Academics

Startup Week offers student innovators pitch competitions and startup resources

Competition application deadlines are fast approaching

Penn State President Eric Barron with student entrepreneurs at Startup Week 2019. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC will take place online from March 22 to 26.

Startup Week brings together the best and brightest Penn State students to network and learn from alumni entrepreneurs and innovators during a week-long entrepreneurship immersion. The event spans all academic colleges, Penn State Commonwealth Campuses, and Invent Penn State’s LaunchBox & Innovation Hub Network. Startup Week features keynote speakers and changemakers, entrepreneurial workshops, pitch competitions, access to entrepreneurship resources, and networking.

Community-sourced events

In addition to centrally planned events and competitions, Penn State student organizations, faculty, staff and administrators can host their own events as part of Startup Week. If you’d like to host an event, please submit your event by Friday, Feb. 26, to be included in the event calendar, powered by sched.org, which is available on the website and a downloadable event app.

For student founders and innovators

Students from any Penn State campus can apply for Startup Week pitch competitions for the chance to win funding, mentorship, and other resources. Pitch competitions with February deadlines include:

Don’t have a team? Not sure if this is for you? No problem. Attend the virtual student entrepreneurship/innovation team formation event at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2 to learn more. Join the Zoom event here.

Don’t have a startup idea but think you may want to work for a startup? Attend the Small Business and Startup Fair during Startup Week at 5 p.m. on March 23. Employers seeking candidates for full-time, internship, co-op and research positions should register to participate in the Small Business and Startup Fair.

For more information about Penn State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem visit invent.psu.edu, explore entrepreneur resources at resourcenavigator.psu.edu and University-affiliated startups at startupnavigator.psu.edu.

Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC is made possible through a generous gift from the PNC Foundation.

Last Updated February 4, 2021