Strong Happy Valley roots set the stage for Big Spring Spirits expansion
By Caryn Anderson Big Spring Spirits location offers stunning views of Talleyrand Park and nearby access to the Big Spring. Photo Courtesy: Big Spring Spirits Happy Valley’s Big Spring Spirits just started construction on an exciting new endeavor: a 55,000-square-foot project at the former Joseph C. Finch Distillery in Pittsburgh that’s projected to open in […]
Join Ben Franklin’s virtual pitch event on June 14 to pick the People’s Choice Winner
Eight entrepreneurial startups are graduating from Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator @State College, and will be competing in a pitch contest for seed money to help launch their companies. On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 2:00 PM, the teams will pitch their business concepts to a panel of independent judges for a cash prize of up to […]
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 […]
“I want to help people”: Tech Tournament winner pioneers groundbreaking cancer treatment
By Cara Aungst Illuminate Therapeutics won $75,000 in the Penn State’s Tech Tournament for its disruptive technology to battle head and neck tumors. (Pictured, Nick Alden, graduate student in biomedical engineering, accepting the award from James Pietropaolo, associate director of the Office of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization.) Credit: Invent Penn State / Rick Brandt On April 29, […]
More Entrepreneurs Betting Big on Bellefonte
In this week’s episode of “Everybody Loves Bellefonte,” more big things are happening. Last week, an ownership group led by Duane Reese, former President of AgIntegrated, purchased the former PA National Guard Armory for $950,000 with plans to develop a brewery, distillery, restaurant and bar at the location on Zion Road. Plans also include an […]
“Penn State took a shot on me” Venture & IP Conference spotlights success stories and disruptive tech
By Cara Aungst Venture & IP Conference moderator Ryan Newman (right) talks with Penn State alumni Ash Ashutosh, Global Director of Solution Sales at Google (left) and Mo Bhende, CEO and cofounder of karat (center, via Zoom), during the Penn State Unicorn Panel on Friday. PHOTO: Invent Penn State / Rick Brandt On April 28-29, the 2022 Venture & […]
What’s a pain in your a**? JT Marino’s answer was worth $250M
Invent Penn State’s James Delattre (left) speaks with Tuft & Needle founder JT Marino (right) at 2022 Penn State Startup Week. PHOTO: Invent Penn State/Rick Brandt In 2012, JT Marino was part of a startup that was floundering and pivoting. He was only three years out of Penn State, but that was enough time to […]
Penn Stater’s clean energy vision has raised $14 million for startup Xeal
After finding his north star through a class assignment, Nikhil Bharadwaj found his focus and turned his idea into a clean energy giant Xeal. Photo: Xeal. The ENGR 310 class on Entrepreneurial Leadership is filled with engineering students, people who by nature are prone to ask WHERE, WHAT and HOW. So Professor Greg Woodman takes […]
Startup Week’s pitch competition showcases Penn State solution to pain points
Table Rock Markets won first place in the competition. Photo: Rick Brandt. In a recent interview with HappyValleyIndustry, Tuft & Needle founder (and Penn State alumnus) JT Marino said that when searching for an idea for a startup, start with what has been a pain in your own life. “You are your first customer. If […]
