Berks LaunchBox holds Meetup and 3D printing course

Berks LaunchBox
Credit: Penn State

WYOMISSING, Pa. -- The Berks LaunchBox will hold a special Meetup titled “Learn Trending, Trademarks and Traction” and a free bilingual four-week course on the basics of 3D printing and computer design. The Meetup will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. The free course will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 17 to Nov. 14 (no class on Oct. 31).

The “Learn Trending, Trademarks and Traction Meetup” will feature three speakers: Sarah Hartman-Caverly from the Penn State Berks Library will discuss problem solving and trends in consumer activity; Jesse Royer from the Reading Public Library will elaborate on ways entrepreneurs can best utilize free resources in business planning, market discovery, competition, B2B analysis, and local consumer interests; and Karen Klein from Fulcrum Information Resources will examine protecting intellectual property with a focus on trademarks and copyrights, and close the session with a demonstration of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s online database. This event is free and open to budding entrepreneurs but attendees must register in advance.

The free bilingual course on the basics of 3D printing will teach budding entrepreneurs and hobbyists the entire process of additive manufacturing or 3D printing, from design to final product creation. Participants will get hands-on experience creating a design and watching it come to life. This course will allow attendees to prototype a new business idea, bring art and technology together, or develop new ideas as a hobbyist. The course is free and open to the public but advanced registration is required. For more information on 3D printing, watch this short video or stop by the Berks LaunchBox for Tinker Tuesdays, 3 to 7 p.m.

For more information about the Meetup or 3D printing course, contact Michelle Hnath, facility coordinator, at 610-396-6400, or via email at [email protected].

About the Berks LaunchBox

The Penn State Berks LaunchBox is located within the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Berks LaunchBox offers a makerspace with 3D printers for prototyping; entrepreneurship workshops; co-working space for startups; an Idea Test Lab accelerator program; Meetups focused on topics related to business development and technology; and special youth programs. The Berks LaunchBox is supported by Invent Penn State — a $30 million, commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student success, launched by Penn State President Eric J. Barron in 2016. Today, there are 21 innovation hubs across the state. For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu.