Madwaukee Talks: Philly economic development expert to discuss ecosystem strategies

Contacts:

 

Chandra Miller-Fienen

Phone: 608.335.7522

Email: chandra@StartingBlockMadison.org

 

 

Kathleen Gallagher

Phone: 414-269-8330

Email: kathleen@mkei.org

 

 

Madwaukee — Archna Sahay, an economic development superstar in Philadelphia who is known as the city’s “Best Connector,” is coming to Madison and MIlwaukee to talk about Philadelphia’s innovation scene. Sahay will also discuss strategies for building a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

Philadelphia ranked 3rd among the country’s top startup cities in the most recent Innovation That Matters 2017 report, compiled by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Washington, D.C.-based incubator 1776. In 2015, Philly did not even rank in that study. Sahay will discuss what the city did to move up in those rankings.

Sahay will also discuss how Philly has made a name for itself as a center for innovation in health care and education, and has an emerging advanced manufacturing effort.

Sahay is a senior consultant at J. Nowak Strategy, a Philadelphia-based consulting company focused on economic development, inclusion strategies and civic planning. The firm was founded by Jeremy Nowak, who: was a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation; created The Reinvestment Fund, one of the largest community investment institutions in the United States; and chaired the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Sahay previously was director of entrepreneurial investment for the city of Philadelphia and advisor to Cities Summit 2018 at SXSW. She also worked as an advisor at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, an associate at Wells Fargo and an investment analyst at Wachovia. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance and derivatives from Virginia Tech.

Sahay will be in Madison on Monday, August 20 and in Milwaukee on Tuesday, August 21.

August 20:

Lunch w/ Archna Sahay: How to Build a Diverse Startup Ecosystem

Noon to 1:30pm at StartingBlock Madison

August 21:

Coffee w/ Archna Sahay: How to Build a Robust Startup Ecosystem

8-10 am at the Technology Innovation Center

Milwaukee County Research Park, Wauwatosa

Terence Ow, associate professor of information technology in the management department at Marquette University, will moderate a discussion following Sahay’s presentation.

There is no charge for either event, but please RSVP at this link for the Madison event and this link for the Milwaukee event.

 

About

 

Madwaukee Talks: is an unprecedented collaboration that brings Madison and Milwaukee together to share the costs and benefits of common speakers who will inform, enlighten and motivate our communities. It is organized by StartingBlock Madison and the Milwaukee Institute.

 

StartingBlock Madison: StartingBlock’s mission is to creating intersections that cultivate entrepreneurs, build innovative companies, and drive ideas into reality. We help entrepreneurs launch great companies, accelerate their growth and foster innovation. At StartingBlock, entrepreneurs find a collaborative innovation community of startups, support, resources, connections, mentors, programming. Opened in June 2018, StartingBlock has 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible office space that allows Madison startups to scale as they grow, conference rooms, classroom, event space, and IT and innovation resources, including video and audio resources.

 

Milwaukee Institute: Milwaukee Institute is a not-for-profit that helps forward thinking Midwesterners learn, connect, and unlock the potential of advanced technologies and high-growth businesses to help our region thrive.