Bellisario College of Communications

Penn State Global Entrepreneurship Week officially kicks off Nov. 16

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) officially kicks off on Nov. 16 and runs through Nov. 20 at Penn State.

GEW is a week-long series of events designed to inspire people to explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Events range from small networking gatherings to large competitions, all designed to connect people with potential collaborators, mentors and investors.

It was launched in 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and was brought to Penn State in 2009 by the Small Business Development Center.

This year’s GEW includes more than 60 events planned at Penn State with 18 academic colleges and programs, a dozen student organizations and 13 Centre Region partners participating. A complete list of GEW 2014 events can be found online at http://gewatpennstate2014.sched.org/.

Following are some of the events being held at Penn State, which are at the University Park campus unless otherwise noted:Wednesday, Nov. 5

  • Penn State Berks will host its 2014 Fall Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Panel Discussion from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in 121 Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building on the Berks campus.

Sunday, Nov. 9

  • The GEW Selfie Challenge runs from Nov. 9 to 19 and is designed to introduce students to the entrepreneurial resources available on and off campus while also raising awareness of Penn State’s GEW events.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

  • Asif Khan, founder and president of the Location Based Marketing Association, will talk about trends in mobile, social and local from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

  • John Dillon, the Norman Eberly Professor of Practice in Journalism, will moderate a digital journalism panel from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the HUB Auditorium.

Thursday, Nov. 13

  • “Going Global for the Greater Good” from 7 to 8 p.m. in 104 Thomas will features students discussing their trips to Panama and Ghana through Global Business Brigades and Deloitte consultants sharing their experiences through a similar program called 4G’s: Going Global for the Greater Good.

Sunday, Nov. 16

  • Following a semester of collecting one-minute pitches, nine students will walk away with $1,000 each at the 1,000 Pitches Award Ceremony from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn.
  • Entrepreneurship Game Show Night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in 220 Hammond will mimic two popular game shows: The Dating Game and the Family Feud. The Penn State Dating Game will pit six student entrepreneurs in a competition to win a lunch date with local entrepreneurs while Penn State Family Feud will place eight students into two families, answering questions about the Penn State entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Monday, Nov. 17

  • Lunch & Learn: Centre Region Innovation Ecosystem from noon to 1:30 p.m. at New Leaf’s headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337 in State College will include a panel of local entrepreneurs, University faculty and students discussing their experiences navigating the Centre Region’s innovation ecosystem.
  • Representatives at the Intercollege Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor (ENTI) Fair will be on hand to explain ENTI’s many options from noon to 5 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center’s Galbraith Lounge, including clusters in food and bio-innovation, new media, new venture, social entrepreneurship, technology-based entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship and innovation and hospitality management.
  • The second annual Engaged Scholarship Expo will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center.
  • 4 Under 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. in 262 Willard will feature a panel of four recent Penn State alumni discussing their successes and challenges in developing their own startups.
  • Robert Platzer, CEO and founder PJW Group, will present “A Restaurant Entrepreneur’s Story” at 6 p.m. in 112 Chambers.
  • The Thriving Artist Session 1: How to Succeed as an Artist and Entrepreneur from 6 to 7 p.m. in 16 Borland will focus on what it means to be a professional artist and entrepreneur.
  • The Penn State mHealth Pitch Competition from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cybertorium in the IST Building will feature students from the College of Information Sciences and Technology and Department of Biobehavioral Health working together to develop a mobile health solution that addresses a societal issue.
  • Rachelle Yankowich, art director for [L]earned Media, will present “How to Start a Creative Agency” from 6 to 8 p.m. in 113 Carnegie.
  • “First Step of Starting a Business” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 262 Willard is a workshop designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs to begin the process of successful business ownership.
  • A student entrepreneur panel from 8 to 9 p.m. in 113 Carnegie will feature the students talking about how they balanced the needs of their business with their college experience.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

  • Robert Anderson, founder of Sustainable Strategies - Advisors in Food and Agriculture, will present “Global Entrepreneurship in Organic Foods Markets” from 11 a.m. to noon in 133 Rodney Erickson Food Sciences Building.
  • “The Mind of the Entrepreneur” from 3 to 4 p.m. in the State College Borough Building, 243 S. Allen St., will discuss the mindset and approaches of successful entrepreneurs.
  • The Schreyer Honors College will present “Is Moving to Silicon Valley Right for You?” from 3 to 4 p.m. through a virtual Google Hangout.
  • “I Have an Idea for a Business. Now What?” from 3 to 5 p.m. in Kunkle Lounge lets students talk with small business development experts about their concepts in this free and confidential service.
  • “Is E for Me? Why College is an Ideal Time to Start a Business” from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Foster Auditorium in Paterno Library will feature a panel of students and faculty who are involved in entrepreneurship and leadership.  
  • “Immigration and Business” from 4 to 8 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center’s Freeman Auditorium will feature Aaron Brooks of Penn State Student Legal Services, who is a practicing immigration attorney.
  • “How to Start Your Own Creative Agency” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in 113 Carnegie will feature a panel of entrepreneurs who launched their own creative agencies in State College.
  • “Websites: Session 1 — Competitive, Search Engine Friendly, Social Media Connection” from 6 to 7 p.m. in 158 Willard will discuss numerous aspects of website design and marketing.
  • “The Thriving Artist Session 2: Achieving Goals, Effective Marketing & Building Strong Relationships” from 6 to 7 p.m. in 16 Borland continues the work of the first session and focuses on how to move from idea to completion.
  • “Research to Start-Up - For Faculty and Researchers” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 262 Willard is designed to teach investigators how to commercialize their Penn State research.
  • “Where Is the Money?” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at New Leaf headquarters on 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337, State College, is a panel discussion on how to finance a startup idea.
  • “Websites: Session 2 — Mobile and Credit Card Tools” from 7 to 8 p.m. in 158 Willard will focus on search engine optimization.
  • “Take a Risk: Study Abroad” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 113 Carnegie is a panel discussion about how study abroad requires the same entrepreneurial spirit promoted by GEW.
  • “Find Your Passion and Get Connected” from 8 to 9 p.m. at New Leaf headquarters at 243 S.. Allen St. Suite 337, State College, is a networking event for students and community members to mingle and find a surprising twist.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

