Pitchfest:
Philly transportation

What is Pitchfest: Philly Transportation?

Pitchfest: Philly Transportation is an inaugural event co-hosted by the Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP), a hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation housed in the Institute for Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania. The event is designed to connect transportation-focused public agencies with faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania to collaborate on applied research projects.

On [date], agency staff are invited to give low-stakes, two-minute pitches on short-term, high-impact projects that could benefit from external expert support. After the event, the Pitchfest team works to “match” agencies with faculty and staff—and we have up to [$] in funding available to support eligible matches and projects. If you are a staff member at a transportation-focused public agency or faculty or staff at the University of Pennsylvania, register to secure your spot at the event, in person or virtually. An agenda and full list of agency pitches will be published by [date].

What is the history of the Pitchfest?

U.S. cities are home to some of the world’s top research universities, but public agencies often do not have an easy way of tapping into that expertise. The Pitchfest aims to close that gap, harnessing the talent of local experts to help public agencies implement more effective and evidence-based programs and policies.

Pilot City has been supporting local partners in co-hosting versions of the Pitchfest since 2024. In total, more than 40 government agencies and more than 500 local experts have participated, and Pilot City has matched those experts to more than 50 projects. This is the first year of Pitchfest: Philly Transportation.

TRIP actively engages students, faculty, transportation agencies, and private partners in research and pilot projects. By partnering with Pilot City, TRIP will surface a broader set of opportunities for collaboration with public agencies.

How can I participate in the pitchfest?

Register here to attend Pitchfest: Philly Transportation. The event is free and open to staff at transportation-focused public agencies and to faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania. The event will be held on [date] in [venue] located at [address].

Transportation-Focused Public Agency Staff

If you are a staff member at a transportation-focused public agency who would like to pitch a project, submit a pitch using the one-slide template here via email to [email] by [date]. You will receive confirmation by [date] that your pitch will be included in the event.

Please consult the template for examples of effective pitches. It is okay if your project is just in the idea phase: This is a bottom-up process intended to encourage staff to share in a low-risk environment. Pitching does not commit you to following through on the project.

University of Pennsylvania Faculty and Staff

University of Pennsylvania faculty and staff researchers are encouraged to attend the event and explore collaborative opportunities with participating public agencies. Following the event, we will circulate an interest form where you can specify projects that align with your expertise and describe your relevant research background. Submissions will be reviewed by agency staff, who will initiate contact if there is a mutual interest in collaboration.

Once a match is made, faculty and staff researchers may work with their agency partners to apply for up to [$] in funding to support their shared project visions. For more information on how funding decisions are made, see the section below.

what types of projects are in-scope?

x

Project Categories

Is funding available for projects?

x

How does matchmaking work?

By [date] (deadline)

Staff at transportation-focused public agencies submit a pitch via email to [email] using the one-slide template.

[date]

An event agenda is published, including the full list of agency pitches.

[date]

Public agency staff and University of Pennsylvania faculty and staff researchers attend the Pitchfest event.

by [date] (deadline)

University of Pennsylvania faculty and staff researchers submit an online interest form to indicate interest in collaborating with a public agency on a specific project.

by [date]

The Pitchfest team shares project-specific shortlists with public agency staff for review.

by [Date]

Public agency staff interview shortlisted faculty and staff researchers and then select “matches” based on mutual interest.

For projects requiring
Funding...

By [date] (deadline)

Agency-researcher matches jointly submit a project funding application.

[date]

Finalist agency-researcher matches present their project proposals to a judging panel.

By [date]

Funding decisions are made, and agency-researcher matches are notified.

By [date]

The Pitchfest team coordinates any project documentation that is required, and projects can begin.

For Projects not Requiring
funding...

By [date]

The Pitchfest team coordinates any project documentation that is required, and projects can begin.

How are funding decisions made?

x

Each proposal is evaluated based on the degree to which it...

  • x
  • x
  • x

What are examples of past projects?

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What if I have more questions?

If you still have questions about Pitchfest: Philly Transportation, please contact us at [email]. More information about the Pilot City program and its Pitchfest events can be found on Pilot City's home page here. Public agency staff may also schedule a 15-minute meeting with the Pitchfest team to ask any questions here.