News
April 23
2025
Three alumni founders discuss electric-vehicle industry on live podcast
“Dare to Disrupt LIVE: Innovating the Future of Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure” brought together three Penn State alumni at the forefront of the electric-vehicle industry to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping its future.
April 23
2025
National Small Business Week events designed to support and empower entrepreneurs
The Penn State Small Business Development Center will celebrate National Small Business Week from May 4–10 with a series of events designed to support and empower entrepreneurs.
April 23
2025
Matt Rhodes awarded inaugural Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award
Matt Rhodes, past entrepreneur-in-residence of the Eberly College of Science’s Office for Innovation and managing director of 1855 Capital, recently received the inaugural Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award at the 2025 Invent Penn State Venture and IP Conference, recognizing exceptional contributions to the commercialization of Penn State research-based technologies.
April 17
2025
Three research-based startups win funding in Invent Penn State Tech Tournament
For the first time, the Tech Tournament technology showcase — held during the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference on April 10 — featured university innovators from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The showcase highlighted 12 disruptive technologies and early-stage companies emerging from some of the state’s top research universities, including Penn State.
April 17
2025
Penn State Harrisburg student, veteran reinvents firearm holsters
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Penn State Harrisburg kinesiology student, Erin Godfrey partnered with her husband — a law enforcement officer and defensive tactics instructor — to launch Joy Tac LLC, a company focused on developing a safer, more responsive firearm holster better aligned with modern training needs. Joy Tac recently won first place and $15,000 in the 2025 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.
April 17
2025
Penn State Harrisburg student wins Invent Penn State Inc.U pitch competition
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Penn State Harrisburg kinesiology student, Erin Godfrey partnered with her husband — a law enforcement officer and defensive tactics instructor — to launch Joy Tac LLC, a company focused on developing a safer, more responsive firearm holster better aligned with modern training needs. Joy Tac recently won first place and $15,000 in the 2025 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.
April 09
2025
Berks LaunchBox ‘IMAGINE Your Business’ grant accepting applications
Berks LaunchBox has announced the spring 2025 round of the “IMAGINE Your Business” grant. Funded by the County of Berks Imagine Berks Fund, this grant provides up to $2,000 to early-stage entrepreneurs to support various business needs such as prototyping, marketing and product development. The initiative aims to foster innovation and economic growth within Berks County.
April 09
2025
Berks LaunchBox fuels entrepreneurial growth and innovation in local community
Throughout 2024, Berks LaunchBox has continued accelerating startup growth in the Berks County community. In the last year, Berks LaunchBox has assisted 229 new entrepreneurs, taught new skills to 708 community members in its Makerspace, offered entrepreneurship classes to 463 community members, and impacted 339 students.
April 08
2025
Alum Birgitt Boschitsch discusses taking her research to market
The latest episode of Invent Penn State’s “Dare to Disrupt” podcast features Birgitt Boschitsch, co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials, an advanced materials company and Penn State spinoff commercializing highly repellent, anti-fouling coatings. The startup is currently offering to consumers a toilet coating that repels sticky waste.
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