Invent Penn State program provided $15,000 grants for students to work full time on their startups

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Invent Penn State Summer Founders Program, a 13-week student startup accelerator, concluded with a Startup Showcase on Aug. 10, where each team presented their startup and answered questions from the audience comprised of members from the local entrepreneurial community.

The Summer Founders Program provided selected teams a $15,000 grant allowing them to work full time on their startup, social good or nonprofit idea over the summer. The teams were given 24/7 access to Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank in the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub, mentorship from a network of more than 60 advisers and $3,000 for customer discovery through the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps program.

“Happy Valley LaunchBox is proud to be a part of the growth that these startups experienced throughout the program,” said Elizabeth Hay, the Jack White Family Director of Happy Valley LaunchBox. “We are grateful to have helped teach valuable skills — such as identifying product market fit, branding and marketing, and creating a sustainable business model for a company — to the newest generation of entrepreneurs.”