news & events

HAZLETON, Pa. – The Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq., Penn State Hazleton’s no-cost business accelerator and coworking space, will host a variety of virtual events geared towards entrepreneurship and innovation March 22-26 during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC. Startup Week, founded in 2012, connects participants with startup founders, corporate innovators and individuals achieving success in a variety of professional backgrounds. Throughout the week, the LaunchBox will offer free virtual presentations, speakers, workshops and networking opportunities for students, entrepreneurs or anyone interested in exploring their potential. Attendance links and registration details for the events below can be found at https://hazleton.launchbox.psu.edu/startup-week-2021. For a complete list of Startup Week events being held by Penn State campuses across the commonwealth, visit https://startupweek.psu.edu....

Latinx founders will share their startup journey, including why they decided to start their own business, obstacles they faced along the way, and key resources that helped them launch their companies. The event will be held virtually from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, to celebrate Latinx founders during Global Entrepreneurship Week and inspire new Latinx entrepreneurs in the Reading and Hazleton communities. This session will be presented in Spanish and is free and open to the public. Participants can visit the registration/connection page. The panel discussion is hosted by the Berks LaunchBox and Hazleton LaunchBox and will be moderated by Fermin Diaz of the Hazleton LaunchBox and Lisa...

HAZLETON, Pa. — Anchoring the first floor of the recently renovated bingo hall on West Broad Street in downtown Hazleton, the new Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo Esq. demonstrates how collaborative economic development and public-private partnerships can revive Pennsylvania communities.  Opened in September 2019, the 4,000-square-foot Hazleton LaunchBox offers a myriad of services to its clients, including coworking space, startup educational programs and consulting, legal and intellectual property clinics, and even website design — all for little or no cost. Hazleton LaunchBox has already hosted more than 200 community members and provided a range of services and support for more than 30 businesses.   Unique to this LaunchBox is its bilingual startup resources....

Frances Prado to share tips on taking businesses online HAZLETON, Pa. — First, she shared her secrets to patenting a product. Now, nationally recognized inventor Frances Prado will provide aspiring entrepreneurs with even more insight on Friday, Sept. 11, during the second in a series of Spanish-language webinars hosted by the Hazleton LaunchBox. Prado, who is among only a small percentage of sole female inventors to ever be awarded a U.S. patent, will break down the process of taking a business online by exploring five factors: preparation, platform, content, presentation and e-commerce. In leading the free webinar, Prado will be...

HAZLETON, Pa. – A snappy idea supported by a thorough presentation earned a local high school student a $1,000 prize this week in the Youth Entrepreneurship Summer Camp Pitch Competition hosted by Penn State Hazleton and its partners. Judges awarded first prize to Hazleton Area High School student Ella Schneider for developing “Sole Snap,” an athletic cleat with interchangeable soles that can be snapped in and out depending on the sport. “I was so surprised and happy,” Schneider said of her win. The competition, held virtually this year due to coronavirus concerns, capped off the six-week entrepreneurship camp designed to...