  • Meet startup business owners and employees in the area for their weekly 8 a.m. coffee at New Leaf headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337, State College.
  • The annual Women’s Network Group Member Showcase from 9 to 10 a.m. at New Leaf headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337, State College, will highlight the diverse and exciting businesses run by local women entrepreneurs.
  • Business law, how to incorporate and protecting intellectual property will be the topics at “Legal Issues for Journalists” from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium.
  • “Middlesex University + Penn State Entrepreneurship Global Seminar” from 11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. is a video conference bringing together peers from around the world.
  • “Middlesex University + Penn State Team Challenge: Finals and Awards” from 11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. is the culmination of a competition of student teams made up of Penn State and Middlesex University (London) students. The event is a video conference.
  • “Become an EdTech Entrepreneur” Learn from the Experts” from 11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. will feature successful educational technology entrepreneurs. Site to be announced.
  • Local startups will be featured in the Entrepreneurs’ Start-up Tour from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. in the Galbraith Lounge at the HUB-Robeson Center.
  • The Ag300 Idea Pitch Celebration Lunch Event for PSU 1,000 Pitches will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Forest Resource Building.
  • 2013-14 Penn State Laureate Ken Womack will speak at the Outreach Toastmasters meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in room 413 of the 329 Building at Innovation Park.
  • The Penn State Libraries will host “Background Research for Entrepreneurs” from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 302 Paterno Library.
  • Schlow Centre Region Library will host a business resources class from 4 to 5 p.m. at 211 S. Allen St., State College.
  • “Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies - The Decentralized Revolution” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in 110 Smeal Auditorium will center on Internet currencies.
  • “Women Entrepreneurs in Film: An Evening with Distributor Nancy Gerstman of Zeitgeist Films and Filmmaker Pearl Gluck” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., State College, will focus on what’s needed for success in the film industry.
  • A panel of women in technology and science will discuss how their passion carried them over their challenges from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 208 IST Building.
  • “The Thriving Artist Session 3: Money Management & Asset Creation” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 16 Borland will focus on the financial aspects of being an artist.
  • The Design Thinking Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Schlow Centre Region Library in 211 S. Allen St., State College, will pose a design problem that must be solved using the design thinking method, challenging participants to empathize with the user, define user needs, rapidly brainstorm, prototype and test concepts.
  • “The Second Step of Starting a Small Business—How to Write a Business Plan” will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in 262 Willard.
  • “U.S. Banking Basics for International Students” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in 158 Willard will teach students from overseas about the American banking system.
  • “Learning From Experience: Reliably Building Mobile and Web Apps” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 208 IST Building will feature leaders of two seasoned design and development companies discussing successful Web and mobile apps.

Thursday, Nov. 20

  • The College of Agricultural Sciences will host an open house for its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 6 Armsby.
  • Robert Anderson, founder of Sustainable Strategies - Advisors in Food and Agriculture, will present “Global Entrepreneurship in Organic Foods Markets” from 11 a.m. to noon in 133 Rodney Erickson Food Sciences Building.
  • The Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County Expo will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
  • “Management 215 Entrepreneurial Mindset Guest Speaker Joe Yodock” from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in 108 Wartik will discuss the skills and mindset of an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • “I Have an Idea for a Business. Now What?” from 3 to 5 p.m. in Kunkle Lounge lets students talk with small business development experts about their concepts in this free and confidential service.
  • “Voices From the Field: Tim Kerchinski” from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in 362 Willard will feature Tim Kerchinski, innovation team lead from the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, will explore how the traits of assertiveness and responsiveness can be used in creating better working relationships with team members and customers.
  • A workshop on crowd funding for entrepreneurs will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 118 Katz Building.
  • Local business owners will host Community Entrepreneurship Night featuring ‘Internship Potluck’ from 6 to 9 p.m. at the co.space at 244 E. Nittany Ave., State College.

 

Last Updated June 14, 2021