About the Alliance

ABOUT
PHILLY
BUILDS AI

We're an alliance of enterprise leaders, founders, researchers, and investors who believe Greater Philadelphia is positioned to become the defining hub for Enterprise AI innovation and who are doing something about it.

Grace Francisco
Grace Francisco
Founder & Chief, Philly Builds AI
Chief, m2i
Previously at
Microsoft Roblox MongoDB Atlassian Cisco

Founder & Chief

With 20+ years as an executive leader at the world's most influential tech companies, Grace Francisco has spent her career at the intersection of technology, enterprise, and ecosystem building. Microsoft, Roblox, MongoDB, Atlassian, Cisco.

She founded the Philly Builds AI Alliance to unite enterprise leaders, founders, and capital around B2B innovation in Greater Philadelphia. As a co-author of 3 patents, founder of advisory firm m2i, and early-stage investor, Grace brings both the strategic perspective and operational depth to make this vision real.

💡
Operator & Inventor
Founder of advisory firm m2i. Co-author of 3 patents. Advisor and early-stage investor.
📢
Voice on AI & Tech
Speaks and writes on AI, developer strategy, and building tech ecosystems at scale.

The Team

Leadership

RL
Ricki Lang
Leadership

Bio coming soon.

EF
Erin Feeney
Leadership

Bio coming soon.

NP
Nikki Pumphrey
Leadership

Bio coming soon.

BR
Bonnie Ravina
Leadership

Bio coming soon.

Mission

Philly Builds AI Alliance advances Greater Philadelphia's leadership in Enterprise AI by convening and coordinating the region's key stakeholders around a shared economic opportunity. Through ecosystem collaboration, education, founder and enterprise engagement, and strategic initiatives, we align the efforts of industry, startups, academia, government, investors, and community leaders to accelerate responsible AI adoption, strengthen innovation, and create lasting economic impact.

01
Accelerate Enterprise AI Leadership
Connect research, talent, and capital around high-value opportunities.
02
Connect Key Stakeholders
Bridge enterprises, startups, capital, and talent — reduce friction, accelerate deployment.
03
Foster Regional Economic Growth
Cultivate opportunity-tier jobs across all five counties.
04
Build Connective Tissue
Close coordination gaps with unified messaging and corporate-startup connectivity.

How We Win

Five Moves to Activate
Philadelphia's AI Advantage

MOVE 01
Enterprise Activation
Get AI solutions into the hands of enterprise customers first prove the value in the field with Philly's anchor industries as the initial proving ground.
MOVE 02
Founder Enablement
Equip local founders with tools, capital access, and enterprise connections to build faster via Enterprise Labs matching startups to real enterprise problems.
MOVE 03
Unified Messaging
Align how we talk about Philadelphia's AI identity across talent, investors, and media one cohesive story for the region's emerging tech brand.
MOVE 04
Community Connectivity
Build network effects by connecting builders, buyers, and backers in one ecosystem. phillybuildsai.org is the single front door for funding, mentorship, and access.
MOVE 05
Academic + Gov Alignment
Secure institutional support from Penn, Drexel, Temple, and government partners. Shape workforce pipelines, align research to commercial AI needs, and influence policy early.
THE DIFFERENTIATOR
It's Translation
Denver & San Diego show the playbook. Philadelphia has the largest GDP of the three we're positioned to run it bigger. The differentiator isn't assets, it's translation.

Success Metrics

What Success
Looks Like

These are the measurable outcomes the Philly Builds AI Alliance is working toward ambitious but achievable with coordinated action.

Founders Build for Philly's anchor industries health, finance, insurance, pharma.
Corporates Open pilot pathways to local startups and prove the value in the field.
Universities Align academic programs with enterprise-AI roles to close the talent gap.
Organizations Coordinate instead of fragment one strategy, five counties, maximum impact.

Our Ecosystem

The Organizations
Making It Happen

Our strength comes from the diverse network of organizations collaborating to advance Enterprise AI in the region.

Startup & Community Builders
The Foundry Code & Coffee PhilaCon Valley AI Collective 1Philadelphia
Investors & Capital
VC Village Robin Hood Ventures Ben Franklin Tech Partners
Corporate & Industry Leaders
PACT SIM Comcast Boomi UE Ventures Chamber of Commerce i2n
Academic & Government
Penn Drexel Temple Philadelphia Commerce Dept PA Economic Development

Regional Context

Philly vs. Peer Metros

Denver and San Diego show the playbook Philadelphia is positioned to run it bigger. The highest GDP, the most upside, and the right assets to win.

↑ Highest Upside
Philadelphia
$355B
Largest GDP of the three metros. World-class R&D in Penn, Drexel, Temple, CHOP. Affordable cost base. Most runway to grow and the Philly Builds AI Alliance to accelerate it.
Playbook: Talent Alignment
Denver
~$280B
Top 20 in productivity. Aligned talent pipeline + startup ecosystem + corporate tech adoption. Result: Coordinated tech-talent density that attracts global investment.
Playbook: R&D → Commercial
San Diego
~$270B
Strong tradeable sector share. Life sciences + defense R&D translated into AI, robotics, and biotech ecosystem. R&D commercialization at scale.

Be Part of
What's Next

Philadelphia's enterprise AI moment is here. We need builders, believers, and backers.

Join the Alliance → View Resources