Peopledelphia + Saxbys
If cafe culture has taught us anything, it’s that we live in a city of makers, dreamers, and self-starters who grind beyond the 9 to 5. So we teamed up with Philly’s most camera-savvy storyteller, Peopledelphia, to celebrate the side hustle that makes our city stand out. Follow @peopledelphia & @saxbys_coffee on Instagram as we profile people who are making things happen in our city (and putting in the work at our cafes).
Our first interview is with Oat Foundry founder and CEO Mark Kuhn, a Drexel University alumnus who now heads his own engineering collective. Its mission? Build Cool Stuff. Check out the interview below to learn how Kuhn and his team are gaining headway with key Philadelphia businesses by building them really cool stuff.
Tell us about you. What projects are you working on right now?
Oat Foundry is an agency of engineers that designs and builds cool stuff for brands and companies in the area. We’re based out of Bensalem, PA.
We recently wrapped on 50 handmade candlestick holders for the new Stephen Starr restaurant in NYC, Le Coucou. We also completed a blitz build for Burt’s Bees, which involved making their logo out of reclaimed wood and filled with fruit. Nothing is impossible: printing circuit boards, intricate mechanical mechanisms, welding, woodwork, connecting devices so they speak to one another, crafting, actual inventing, building. Nothing is impossible.
What (or who) inspires you to be better?
Jen Denis for her world building, Sydney Stewart for her resilience, Raheem Ghouse and Melissa Alam for their efficacy, Richard Coraine for his next level hospitality, Alex Frankel for his endless creativity, Dan Marrazzo for his work ethic (and insane ice cream - @koneheadsicecream).
“America is the greatest start-up experiment of all time, and as its heart, Philly has not lost the hustle.”
How has Philly helped you find your footing? How has the city helped you succeed?
Most of the Oat Foundry team coalesced out of Drexel University. In the beginning, and with limited resources, we spent a lot of time at NextFab for their tools and inclusive community - a unique institution at the time, and still a great place to check out. America is the greatest start-up experiment of all time, and as its heart, Philly has not lost the hustle.
Saxbys helped Oat Foundry gain credibility quickly and early on in our endeavor with some big projects. Good work engenders more opportunity and that led to projects with other large names in town, like honeygrow, Philadelphia Distilling, Guru, Greensgrow, and Starr Restaurants.
What would you change about Philadelphia?
Tons. Complete revision of liquor laws – allow open containers for alcohol like in New Orleans; make catcalling punishable by horrifically and publicly cutting out the offender’s tongue; give way more access of information to otherwise underserved neighborhoods; and periodically close down whole streets for walking (like it was during #popepocalypse.)
What do you wish more people knew about Philadelphia?
That many choose to be here. It has great food, inexpensive rent, cool art, excellent bike paths, history, character and a ton of natural beauty. Dig deeper than the cheesesteaks and Rocky steps, na'wahd'I'mean?
What makes you the happiest?
When my little brother (@alexkuhnart) does this low-pitched, jaw-out laugh. It’s so dumb. My friends hate it. It utterly slays me.
