Philadelphia athletes, social media influencers, and 'Shark Tank' winners among those on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list

"The 15th class of Forbes 30 Under 30 has some major Philadelphia connections, from Shark Tank winners to social media influencers, and Super Bowl champions. A total of 18 people with ties to the Philadelphia area were recognized on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in categories such as sports, social media, education, aerospace, venture capital, and others. Awardees who attended Philadelphia universities or based their businesses in the city appeared in all 20 categories."

"Among the 600 honorees chosen for this year's class, the local representatives include Philadelphia Eagles Saquon Barkley, 28, and Jalen Hurts, 27.,Along with carrying the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX win earlier this year, Hurts and Barkley have landed major brand partnerships and endorsement deals, which have elevated their profiles beyond the gridiron. Social media influencer Brandon Edelman (aka Bran Flakezz), 29, popular for his humorous TikTok videos about Philly culture and insights into influencer marketing, has also landed on the coveted list."

"University of Pennsylvania alums Alexandre Imbot, 27, and Eli Moraru, 25, who founded Philadelphia's the Community Grocer, are also on the list. With partnerships with M&T Bank and FMC Corp, the leaders of the food-justice nonprofit have provided nutritious foods to more than 10,000 Philadelphians, including recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Another honoree is fellow Penn alum Kausi Raman, 28, who is the co-founder of ChompSaw, a kid-safe power tool for cardboard cutting."

Eighteen people with ties to the Philadelphia area were honored on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list across all 20 categories, including sports, social media, education, aerospace, and venture capital. Honorees include Philadelphia Eagles Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, who helped secure a Super Bowl LIX victory and gained major brand partnerships and endorsements. Social media creator Brandon Edelman (Bran Flakezz) appears for TikTok content about Philly culture and influencer marketing. University of Pennsylvania alumni Alexandre Imbot and Eli Moraru founded the Community Grocer, delivering nutritious food to more than 10,000 Philadelphians through corporate partnerships. Kausi Raman co-founded ChompSaw (nearly 76,000 produced) and secured $250,000 on Shark Tank. John Huddleston co-founded Albacore Inc., which has raised $6.5 million for underwater vehicles.

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