DON'T MISS THE 2025 PHORUM TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

April 22, 2025 I Comcast Technology Center

Dive into the cutting edge of enterprise technology at Phorum 2025. Join us for a day of visionary insights and actionable strategies that will define the next era of business innovation. Plus, don’t miss pitches from emerging technology companies as a part of the annual Demo Pit competition (where the winner will receive automatic entry into this year’s Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference).
This year’s conference, themed “The Enterprise Evolution: AI, Efficiency, and Workforce 4.0,” focuses on the transformative power of emerging technologies within the enterprise sector. Expert speakers will dive into how artificial intelligence, enhanced efficiency, and the next evolution of the workforce are reshaping industries.

By dedicating a full day to this conference, you’re not just staying current; you’re gaining a competitive edge. Learn from top enterprise leaders how to leverage AI to dramatically enhance productivity and drive strategic innovation, positioning yourself and your organization at the forefront of industry transformation. 

NAVIGATION

Join the forefront of business technology and network with the trailblazers of industry at Phorum 2025

2025 Session highlights

From the Embodied AI Revolution to Digital Transformation Mastery, our sessions are packed with critical knowledge tailored for today’s tech leaders.

 

Topics include:

  • Workforce Evolution
  • Organizational Metamorphosis
  • Visionary Founders’ Perspectives
  • Investment Intelligence
  • The Embodied AI Revolution
  • Digital Transformation Mastery

Playlist of the 2024 conference

Reserve Your Spot Now

Ticket Prices:

  • PACT Member: $178.50
  • Non-PACT Member: $280.50
  • Entrepreneur Pricing: $102 – Email events@philadelphiapact.com to check eligibility and receive the discount code.
  • Student Pricing: $25 –  Unlock this special discount by emailing events@philadelphiapact.com though your student email.

SPEAKERS

Avi Patel

EVP, Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Data Scientist, Fulton Bank

Builds GenAI apps, explores NLP, and published on word embeddings in banking. Proud twin dad, AI-certified, and loves to learn.

Dean Miller

President & CEO

Denise Holt

Founder & CEO, AIX Global Media

Dr. Vanessa Chan

Vice Dean Innovation & Entrepreneurship, University of Pennsylvania

Accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker, and educator renowned for her expertise in commercializing technologies.

Ed Macosky Boomi

Ed Macosky

Chief Product & Technology Officer, Boomi

Frank Shultz

Managing Partner, United Effects Ventures

Frank Shultz, accelerates startups from idea to revenue. Philly native, founded & exited Infinite Blue.

Grace Francisco

Chief, m2i

20+ yrs in software dev, co-authored 3 patents, led global initiatives, angel investor, DEI advocate, speaks on APIs, AI, cybersecurity

Jing Wang, PhD

Principal Head, Center for Analytics and Insights, Vanguard

Jing leads Vanguard's AI/ML and Applied Behavioral Science, transforming client experiences and operations.

Mark G. McCreary, CIPP/US, CIPT

Partner, Chief Artificial Intelligence & Information Security Officer, Fox Rothschild

Chairs AI & Data Security, develops ethical AI strategies, drafts security policies, leads legal workshops, manages IP risks

Michael Bachman

Head of Innovation Research, Boomi

I bridge emerging technology with practical solutions for industry and society.

Peter Coffee

VP for Strategic Research, Salesforce

Peter Coffee, VP for Strategic Research at Salesforce, collaborates with customers on innovation practices and information governance.

Zach Womack

Chief Technology Officer, SEI

Oversees SEI tech strategy and delivery, including Wealth Platform. Expert in enterprise architecture, cloud, and data strategy.

With more speakers to be announced!

The digital phorum podcast

Step into the future of innovation with The Digital Phorum, a limited-run podcast brought to you by the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT). See a playlist of the released episodes above and listen (and subscribe!) on all major platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music) and join the conversation at this year’s Phorum conference!

2025 Agenda

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration, breakfast, sponsor exhibits, networking

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM

Demo Pit Pitches
Sponsored by: Boomi & Osage Venture Partners

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Emerging Technology Trends with Peter Coffee & Mike Bachman

We try to make every Phorum an over-the-horizon detector of imminent innovations. What’s next? Conference chair Michael Bachman (Boomi) and Phorum regular Peter Coffee (Salesforce) share and compare their views on what’s next in tech.

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Industry 4.0: The Emerging Technology Landscape

Learn practical strategies for evaluating which technologies offer the greatest competitive advantage and developing a roadmap for implementation that balances innovation with ROI. What general uses they see from these systems, what gaps they can fill, how they are going to interact with humans? Dive into the cutting-edge technologies reshaping manufacturing and supply chains, from IoT and digital twins to advanced robotics. 

Speakers 

  • Nick Lopez, Fairmount Partners (Moderator) 
  • Denise Holt, AIX Global Media

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Management of Change and Workforce Adaptation 

Explore proven frameworks for navigating the human side of technological transformation, including effective change management strategies that minimize resistance and maximize adoption. Participants will leave with actionable techniques for upskilling teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring workforce readiness as technology evolves.  

