Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at philly@technical.ly.

Both state and local governments are rolling out new technology-focused initiatives to support residents this fall. 

The City of Philadelphia announced a new program to teach nonprofits how to use common tech tools. Plus, local startup FSH Tech is working with the city on two platforms to help small business owners complete forms and file taxes. 

The commonwealth also announced a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania related to artificial intelligence. 

Read all the details and check out more power moves below.

FSH Tech wins city contracts to build tools for small business owners

FSH Tech, a 2025 RealLIST Startup honoree that creates software platforms for city operations, won multiple contracts with the City of Philadelphia to build tools for small business owners. 

The first project autofills repeated information, like name and address, on city forms. It works on mobile devices and tracks the status of small business forms. The second platform matches business owners to accountants to help them file taxes, Lilly Chen, founder and CEO of FSH Tech, told Technical.ly. 

“So much of what happens in this ecosystem comes down to access. It comes down to awareness,” Chen said. “As the technology provider that’s helping the city try to streamline a lot of those processes, I’m very deeply empathetic to all the small business owners.” 

The tools will be available in time for next year’s tax season, and open for sign-up early next year, Chen said. Earlier this year, FSH Tech landed a contract with Pittsburgh Public Schools to redesign its food services system. 

AI and data academy established for nonprofits

The city’s Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) launched a program to help nonprofits use tools like AI and data visualization. Called the SPARK Innovation Academy, participants will take a nine-week course on how to use technology to further their missions. 

SPARK Innovation Academy costs $2,500, and OIT is offering 20 professionals a complete scholarship for the program. Applications for the first cohort will close on Nov. 14, and courses will begin on Jan. 13. 

“Nonprofits are the backbone of Philadelphia,” Melissa Scott, chief information officer for the City of Philadelphia, said. “When they have access to the right digital tools and knowledge, they can focus more time and energy on what matters most, serving their communities.”

Commonwealth taps Penn as AI advisors 

The University of Pennsylvania will serve as an advisor to the commonwealth about AI policy and execution through a new collaboration. 

Penn’s faculty and administration will offer advice to the state government about how to deploy AI, place guardrails around the technology and manage risk. 

“AI is evolving faster than any technology in decades,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “To stay ahead, we’re connecting our world-class research institutions like Penn, our innovative private sector and our

forward-looking state and local governments to harness its power responsibly.” 

Penn has been embracing the rise of AI over the last few years, establishing AI degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, plus opening a new building to house data science and AI programming. 

More power moves: 

Philly startup founders Matt Wallach, Dan Goldsmith and Jonathan Brassington launched venture firm Proofpoint Capital at the end of October. 

Waskar Paulino joined design startup Ideate, based in Philly, as its new chief technology officer. 

Drexel University’s Entrepreneurial Game Studio is working with the New Jersey Institute of Technology to teach K-12 students how to design their own video games. This initiative builds on Professor Frank Lee’s other projects, like putting Tetris and Pong on the Cira Center. 

Atlantic City-based founder Logan Jones and her fintech company Ticker were selected for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 200 and secured a spot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.

Global biopharmaceutical company GSK, which has its US headquarters in Philly, announced that Luke Miels will be the company’s new CEO effective Jan. 1. Miels is currently the chief commercial officer and will be taking over from Emma Walmsley. 

Trash cleanup company Glitter, a 2024 RealLIST Startup, launched its Glitter Members Hub last month. The platform will help users track their block’s cleaning status, view cleaner profiles, manage payments and invite others to join the block. 

Adjunctions, a platform that connects adjunct professors with open teaching positions at universities, partnered with OneHE, a professional development platform for higher education. The collaboration will integrate OneHE’s learning resources into the Philly startup’s platform. 

Dave Langdale is the new chief revenue officer for the US Private Banking business at global financial services company SEI, located in Oaks, Pennsylvania, effective Jan. 1. 

The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia welcomed a new board of directors and the new roster for its executive committee. The org also announced Madeline Bell, CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, would be chair of the CEO Council for Growth. 

David Krupnick and Elliot Menschik joined the Wistar Institute’s Board of Trustees. 

London-based Axiom GRC acquired local cybersecurity company IS Partners.