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The Summer Founders Program 2019 teams enjoying themselves at the kickoff dinner.

$50,000, 5 teams, 1 summer – Summer Founders Program results

8/13/19

A signature program of Invent Penn State, the Summer Founders Program is a 13-week accelerator that provides teams $10,000 in funding, resources and mentorship to accelerate their ideas over the summer. Teams work full time on their startup, attend weekly dinners and meet regularly with advisers throughout the summer. The program does not take ownership or equity in participants’ businesses or nonprofits. All that’s asked is participants commit to working hard on their project for the summer and making an impact in their community.

The 2018-2019 Happy Valley LaunchBox FastTrack Accelerator Cohort

From fire safety to lending money, FastTrack startup teams pursue solutions

8/12/19

Several new startups launched by community and student entrepreneurs recently graduated from the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank FastTrack Accelerator. Their ideas spanned acne treatment; a better way to find a tech dream job or sublet an apartment; and a Smoke Shield System that increases the amount of time someone trapped in a fire can survive while waiting to be rescued.

IST junior Joel Seidel in front of "Invent" sign

Student startup aims to improve health care through technology

7/29/19

“Don’t quit your daydream,” read the signs at the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. For Joel Seidel, a rising junior majoring in information sciences and technology, that simple statement is fueling his passion to improve how individuals make informed decisions about their health.

Penn State's Tom Sharbaugh walks in downtown State College.

Sustaining Communities Through Small Business

4/23/19

For post-industrial towns throughout Pennsylvania, the departure of major manufacturing brought with it a host of challenges. Yet, for many, it has created a new opportunity — the growth of small businesses and startups. The hope these businesses bring has been a driving force for Tom Sharbaugh, professor of practice in Penn State Law and director of the University’s Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic, which provides free legal resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs around Pennsylvania.

2018 IdeaMakers Challenge

Startup Week challenges to showcase entrepreneurs and change makers

3/26/19

Entrepreneurs across the University will pitch their business ideas and create inventive solutions to common problems through a series of competitions and challenges held during Penn State Startup Week from April 1-5. The challenges are at the heart of Startup Week’s mission of teaching and inspiring participants to make innovation a part of their lives, communities and careers, either by starting their own companies or bringing a problem-solving approach to established organizations.

2019 Summer Founders Program Logo

Summer Founders Program offers student startup teams $10K

1/24/19

The 2019 Summer Founders Program will provide Penn State entrepreneurial teams with $10,000 to work on their startup, social good or nonprofit idea full time in State College over the summer. Applications are now open, but close Feb. 15.

Students present during the mHealth Challenge

Cross-college teams pitch health-focused mobile apps in mHealth Challenge

11/19/18

Ten intercollege teams of enterprising students recently pitched ideas for innovative mobile health applications during Penn State’s mHealth Challenge. The challenge tasked student teams with developing a mobile application prototype that addresses a societal health need associated with a specific target audience.

GEW Penn State

Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State set for Nov. 6-15

10/31/18

Penn State student innovators and community entrepreneurs are invited to explore their potential by connecting with collaborators, mentors and investors during Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State, presented by the Penn State Small Business Development Center, Nov. 6–15.

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