How cost of living stacks up in Happy Valley
By Chara Fitch Forbes named State College one of the best small places for business and careers, Livability called it one of the top 100 places to live, and Entrepreneur.com promoted it as one of the best places for entrepreneurs to live and launch–but when it’s time to start a career, young talent like new […]
Students use personal experiences to create real-world AI solutions at Nittany AI Challenge
By Chara Fitch Offer Pilot, winner of the 2023 Nittany AI Challenge. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has created both excitement and uncertainty as users consider how to use it both effectively and ethically. At Penn State, nine student teams advanced to the final phase of Nittany AI Alliance’s eight-month competition, the Nittany […]
Summer Founders program helps Penn State students jumpstart their business big ideas
By Staff Writer Photo: Happy Valley Launchbox In the summer months, most Penn State students head out of Happy Valley for summer jobs, internships or vacations, but for these seven student teams, their summer looked very different. They were part of Invent Penn State’s Summer Founders Program that has launched many businesses and helped countless […]
Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator program is back for Fall 2023
By Chara Fitch Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ TechCelerator business boot camp is accepting applications for the fall cohort. The free 10-week program will help potential startup owners explore ideas, learn about business models and financial plans, discuss strategies with experts, engage with other entrepreneurs, develop a pitch deck for funding, and receive one-on-one coaching. TechCelerator […]
Penn State research team pushes the limits of lunar innovation starting with a kitchen microwave
By Chara Fitch Penn State student Samuel Highfield holds a red-hot sample of lunar ilmenite after only 30 seconds in an ordinary microwave. Photo: Kate Myers / Penn State. “We’re an exploration species,” said Sven Bilén, Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering at Penn State. From the first global explorers to the […]
Ben Franklin funding will support national launch of nurse-created products for preemies
By Chara Fitch Sawyers demonstrating the Nurture Rest. Photo: Neonatal Loving Kare Nicole Sawyers understands the day-in, day-out struggles of having a premature baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As a veteran NICU nurse, she’s witnessed the beautiful moments of NICU stays, as well as the hardships that come with premature birth and […]
Help choose the Big Idea winner on June 9
By Chara Fitch Credit: Ben Franklin Technology Partners Six companies are competing in the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea contest, and the winner will walk away with $50,000 in vital startup capital. Get a front row seat to the June 9 event and you can help choose the People’s Choice winner. Ben Franklin Technology […]
