Startup Week

Startup Week - March 18-24, 2024
Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC is your opportunity to immerse yourself in innovation. We hope you'll join the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq. and our partners for an exciting week of impactful events.
Events included:
  • Entrepreneurial workshops
  • Networking events
  • Skill-building webinars
  • Competitions
  • Presentations

Empowering Women in Engineering: The Mindset Shift for Success (Presented in Spanish)

Join us for an inspiring gathering where we will discuss empowering women in the field of engineering and the mindset shift necessary to achieve success as a civil engineering entrepreneur. During the event, we will have the participation of accomplished professionals and entrepreneurial civil engineers who will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the world of engineering.
  • Presented by Keila Neris, civil engineer
Key Dates:
  • Wednesday, March 20
7 to 8 p.m.

SMART Goals for Start-Ups

Crafting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals is not just a choice but a necessity for startups embarking on their journey toward success. In today's fiercely competitive landscape, startups need a strategic roadmap to navigate challenges and seize opportunities effectively. By embracing SMART goals, startups gain a powerful tool to propel their growth trajectory with precision and purpose.
  • Presented by Frank Sorokach, Penn State Scranton assistant teaching professor of business
  • Collaboration between Invent Penn State and the Eastern Pennsylvania Region LaunchBoxes, a consortium of Scranton, Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, Schuylkill and Lehigh Valley.
Key Dates:
  • Thursday, March 21
6 to 7 p.m.

Revisit 2023 Sessions

Why is Customer Discovery Important? Presented by Penn State Hazleton Professor Lori Reno (Virtual)

Customer discovery allows us to test our hypotheses by using interviews with potential customers. Lori Reno, assistant teaching professor of business and proprietor of a part-time strategic planning consultancy, explains how customer discovery helps determine how well the product meets customer needs which will create a sustainable business model.
Key Dates:
  • Monday, March 20

Comunicación Organizacional como Herramienta para Exponencial mi Negocio. ¿Qué aporta un Colaborador bien Informado? (Virtual) (Solo en Español)

Julia Tavarez hablará sobre el poder de la comunicación organizacional efectiva y cómo aprovecharla para hacer crecer su negocio. Este seminario web se presenta en español en asociación con Berks LaunchBox y Abington LaunchBox.
Key Dates:
  • Lunes, 20 de Marzo

Organizational Communication as a Tool to Exponentially Grow Your Business. What does a well-informed collaborator contribute? (Virtual) (Presented in Spanish)

Marketer Julia Tavarez speaks about the power of effective organizational communication and how to harness it to grow your business. This webinar is presented in Spanish in partnership with the Berks LaunchBox and Abington LaunchBox.
Key Dates:
  • Monday, March 20

How to Win a Government Contract as a Minority Business Owner

This event provided information and support in educating vendors on how to do business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and PennDOT, from registering as a vendor to registering as a small, diverse, or veteran business and assisting in navigating the commonwealth procurement landscape. Penn State Law's IP Clinic discussed certifications and other legal issues related to government contracting. Speakers included:
  • Audrey Smith - Outreach Manager, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities, PA Department of General Services
  • Crystal Spriggs - Equal opportunity specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
  • Britani Peterson - Staff attorney, Penn State Law’s Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic
Key Dates:
  • Tuesday, March 21

YouTuber Cultural: De la Pasión a las Ganancias (Presentado en Inglés y Español)

Robert Arias es un agente inmobiliario local apasionado por la salsa y la música tropical. José David Orozco es un youtuber que realizó un pequeño documental sobre los orígenes de la música tropical. Es licenciado en lenguaje y comunicación y una maestría en educación. También crea contenido cultural sobre la afrocolombiana. La pareja explicará cómo desarrollar la pasión cultural y convertirla en ganancias a través de YouTube.
Key Dates:
  • Viernes, 24 de Marzo

Cultural YouTuber: From Passion to Profits (Presented in English and Spanish)

Robert Arias is a local realtor with a passion for salsa and tropical music. José David Orozco is a YouTuber who made a small documentary about the origins of tropical music. He has degrees in language and communication and a master's degree in education. He also creates cultural content about Afro Columbia. The duo explained how to develop cultural passion and turn it into profit through YouTube.
Key Dates:
  • Friday, March 24