Gaming (October 24), an initiative of the PHL Gaming Task Force and Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, will return for its 4th year during Innovation Weekend. Hosted at CYTOPHL, PHL Gaming will bring together Philadelphia’s gaming community, from developers and creators to industry leaders and players, for a day-long showcase of programming and interactive experiences.

Innovation Weekend 2026 is supported by the City of Philadelphia, the PA Department of Community & Economic Development, Halloran Philanthropies, Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, J.P. Morgan, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, NBA Foundation, and more.

As Innovation Weekend enters its fifth year, its focus remains on creating the connections, access, and opportunities that help companies and the people behind them move forward.

To register for Innovation Weekend and learn more, visit innovationwknd.com.

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​About Innovation Weekend

​Innovation Weekend is where tech founders, investors and operators gather for curated experiences that turn proximity into momentum. Across three days, the weekend creates the rooms, relationships, and conversations that help companies grow and ecosystems move forward.

‍About 1Philadelphia

​1Philadelphia is an initiative led by Coded by: focused on providing the support tech entrepreneurs need to launch and scale in Philadelphia. By connecting startups to capital, education partners, and resources, we help drive startup creation, increase private investment, and reinforce the city’s competitiveness in the national innovation landscape. 1Philadelphia aims to build a tech community where everyone can thrive.