On Wednesday, Techinical.ly Philly and Comcast launched the national “Tomorrow Tour” at the Quorum at the University City Science Center. Roughly 150 entrepreneurs, technologists and innovators from Philadelphia were able to join together and have a unique conversation on exploring and documenting how technology and innovation can come together in order to strengthen Philadelphia. 

The mission of the Tomorrow Tour is to document how tech and entrepreneur networks are shaping cities of the future. It will also look out how these networks strengthen collaboration across sectors that can fuel startup growth, celebrate success stories, identify best practices to strengthen startup ecosystems, and amplify the best innovation and technology stories in each market.

The Tomorrow Tour will visit six U.S. cities in the first half of 2016, during the tour leaders from Comcast will sit alongside existing and emerging entrepreneurs. 

“Essentially, what we are doing is starting a conversation and documenting that conversation so that we can take all of that learning from the community today and share it with a really wide range of people from all communities,” said Danielle Cohn, senior director of entrepreneurial engagement. “The goal is to really engage with entrepreneurs, be at the table with, hear what the challenges are and positive things that are happening in the community and to help them amplify those messages not just in Philadelphia but really across the country.”

Cohn added that what she is also hoping to do is to deliver a lot of tools to people rather they are to attend the Tomorrow Tour or not. There will be a video series focused on each one of the cities that the Tomorrow Tour will visit and free tools for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. 

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney stopped by the Tomorrow Tour as well, giving his thoughts on technology and innovation in the city of Philadelphia. 

“When it comes to supporting the tech community, the city is on a roll. We have an increase in population of high growth in millennial population specifically,  and we have a diverse talent pool where we are employing a greater number of women in tech than the nation as a whole,” Kenney said. “Now it’s time to use this momentum to address challenges that face so many of our citizens. Creating well paying jobs and increasing poverty, which is our number one overwhelming problem and providing education and skill based training.”

Cohn hopes that by documenting the array of different conversations happening during the Tomorrow Tour that something different can offered to the league of entrepreneurs in the city. Hoping that it triggers the next big idea. 

“An event like this is important for Philadelphia as it continues a conversation about how important entrepreneurship, technology and innovation can be for a city,” Cohn said. “Our hope is that this starts a drum beat in the community and you know there’s already amazing startups in Philadelphia and in many other cities. Our hope is to just be a part of the conversation already a buzz in entrepreneurship and technology in Philadelphia.”