Eight startups selected for fall 2023 FastTrack Accelerator

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank has accepted eight early-stage business startups into its fall 2023 FastTrack Accelerator program. The startups selected range from glowing soap and a modern color vision test to a Latin American gaming media group, an arts education company, and an adventure STEAM summer camp.

The no-cost business accelerator program received 32 applications. The program is open to Penn State students, faculty and staff, as well as the local community.

“What sets the participants chosen for this fall’s FastTrack apart is their unique blend of innovation, determination, and coachability,” said Elizabeth Hay, Jack White Family Director of Happy Valley LaunchBox. “Each team possesses a minimum viable product, and we believe in their potential to make remarkable strides during the program.”

FastTrack will run from mid-September to early November and consists of nine weekly group meetings, plus 1-on-1 mentoring from advisers and experts in business, legal, and intellectual property. Teams also gain access to a suite of free tools and coworking space at Happy Valley LaunchBox, which is located on the second floor of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub.

The last week of the program includes a final pitch event on November 15, to be held during  Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State.

The fall 2023 FastTrack Accelerator teams include the following:

Bootleg Boomerangs makes hand-crafted boomerangs from wood with plans to transition to recycled materials. CEO Riley Auer is an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering.

Fatal Ambition is a multinational gaming media entertainment company that aims to advance the Latin American esports market by developing leagues, players, and talent. In addition, it operates as a lifestyle, apparel, and esports organization. Founder Jeffrey Ramos is an undergraduate student in the Eberly College of Science.

Glosoap is a soap that makes your hands glow under black light. Designed for kids, the glowing quality of the soap visually depicts missed spots when washing your hands. This startup aims to combine hand hygiene and having fun. CEO Julian Fanghanel is a graduate student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Kaleidoscope PA LLC is an art education company that empowers individuals to embrace the artist within themselves and recognize the strong connection between art and wellbeing. Kaleidoscope PA is owned by College of Engineering Assistant Dean and College of Education alum Sarah Zappe.

Ramaniyam creates high-quality, luxury Indian ethnic wear for Indian Americans in the United States. Eliminating the hassle of finding perfect clothing for their family, this startup ships tailored-to-fit designer clothes right to customers’ doorsteps. Chief Marketing Lead Ruthvik Uttarala is an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering.

Scotia Adventures offers educational consulting and a summer STEAM camp for children. Owner Phil Wood is a State College community member.

trueHue is a modern color vision test that aims to understand color vision deficiency and capabilities in today’s digital age. With a network of doctors and professionals, trueHue uses research to create innovative solutions, finding new trends in color vision abilities. trueHue co-founders include Shakeb Siddiqui and Connor Sheehan, both undergraduate students in the College of Engineering.

OfferPilot is an AI platform that aims to help college students land the highest amount of job offers in the least amount of time. The startup team consists of College of Engineering students Omar Rady, CEO; Omer Kandemir, Design Director; Yajat Dewan, User Analytics/Outreach Coordinator; and Stephen Leshko, CTO.

About Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank

Happy Valley LaunchBox, located on the second floor of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College, provides early-stage startups with support and resources they need to build a sustainable and scalable business and a viable plan for growth. No-cost programs and services can include coworking space, accelerator programs, legal and intellectual property resources, and expert mentorships from Penn State’s extensive network. LaunchBox is open to everyone — community members and those affiliated with Penn State. Happy Valley LaunchBox is a signature program of the Invent Penn State initiative and one of 21 innovation spaces located in Penn State campus communities across Pennsylvania. Learn more.

This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development.