Hazleton LaunchBox hosting events for Penn State Startup Week

The Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq., Penn State Hazleton’s business accelerator and co-working space, will host a variety of virtual events geared towards innovation and entrepreneurship from March 20-24 during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC.

Events will be offered for participants to learn from and connect with startup founders and individuals achieving success in various professional backgrounds, including business, state government, social media and communications. All events are free and open to the public.

“Startup Week gives the Hazleton LaunchBox a forum to showcase its impactful range of no-cost services and resources,” said Debra Conway, Hazleton LaunchBox director and director of Continuing Education at Penn State Hazleton. “We look forward to providing an engaging, informative week of events for members of the community, students, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in exploring their potential.”

The LaunchBox’s marquee event of the week, “How to Secure a Government Contract as a Minority Business Owner,” will educate vendors on how to do business with the state and PennDOT, from registering as a vendor or as a small, diverse, or veteran business and assisting in navigating the Commonwealth procurement landscape. Additionally, a City of Wilkes-Barre official will explain the city’s own contact process.

Penn State Law’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Clinic will also be on hand to discuss certifications and other legal issues related to government contracting. The event is presented in partnership with the Wilkes-Barre NAACP Branch #2306, the City of Wilkes-Barre, Abington LaunchBox, Berks LaunchBox, Harrisburg LaunchBox, and Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox.

Additional webinars will also feature keys to successfully creating a sustainable business model, the importance of customer discovery, and how to achieve goals without burning out.

“Our Penn State Startup Week offerings are designed to not only give participants insight and guidance on commonly asked startup questions, but how to make sure their ideas and business models are sustainable in the long run,” said Education Entrepreneurship Coordinator William Andahazy.

Several events will also be offered in Spanish, with business founders from the Hazleton community and beyond sharing their unique experiences in social media, organizational communication and more.

“Each of our speakers has been where many of our Startup Week participants likely are: unsure about how to begin their startup journey,” said Entrepreneurial Facilitator Fermin Diaz. “By hearing their successes and challenges, we hope to provide participants with a path to avoiding common mistakes.”

The full schedule and registration details can be found on the Hazleton LaunchBox’s website. For more information, contact Andahazy at william.andahazy@psu.edu or Diaz at fermin.diaz@psu.edu. You can also reach the LaunchBox by phone at 570-450-3135.