WYOMISSING, Pa. — Each spring, Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC brings together the best and brightest Penn State student and alumni entrepreneurs and innovators for a weeklong celebration of what happens when Penn State’s inspired doers put their ideas into action.
As part of this year’s Startup Week, Penn State Berks will host a variety of events — including keynote speakers, workshops, networking and more — from April 4 to 8. All Startup Week events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Penn State Berks events are sponsored by the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Center on campus and the Berks LaunchBox, located within the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading.
Learn Infographics Design with Adobe Express
Monday, April 4, noon to 1 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State and Penn State Berks. Registration is required in advance for this Zoom webinar.
This workshop introduces graphic design best practices and the use of Adobe Express Post (previously Adobe Spark) for designing and creating infographics. It is intended for those new to graphic design who want to create an infographic using a simplified design program. Before the webinar, participants who don’t already have Adobe Express should sign up for an Adobe Express account so they can follow along.
University students, faculty, and staff can sign up for a premium version through Penn State here.
Non-Penn State attendees can sign up for a free account, or choose to pay for a premium account. The free account has many of the same features as the premium and will allow the user to create infographics. Sign up here.
3D Printing Workshop
Monday, April 4, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
In this workshop, participants will learn how to use 3D printers for prototyping their business ideas, an important step when assessing and refining a product and obtaining more accurate market feedback. Penn State Berks electro-mechanical engineering technology students Cody Degler and Briana Samanns are hosting the workshop. Registration is not required for this event.
Smart Charging of Electric Vehicles: An Innovative Business Model for Utility Firms
Monday, April 4, 6 to 7 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
Registration is required in advance for this Zoom webinar.
Electric vehicles are transforming urban mobility. Given that the procurement cost of electricity and resulting carbon emissions vary significantly during a day, substantial savings can be achieved by smart charging – delaying charging until the cost is lower. In this presentation, Safak Yucel, assistant professor of operations management at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, will discuss smart charging as an innovative business model for utility firms.
Entrepreneurship Speaker Series–The Roles of Intrapreneurs in Our Economy
Tuesday, April 5, 6 to 7 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
Registration is required in advance for this Zoom webinar.
Linda Camacho, lead systems architect at Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control; Jamie Catanach, head of operations and strategy at Trend; and John Gatto, principle and CEO of JGO Services, come together and speak about their roles as intrapreneurs and how those roles affect the economy today.
Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship and Business
Tuesday, April 5, 6:30–7:30 p.m. This Zoom webinar will be in Spanish.
Sponsored by Hazleton LaunchBox, Abington LaunchBox, Berks LaunchBox, Harrisburg LaunchBox, and York LaunchBox, as well as the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Emprender Latino PA, and El Informe Latino.
Advanced registration is not required: Attendees can join the Zoom webinar through this link.
In this webinar, Penn State Law attorney Britani Peterson and law student Kira Ritter will discuss the free services available to small businesses in Pennsylvania. The presentation will cover the legal problems that a new company may face, including a comparison of typical problems and common mistakes that a new entrepreneur makes.
Common Legal Issues with Startups
Wednesday, April 6, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
Registration is required in advance for this Zoom webinar.
Vivian Etter, staff attorney with the Penn State Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic (EAC) at University Park campus, will discuss topics that budding entrepreneurs should consider as they are beginning to launch their business: entity selection, partner relationships, equity, and more. This event is sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center.
Flemming CEED Center Open House
Thursday, April 7, 6 to 7 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
Registration is required in advance for this hybrid event.
The Flemming CEED Center provides many resources to help with entrepreneurial endeavors. Participants will learn about these resources and how the CEED Center is engaging students from various degree programs. Mentoring programs through the Flemming CEED Center will also be discussed.
Joint Pitch Day
Friday, April 8, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., sponsored by the Flemming CEED Center
This event is exclusively for students enrolled in HM 484 and MGMT 425. Registration is required in advance for this event.
This is an opportunity for Penn State Berks students to meet and network with mentors, receive feedback on their ideas, and receive a certificate of recognition from the Flemming CEED Center. This event is not open to the public.
For more information about Penn State Startup Week, view the full schedule of Startup Week Events.
About Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC
Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC is a University-wide event that takes place every spring and brings some of the leading minds in entrepreneurship and innovation to Penn State campuses across the commonwealth. By connecting students with innovative alumni and pioneers who are achieving success in a variety of disciplines — through startup initiatives of their own or with new ventures in already established organizations — Penn State Startup Week inspires students to go beyond what is expected of them and expand their minds to think more broadly in whatever career path they choose.
