Taking a groundbreaking idea from the lab to the orchard
By Holly Riddle Photo: Kari A. Peter. Late last year, HappyValley Industry covered the Ben Franklin Technology Partners 2022 BIG IDEA Contest. The 2022 contest focused specifically on the agricultural, food and beverage industries and the second-place winner — and recipient of $10,000 to further his business — was Penn State researcher and associate professor […]
“WE ARE a great place to start a biz!” Local experts on Happy Valley’s secret for business success
Photos: Provided. Ben Franklin Technology Partners makes investments in cutting-edge startups in a 32-county footprint; in fact, it is the largest early-stage investor and supporter in the area. Last year alone, Ben Franklin assisted 301 businesses in the Commonwealth. The programs and resources that Ben Franklin provides help to create an ideal ecosystem for launching […]
FREE intrapreneurship conference focuses on employees as change makers
Mark your calendars for the Conference on Intrapreneurship Employees as ChangeMakers, taking place May 11 at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub. The conference, which is free, is presented by the Penn State College of Engineering’s School of Engineering Design and Innovation and will focus on how employees can create innovation from within a company. […]
Bellefonte’s SpringBoard set for expansion
By David Rockower Springboard, which opened in 2017 as an incubator and coworking space, is moving to The Lofts in downtown Bellefonte. Photo: Ellen Matis. With its local breweries, boutiques and cafes, the vibe in downtown Bellefonte is one of revitalization and change. Just a short drive from State College, Bellefonte continues to develop its […]
Americans are starting new businesses at record rates, and Pennsylvania is one of the best places to do it
By Cara Aungst Photo: PA.gov. Recently, a friend messaged me. As a fellow Happy Valley news junkie, he’s always good for sending on local and business headlines with “Have you seen this?!” commentary. “Not good news,” he said about the just-released report that says Pennsylvania was one of the most “moved-out-of” states this past year. […]
New brewers add to thriving craft beer scene
By Beverly Molnar Photo: Antifragile Brewing Co. When you think of “craft beer towns,” you might think of Asheville, North Carolina, which was first named Beer City USA in 2009, or Burlington, Vermont, which holds the record for the highest number of breweries per capita. But brewers in Happy Valley aim to change that. Over […]
An Innoblue startup is taking the guesswork out of landlord-tenant partnerships
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger WeAreHousing presenting on Innoblue’s Demo Day. Photo: WeAreHousing. They say sunlight is the best disinfectant. Penn State student Tanishq Barot found this out the hard way, when he was forced to contend with a mold issue in the house that he was renting. “My entire roof and bathroom were completely full of […]
Medical simulation startup uses robotics to train for better patient outcomes
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Three “Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer” systems lined up and ready to train medical residents at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Photo: Provided. Engineers are naturally problem solvers and, as such, are often pioneers of innovation. Those who choose to become professors don’t always stop inventing. Take the case of Scarlett […]
Penn State’s Farrell Center helps students on the path to business success
By Eric Erickson Farrell Center participants discuss entrepreneurship with director Dr. Shawn Clark. Photo: Provided. When students enter business school, they often find the experience entails mostly classroom-based theory and little hands-on experience. Penn State University’s Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship has made it a mission to change this dynamic. The Farrell Center […]
