WYOMISSING, Pa. – Penn State Berks will host a variety of events during Global Entrepreneurship Week from Monday November 13 to Thursday November 16. Events are sponsored by the college Flemming Center for Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) and the Berks Launch Box in downtown Reading. All events are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required for some events.
Global Entrepreneurship Week takes place in more than 180 countries and brings together an average of more than 10 million participants per year. For Penn State, the goal of Global Entrepreneurship Week is to connect the university and the local community through partnerships and promote the spirit of innovation. Events include conferences, networking and workshops.
Mentoring and Customer Discovery Panel
Monday November 13, 12:15-1:15 p.m., room 121, Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building
Attendees will learn valuable insights on how to leverage mentorship and customer engagement to successfully launch a business. The panel will include Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems and director of the Flemming CEED Center, Jonathan Smith, co-founder of Streamline Charging, Cory Varona, co-founder of OCOA, and Nathan Vreeland, co-founder -founder and design team leader of Streamline Charging.
This event is presented by the Flemming CEED Center.
Innovate to Renovate Upcycling Workshop
Tuesday November 14, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., room 111, Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building
In the workshop, participants will learn how to reuse old clothes with materials provided by the CEED Center. Dipti Bhatt, professor of business analytics and management at Penn State Berks, will host.
Registration for this event is required. This event is presented by the Flemming CEED Center.
3D printing workshop
Wednesday November 15, 12:15-1:15 p.m., room 111, Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building
The Flemming Center for Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will host workshops on how to use 3D printers for building prototypes. Participants will learn about the software used to create prototypes and how 3D printers work.
To register for this event and for more information, contact Nathan Vreeland at npv5129@psu.edu.
Workshop on the creative mind
Thursday, November 16, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., room 111 Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building
Participants will learn how to use generative AI to introduce new products and discuss the ethical implications and challenges of using AI in creative processes.
This event is presented by the Flemming CEED Center.
Webinar: Organizing your sustainable business journey
Thursday November 16, 6-7 p.m.
Discover the complexities of business sustainability and how your business can positively contribute to our world. The seminar will address crucial topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the impact world of B Corps, while exploring innovative business sustainability strategies that are not only environmentally friendly but also economically beneficial.
Registration is required.
This event is presented by the Berks LaunchBox and the Flemming CEED Center.
Webinar: Tequi-preneur
Thursday November 16, 7-8 p.m.
Nayana Ferguson, co-founder of Anteel Tequila, will share her story of breaking barriers in the spirits industry while building a successful tequila brand and championing PanCAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, in a Zoom webinar.
This event is presented by Berks LaunchBox and Emprender Latino PA.
About the Flemming CEED Center
The Flemming Center for Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) was established in fall 2011 as part of the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building. Its mission is to inspire an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking in the Penn State Berks community. The CEED Center promotes economic growth and development in the Greater Reading region through technology solutions, human capital development and business creation. It provides student entrepreneurs with an incubator in which to develop their startup ideas and mentorship from faculty, as well as volunteers from the local business community. CEED Center programs include the Customer Discovery Lab, creativity training workshops, 3D printing workshops, speaker series, the STEM Business Idea Challenge, and the Student Enterprise Award. For more information, contact Kulturel-Konak on sxk70@psu.edu.
About Berks LaunchBox
The mission of Berks LaunchBox, located in Suite 105 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is to support economic development and entrepreneurship. A center for Penn State Berks innovation, the Berks LaunchBox connects local early-stage entrepreneurs with the support, resources and facilities they need to build sustainable, scalable businesses with a viable growth plan. Services include assistance with prototyping, conducting market research, and connecting with advisors. Berks LaunchBox offers entrepreneurship workshops, a coworking space for startups, Meetups focused on business development, a makerspace with 3D printers for prototyping, and special youth programs.
Berks LaunchBox is supported by Invent Penn State, a Commonwealth-wide initiative to boost economic development, job creation and student career success. For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu or contact Erica Kunkel at 610-396-6221 or by email at ELS5014@psu.edu.
