Having played a key role in Silicon Valley’s global expansion, Karina Sotnik and her company WorldUpstart are now introducing international startups to Philadelphia, writes Sarah Huffman for Technical.ly.

Philadelphia-based Sotnik began advising West Coast companies on global expansion in the 1980s. In the 2000s, she took a brief break from advising founders to become one herself, launching a small retail business. Although it was uncharacteristic for her, the experience taught her valuable lessons about running a business.

After closing the store, she returned to the tech startup world, creating accelerator programs for the University of Pennsylvania and the University City Science Center.

“At the time, 2012 and 2013, no one knew what an accelerator was, but mobile apps were all the rage,” she said.

She also noted that being deeply entrenched in the startup world has made every step of the journey exciting.

“It’s like reading science fiction every day,” she said. “The type of companies that we help are amazing. They’re on the edge of innovation, of really breakthrough technologies. And I am in awe every day of the people who do it.”

Read more about Karina Sotnik and how her company is helping introduce international startup to the United States and Philadelphia at Technical.ly.

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