From expert panels and keynote speakers to workshops and networking opportunities, Penn State Startup Week presented by PNC, which took place from April 4 to 8, encouraged students across the Commonwealth with a diverse range of activities highlighting and celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship.
More than 65 in-person, hybrid, and virtual activities, including four in Spanish, were hosted across 10 campuses and eight universities during Startup Week. A total of 110 entrepreneurs, presenters, moderators, and judges took part in the week-long event.
Penn State President Eric Barron remarked, “Penn State Startup Week has brought engaged entrepreneurship to every part of Penn State’s footprint.” “‘The creative power of teamwork’ is the tagline of the Invent Penn State project. This week, we saw it manifested all throughout the University.”
On April 4, Startup Week included a “Women Trailblazers” expert panel, which comprised Birgitt Boschitsch (class of 2018, co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials), Linsey Covert (class of 2006, founder and CEO of TEAMology), and Dana Wilson (class of 2006, founder and CEO of TEAMology) (class of 2023, founder and CEO of CHIP). The group discussed their triumphs and failures in raising venture financing for their businesses in a male-dominated industry.
“I believe the distinction is that the venture capital environment still has a conventional appearance to it.” “There aren’t a lot of women, especially women of color, operating these startups and venture capital firms,” Wilson stated during the discussion. “I believe that when more women enter the venture capital business and begin to run their own firms, we will begin to pour back into each other because that is what we do to support other women.”
Source: Students explored innovation, entrepreneurship during Startup Week | Penn State University
