The North Central PA LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois has once again joined with Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, and other economic development leaders to bring the BIG Idea Contest to the region. The winning contestant could take home $50,000 to use in further developing a business idea.

A first-place prize of $7,500 was awarded to local startup Marqo in the Ben Franklin Technology Partners TechCelerator @ State College virtual pitch event, where six entrepreneurial teams pitched their business concepts for more than $10,000 in prizes at the end of 2021.

Penn State Professor of Chemistry John Asbury discusses the evolution of Magnitude Instruments and how they made the jump from lab to business.

The Penn State Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization announced three appointments during the fall semester, expanding expertise within the Penn State innovation ecosystem.

With help from Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Joel Sakyi founded Vybrnt, a startup that provides underrepresented students better access to resources and opportunities that help them succeed during their time at college.

More than 60 aspiring entrepreneurs were recently recognized during a virtual ceremony honoring them for completing the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo Esq.’s Diaspora Emprende program.

Celebrating the vision and leadership of former chancellor M. Scott McBride in his mission to bring the Invent Penn State initiative to Penn State DuBois, the M. Scott McBride Endowment in Support of the North Central PA LaunchBox has been established by the campus.

Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State York and Penn State Mont Alto LaunchBoxes are hosting an Idea TestLab for entrepreneurs in January 2022. 

Penn State architecture alumni Jason E. Smith and Marilia Rodrigues, of Philadelphia’s KieranTimberlake, were design leads on the new Innovation Hub building in downtown State College, and say the building is designed to instill a feeling of opportunity, of collaborative making, of being a part of something bigger than oneself.

A decade after its founding, local biotech company BioMagnetic Solutions will move into a new facility at Penn State’s Innovation Park. The company was acquired in early 2021 by Gamma Biosciences, a global life sciences company focused on advanced therapies.