Penn State News
Penn State alum, Shark Tank winner speaks at Lehigh Valley's LaunchBox Ladies
May 5, 2025
Haley Marie McClain Hill, Penn State alum, entrepreneur, Air Force veteran and former NFL cheerleader, shared stories from her own incredible personal and professional journey during a recent presentation to Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox Ladies.
Three alumni founders discuss electric-vehicle industry on live podcast
April 23, 2025
"Dare to Disrupt LIVE: Innovating the Future of Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure" brought together three Penn State alumni at the forefront of the electric-vehicle industry to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping its future.
Matt Rhodes awarded inaugural Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award
April 23, 2025
Matt Rhodes, past entrepreneur-in-residence of the Eberly College of Science’s Office for Innovation and managing director of 1855 Capital, recently received the inaugural Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award at the 2025 Invent Penn State Venture and IP Conference, recognizing exceptional contributions to the commercialization of Penn State research-based technologies.
Three research-based startups win funding in Invent Penn State Tech Tournament
April 17, 2025
For the first time, the Tech Tournament technology showcase — held during the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference on April 10 — featured university innovators from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The showcase highlighted 12 disruptive technologies and early-stage companies emerging from some of the state’s top research universities, including Penn State.
Penn State Harrisburg student wins Invent Penn State Inc.U pitch competition
April 17, 2025
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Penn State Harrisburg kinesiology student, Erin Godfrey partnered with her husband — a law enforcement officer and defensive tactics instructor — to launch Joy Tac LLC, a company focused on developing a safer, more responsive firearm holster better aligned with modern training needs. Joy Tac recently won first place and $15,000 in the 2025 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.
Penn State Harrisburg student, veteran reinvents firearm holsters
April 17, 2025
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Penn State Harrisburg kinesiology student, Erin Godfrey partnered with her husband — a law enforcement officer and defensive tactics instructor — to launch Joy Tac LLC, a company focused on developing a safer, more responsive firearm holster better aligned with modern training needs. Joy Tac recently won first place and $15,000 in the 2025 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.
Penn State Berks students receive Student Enterprise Award funding
April 16, 2025
The Penn State Berks Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development (CEED) Center hosted its annual Student Enterprise Award ceremony on March 24. The award provides seed money to support enterprising and innovative students and allow them to utilize their Penn State Berks education to become entrepreneurs.
Berks LaunchBox fuels entrepreneurial growth and innovation in local community
April 9, 2025
Throughout 2024, Berks LaunchBox has continued accelerating startup growth in the Berks County community. In the last year, Berks LaunchBox has assisted 229 new entrepreneurs, taught new skills to 708 community members in its Makerspace, offered entrepreneurship classes to 463 community members, and impacted 339 students.
Alum Birgitt Boschitsch discusses taking her research to market
April 8, 2025
The latest episode of Invent Penn State’s "Dare to Disrupt" podcast features Birgitt Boschitsch, co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials, an advanced materials company and Penn State spinoff commercializing highly repellent, anti-fouling coatings. The startup is currently offering to consumers a toilet coating that repels sticky waste.