news & events

Entrepreneurial teams with at least one Penn State student can apply to receive a $15,000 grant to work on their startup, social good or nonprofit over the summer through Invent Penn State’s Summer Founders Program. The 13-week program, hosted by Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, accelerates student startups by providing funding, mentorship and 1-on-1 coaching. Founders commit to work full-time, 40 hours per week, on their ventures for the duration of the program. Two virtual information sessions will be held for individuals considering participation to learn more about the program, the application process, and summer life in Happy Valley. Session...

A believer in education for all – in any format or platform accessible – Adelina Hristova obtained her Ph.D. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education in 2016 from the Penn State College of Education. She defended her dissertation on informal mobile learning among Romani women in Bulgaria. Originally from Bulgaria, Hristova said education takes on many forms among different cultures. As part of her dissertation, she studied this group of Romani women’s mobile phone usage in their everyday learning. The experience showed her firsthand how technology can bridge gaps in learning opportunities when the complexity of technology usage is better understood....

Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank has accepted eight early-stage business startups into its fall 2023 FastTrack Accelerator program. The startups selected range from glowing soap and a modern color vision test to a Latin American gaming media group, an arts education company, and an adventure STEAM summer camp. The no-cost business accelerator program received 32 applications. The program is open to Penn State students, faculty and staff, as well as the local community. “What sets the participants chosen for this fall’s FastTrack apart is their unique blend of innovation, determination, and coachability,” said Elizabeth Hay, Jack White Family Director of Happy...

Have an idea you want to turn into a business? Applications for the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank Fall 2023 Idea TestLab are open until midnight, Sept. 18. Idea TestLab is a 4-week program that helps participants determine if their startup idea can be turned into a viable business. Those accepted into Idea TestLab will figure out if they’ve identified a problem, or need, that others have too. During the program, participants will identify current solutions, understand where they fall short, and define the value their startup idea provides that others don’t. As part of the program, participants gain access...

Ready to start building a business? Applications for the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank Fall 2023 FastTrack Accelerator program are open with a deadline set for midnight, Sept. 4. FastTrack Accelerator is a 10-week program that helps early-stage startups better refine their target audience, test the market and build an actionable plan to acquire customers or expand their business. As part of the program, participants gain access to: 1-on-1 expert mentoring, with access to 70+ advisers 1-year subscription to SOLIDWORKS and POWr.io plug-ins Funding for one semester intern through the Penn State College of Engineering School of Engineering Design and Innovation (SEDI)...