Purpose

The purpose of the Student Enterprise Award is to provide seed money to support enterprising and innovative students at Penn State Berks. The main objective of the award is to allow students to utilize their Penn State Berks education to become entrepreneurs and start businesses which can create jobs in our local community.

Eligibility

The requestor and project lead for this award must be a full-time junior or a senior student majoring in one of the following degree programs and enrolled at Penn State Berks:

  • Accounting
  • Business
  • Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations
  • Electromechanical Engineering Technology
  • Hospitality Management
  • Information Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Security and Risk Analysis

or minoring in the following and enrolled at Penn State Berks:

  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ENTI)

All other full-time third- and fourth-year students enrolled at Penn State Berks are eligible to be a member of the team, but cannot be the project lead and/or the requestor.

Each application should include a student-owned business idea project. A student may lead only one team. However, a student may be a member of more than one team.

Selection Criteria

The three best teams will be awarded $1,000 each, as determined by the Review Committee, and may be awarded to a successful student or students who demonstrate:

  • A passion to start a new business
  • A business plan outlining the product requirements and time table for profitability
  • A demonstrated product prototype that will be the core of the business plan
  • The marketplace, including competition, where the product will be sold
  • The sources and locations where the product will be developed, fabricated, and/or obtained
  • An understanding of the quality, safety and ethical issues as well as any government regulations required of the new business
  • A mentor who will assist, guide, and support the student during the startup phase.

Application

  1. Submit your application by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
  2. Submit your business plan by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026.
  3. Teams will be notified by email whether they are a finalist to present on or before Thursday, January 29, 2026.
  4. Finalist presentations to the committee via Zoom will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Share your prototype (minimum viable product) during your presentation, if you have not already.
  5. The top three student teams will be awarded $1,000 each (Berks LaunchBox “IMAGINE Your Business” Grant) and receive their awards after attending the Customer Discovery Lab in March.

Award Disbursement and Follow Up

The student/team chosen for a Student Enterprise Award will receive the funding in multiple installments.

  • The first installment will be equal to one half of the total award and disbursed shortly after being granted.
  • To receive the second installment, winners must either provide proof of monetary expenditures related to their project at least equal to the first installment amount or participate in the Flemming CEED Center Customer Discovery Lab workshops on campus. The Customer Discovery Lab, under the auspices of the Flemming CEED Center and directed by Dr. Kulturel-Konak, help early-stage entrepreneurs validate the utility and viability of their project. Award winners are strongly encouraged to participate in the Customer Discovery Lab.
  • The student/team is to return to the campus at a later date to share their experiences with Penn State Berks students. They will also be required to give regular reports to the Student Enterprise Award committee regarding the status of their idea. The program director of the entrepreneurship minor will coordinate the follow-up and speaking engagements.

*The second and final disbursement is expected to occur within one year of initial award grant.

Student Enterprise Award Committee