Speakers 

  • Jing Wang, Vanguard

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Lunch Service & Investing in Enterprise Technology (Breakout session) 

Learn systematic approaches to technology investment prioritization that align with business objectives while managing risk and technical debt. Speakers will discuss frameworks for calculating true ROI beyond direct cost savings, including how to account for competitive advantage, operational resilience, and future scalability in investment decisions.  

 

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Lunch Service & Technology Executives Roundtable

Speakers 

  • Ed Macosky, Boomi 
  • Keyur Parikh, Vanguard 

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan

Vanessa Chan is an accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and educator renowned for her expertise in commercializing technologies. She is the inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering School and the Jonathan & Linda Brassington Professor of Practice. In 2021, Dr. Chan was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Chief Commercialization Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions. In this role, she was instrumental in nationally advancing clean energy technologies, notably through the “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” reports, which provided roadmaps scaling critical technologies like nuclear and geothermal. She also led the creation of a new framework and language for commercialization, “Adoption Readiness Levels” which is being used throughout federal government, incubators, VCs and the private sector to improve commercialization outcomes. Her impact was recognized through her inclusion as one of the world’s 100 most influential business leaders in climate in Time100’s 2024 list. Before her tenure at the Department of Energy, Vanessa was a partner at McKinsey & Company where she co-led the innovation practice, helping large publicly traded companies commercialize their technologies. Following her time at McKinsey, she founded re.design, a company dedicated to reinventing consumer products to solve everyday challenges selling her products on QVC. Dr. Chan earned her Ph.D. from MIT and a B.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in Materials Science and Engineering. She is a working parent and in her personal time, Dr. Chan is the co-owner of a pottery studio, an avid mountain biker, yoga practitioner, skier, and world traveler.

Sponsored by Fairmount Partners

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Lessons from the Frontlines: Practical & Responsible AI, ROI, and Strategic Implementation 

Hear directly from successful AI leaders about their journeys from pilot projects to enterprise-wide AI transformation, including critical pitfalls to avoid. Learn concrete approaches for measuring AI’s business impact, establishing ethical governance frameworks, and securing continued investment by demonstrating tangible results to stakeholders.  

Speakers 

  • Mark McCreary, Fox Rothschild  
  • Avi Patel, Fulton Bank 
  • Zach Womack, SEI 

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

AI Good vs. Evil (Part 3)

Back by popular demand – for the third consecutive year – this lively debate explores controversial aspects of artificial intelligence and its potential to either usher in an era of unparalleled abundance or spell doom for humanity. Panelists will examine AI’s undeniable promise to solve global challenges, enhance human capabilities, and transform healthcare, while also peering into the dark side of AI; concerns over the development of autonomous weapons, the loss of privacy, inequality, and the potential for AI to be weaponized by malicious actors. Panelists will challenge us to confront our own beliefs about the role of AI in shaping the future. 

Speakers 

  • Michael Bachman, Boomi (Moderator)  

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Wrap Up & Demo Pit Best in Show
Sponsored by: Boomi & Osage Venture Partners

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Networking Reception
Sponsored by: Fox Rothschild

Mingle with fellow Phorum attendees, panel speakers, and event sponsors during this open-bar reception to close the day.

 

Demo Pit

The Phorum Demo Pit features the region’s hottest early-stage companies that are providing cutting-edge innovation. Demo Pit was created to allow startups to connect with C-level enterprise decision-makers attending Phorum. In addition to showcasing their technology in the Pit, each Demo Pit participant will present their company to a panel of judges and the Phorum audience. One will be names “Best in Show” and will receive the 13th annual Best in Show Award. Since our inaugural event, past participants have gone on to raise more than $350M in capital, with three of the ten successfully completing exits to strategic acquirers.

Applications are OPEN! Submit your application by March 28, 2025.

Past Winners

  • 2024 — Knit
  • 2023 — Red Vector
  • 2022 — Nerdwise
  • 2021 — Sweft
  • 2020 — boodleAI
  • 2019 — Crossbeam
  • 2018 — Slyce
  • 2017 — 51 Maps
  • 2016 — RedOwl
  • 2015 — Tesorio
  • 2014 — SocialLadder
  • 2013 — PeopleLinx
  • 2012 — Cloudamize

Sponsors

Title Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Logo of PACT member organization organization Boomi
Logo of PACT Member SEI

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

2025 ADVISORY BOARD

Michael Bachman
Boomi

Allen Born
Fairmount Partners

Allison Carey
SEI

Ravi Chawla
Independence Blue Cross

Peter Coffee
Salesforce

Sean Dowling
Osage Venture Partners

Nate Gach
Independence Blue Cross

Kevin Jurrens
Broadpath, Inc.

Terrence Kerwin
Fox Rothschild LLP

Vijay Kumar
University of Pennsylvania

Joseph Mohr
Comcast Business Services

Lou Parisi
Comcast Business Services

Scott Snyder
Eversana