Success Stories

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Penn State $1.5 million as one of eight universities selected to participate in the Mid-Atlantic NSF I-Corps Hub, led by the University of Maryland. This funding will enable Penn State to expand entrepreneurial training to academic researchers in science and engineering to foster…
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Academic researchers interested in exploring the commercial potential of their technological innovations are invited to apply to a free National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps) Virtual Short Course to be held Oct. 8 through Nov. 6. Applications for the course are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. Up to five selected participants will receive entrepreneurship training and mentorship…
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This article is part of a series celebrating the five-year anniversary of Invent Penn State’s LaunchBox and Innovation Hub Network. Learn more here. At Penn State Behrend’s Innovation Commons — one of 21 innovation hubs embedded within Penn State campus communities — students, industry, faculty, and community members collaborate to…
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Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank is accepting applications for its virtual Idea TestLab starting Aug. 31 and in-person FastTrack Accelerator beginning Aug. 23. Both programs provide university and community entrepreneurs with the resources and skills they need to turn their idea into a scalable business. The deadline for…
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As pharmaceutical manufacturers race to claim first-to-market position for their drugs, approximately 20 percent of their biologic products experience delays or outright failure during late-stage production, costing them millions and delaying patient care. Failures often occur because of the inherent limitations of the pharmaceutical industry’s standard testing for predicting solubility…
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Lack of access to capital is one of the primary barriers facing Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. According to the Harvard Business Review, less than 2% of venture capital goes to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, and when almost 65% of all entrepreneurs rely on personal and family savings for startup capital,…
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The Pursuit By You took home a $7,500 first-place prize in the Ben Franklin Technology Partners TechCelerator @ State College virtual pitch event, which awarded $10,000 to local entrepreneurs. Six entrepreneurial teams pitched their business concepts to a panel of independent judges and showcased innovative technologies in health, augmented reality…
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Entrepreneurship races through Nic Anzalone’s veins. A third-generation Penn State student who graduated in spring 2021 with a degree in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) from the Smeal College of Business, Anzalone launched his first company at the age of seven – making chocolate lollipops to sell door-to-door. Years later,…
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Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an award-winning, tech-based economic development program, is offering emerging entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and small manufacturers developing new products, processes, or software applications the chance to win up to $50,000 by competing in the BIG IDEA Contest. Applications are open now until 5 p.m. on Aug. 23. …
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