New Investment Showcase will move Brilliant Ideas from Imaginations to Markets

Invent Penn State is pleased to usher in an exciting new event—the first ever Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference. The goal of the event is to bring together promising technology companies from across the country with investors seeking ground-floor investment opportunities. This is an exclusive forum for industry, investors, and start-ups to see disruptive innovations from Penn State’s faculty and student entrepreneurs as well as alumni start-ups. This inaugural event will showcase groundbreaking innovations, intellectual property, start-ups, and technology companies from sectors including life sciences, agriculture, energy, materials, advanced manufacturing, educational technology, and communications.

The VIP Conference is open to parties outside the Penn State community; it is designed for anyone with an interest in innovation, investments, and economic development. Penn State and its uniquely-situated Innovation Park is quickly becoming a recognized hub for entrepreneurship and IP, and a go-to spot for investment, licensing, and collaboration.

“As one of the top 50 research universities in the world, Penn State is committed to creating a better ecosystem for entrepreneurs, economic development, and job creation in Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Penn State University President Eric Barron. “The Penn State Venture & IP Conference will be a catalyst for these efforts by introducing investors seeking break-out ideas to the innovators behind them. We are also eager to showcase our promising student start-ups, as well as intellectual property and technology transfer opportunities available through Penn State. Please join us on our scenic campus for a celebration and acceleration of disruptive innovations that can transform industries and our economies.”

The inaugural Venture & IP Conference is further evidence of the commitment of the Penn State system and the Centre region to fostering an environment of entrepreneurship. The conference is a complement to, and extension of, the other programs that the university and region have in place to support start-ups and Penn State intellectual property: the Ben Franklin TechCelerator, Happy Valley LaunchBox, the Centre Region Entrepreneur Network (CREN), Lion Launch Pad, Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC), The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Innoblue, to name a handful.

The conference will shine a spotlight on the groundbreaking research coming out of the university and the region that often goes unheralded by our humble researchers. It’s also a chance to attract investors to the exciting research, low costs, and beautiful vistas in Happy Valley.

Some of the conference highlights:

• Venture Connection: Investors will be matched with groups of entrepreneurs for investment and mentorship opportunities.
• Startup Showdown: Select companies will pitch their companies to a Shark-Tank like panel for the chance to win cash prizes.
• Penn State Tech Tournament: The best & brightest of Penn State’s early-stage innovators will compete for a cash prize.
• Penn State Innovation Guide & Video Showcase: A print guide and videos will showcase Penn State intellectual property.
• Inc.U Student Startup Showcase: Penn State’s brightest student entrepreneurs will give one-minute pitches about their start-ups.
• Penn State Industry Partnership Meetings: Select industry partners will hold one-on-one meetings with Penn State researchers.

Learn more about these events on pages 8 and 9. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, technology scouts, executives, alumni, media, and others are expected to convene for this exciting conference held during Homecoming week. For more information about the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference, and to register, visit: pennstatevip.com.

Invent Penn State is a Commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and university community collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind. Get involved at invent.psu.edu.