Penn State Shenango
Penn State VenturePointe incubator
Penn State President, Dr. Eric Barron cuts the ribbon to open the VenturePointe incubator.
Penn State Shenango, a Commonwealth Campus of the Pennsylvania State University, has opened a business incubator which comprises of two start-up companies and a pair of 3D printing machines.
The VenturePointe incubator was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, as Penn State administrators, board members, faculty, staff and students gathered at the eCenter@LindenPointe in Germitage, PA.
It has been launched after a $50,000 seed grant from Invent Penn State, a Commonwealth-wide initiative focused on entrepreneurial endeavours. And University directors are enthused about the potential VenturePointe has, after experiencing some immediate success.
“The community support for VenturePointe has been extraordinary, and it has created the type of entrepreneurial environment needed for breakthrough innovations,” said Dr Eric Barron, Penn State President. “This is what we envisioned when we launched Invent Penn State nearly two years ago, and I’m thrilled to celebrate the early success with our Shenango students, faculty, staff and community.”
“This past year has been very exciting as we’ve worked with our business and human development and family studies faculty, as well as the administration and staff at eCenter, to get Shenango campus students and alumni absorbed in our VenturePointe incubator,” said Penn State Shenango Campus Director, Jo Anne Carrick. “As soon as we were awarded the seed grant money, we began implementing our plan and working with the eCenter. We have a strong relationship with them, and we couldn’t be happier with our immediate results.”
VenturePointe has welcomed two start-ups, Guardians Nest and ATP Resources, and a single intern. Guardians Nest is a non-profit organisation and was conceived by Penn State Shenango’s human development and studies graduate, Brian Flick. His aim is to create a social services, information and referral hub to the 11,000 U.S. Veterans residing in Mercer County. Meanwhile, ATP Resources, run by Jacob Linzenbold, a recent Penn State business major, will harness 3D printing to develop and distribute medical devices.
“Being offered the opportunity to continue to work with Shenango campus faculty like Claudia Brown and the staff at the eCenter@LindenPointe has been incredible,” said Flick. It’s been a dream of mine for some time to establish a one-stop-shop for veterans residing in Mercer County.”
Linzenbold added: “I originally attended the eCenter@LindenPointe’s Start-Up Weekend in November 2016, and after that experience, I knew this was a great place to be. Soon after that experience, I had the opportunity to become a part of the VenturePointe program and gladly accepted. The help and direction of the staff here at the eCenter and at Penn State Shenango create an environment for success.”
