Vijay Manthripragada is President and Chief Executive Officer of Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. Since joining Montrose in 2015, he has led the company’s growth from ~25 offices and 500 employees in the United States to more than 90 offices and 3500 employees globally today.
The conversation will be moderated by Professor Richard Perlman (W’68), Co-founder and Executive Chairman of ExamWorks Group, Inc, and Professor of MGMT 2130 – Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition.
The conversation will be moderated by Professor Richard Perlman (W’68), Co-founder and Executive Chairman of ExamWorks Group, Inc, and Professor of MGMT 2130 – Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition.
September 18-22
The future of food is at a crossroads, with climate change, food production, supply chain disruptions, workforce challenges, and global food security issues converging to create complex problems. The statistics reveal the scale and urgency of these challenges.
This Salon is the first event in the week-long Climate Change and the Future of Food Salon Sprint.
The future of food is at a crossroads, with climate change, food production, supply chain disruptions, workforce challenges, and global food security issues converging to create complex problems. The statistics reveal the scale and urgency of these challenges.
This Salon is the first event in the week-long Climate Change and the Future of Food Salon Sprint.
Entrepreneurship through acquisition, or ETA, is seeing a surge of interest among B-school grads. In high school, Nick Wheeler dreamed of becoming a Green Beret. He achieved that during a decade-long Army stint, eventually leading a 12-man special forces team deployed in Eastern Europe.
Our flagship program, the Venture Initiation Program is a joint incubator-accelerator that introduces students to the key aspects of entrepreneurship such as ideation, validation, market-product fit, fundraising, networking, scaling, business planning, development, launching and more.
September 15 |12:00-1:00p ET | Tangen Hall
Arina represents startups and emerging growth companies, often acting as their outside general counsel and building long-lasting relationships that span the life of a company. Her services in this area include, but are not limited to, entity formation, advice and counseling regarding operations in the United States, employment law and IP-related matters, structuring complex joint ventures and distribution agreements, and investment and exit opportunities.
Arina represents startups and emerging growth companies, often acting as their outside general counsel and building long-lasting relationships that span the life of a company. Her services in this area include, but are not limited to, entity formation, advice and counseling regarding operations in the United States, employment law and IP-related matters, structuring complex joint ventures and distribution agreements, and investment and exit opportunities.
The Visiting Experts Program is a Venture Lab program that provides students with the opportunity to meet alumni founders, entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and industry experts in one-on-one or small group AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions. The program aims to provide insights into the practical, conceptual, and personal challenges of launching, acquiring, or growing a venture.
A first-generation Nigerian-American, Jonathan Muruako CAS17 SPP24 grew up in a low-income household in Mississippi, where access to educational resources was limited. He recognized that many other first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students faced similar challenges as he did.
According to his research, only 10% of first-generation students graduate within six years, while close to 45% end up dropping out.
According to his research, only 10% of first-generation students graduate within six years, while close to 45% end up dropping out.
The Penn Wharton Innovation Fund exists to fund creative and meaningfully innovative ventures from the Penn student community.

VIP Practicum is designed for students with an interest in working at an early-stage venture, particularly as one of the first employees or in joining an early-stage venture as a co-founder.
Join the Venture Lab Social Entrepreneurship program and be a catalyst for positive change! Explore the intersection of business and social impact with our innovative salon series. Dive deep into key industries and communities like Food and Agriculture, Affordable Housing, Clean Tech, and LGBTQ+.
Be part of the solution – your journey towards meaningful impact starts here!
Be part of the solution – your journey towards meaningful impact starts here!
Penn ranked high on all four lists: undergraduate, graduate, female founders undergraduate and female founders graduate. The ranking is based primarily on how many alumni entrepreneurs have founded venture capital-backed companies.
Meet The Community Grocer, a scalable non-profit community market, resource, and education center advancing food justice and health equity through EBT accessible meal solutions.
The Community Grocer (TCG) was co-founded by Eli Moraru CAS ’21 and Alexandre Imbot CAS ‘20. Eli graduated from Penn with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Survey Research and Data Analytics, and Alex graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability.
The Community Grocer (TCG) was co-founded by Eli Moraru CAS ’21 and Alexandre Imbot CAS ‘20. Eli graduated from Penn with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Survey Research and Data Analytics, and Alex graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability.
September 19 | 4:00-5:00p ET| Tangen Hall
Founded in 2020 by Wharton MBA students Breanna Atkinson and Jared Golestani, Kokada is the first ever coconut based dessert spread and is made with simple, straight forward ingredients. Kokada is now sold in over 900 stores including Wegmans, Sprouts, Erewhon, Acme, Harris Teeter, and many other co-ops and gourmet grocers.
Come to this talk to learn from the founders about what it takes to launch a business while in school!
Founded in 2020 by Wharton MBA students Breanna Atkinson and Jared Golestani, Kokada is the first ever coconut based dessert spread and is made with simple, straight forward ingredients. Kokada is now sold in over 900 stores including Wegmans, Sprouts, Erewhon, Acme, Harris Teeter, and many other co-ops and gourmet grocers.
Come to this talk to learn from the founders about what it takes to launch a business while in school!
Pathways
Venture Lab offers five unique pathways for students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. Each pathways features tailored programming that intertwines with our collective programs and resources.
Labs & Studios
Learn more about our programs, labs, and studios available to student #entrePENNeurs!
Our collection of workspaces and labs that house digital and analog fabrication technologies.
Our print and digital production supporting student ventures across the Penn community.
Our 800-sq. ft. facility that supports a unique cohort of food and beverage startups at Penn.
Tangen Hall brings together aspiring entrepreneurs across the University
At seven stories and 68,000 square feet, the Wharton-led Tangen is the largest student entrepreneurship hub in the world.
“The ‘start here’ approach is echoed in our mission of democratizing entrepreneurship for all students at Penn,” says Lori Rosenkopf, vice dean of entrepreneurship and Simon and Midge Palley Professor of Management at the Wharton School.
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“The ‘start here’ approach is echoed in our mission of democratizing entrepreneurship for all students at Penn,” says Lori Rosenkopf, vice dean of entrepreneurship and Simon and Midge Palley Professor of Management at the Wharton School.
READ MORE
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Venture Lab was built to encourage interdisciplinary, integrated, and inclusive entrepreneurship. It’s a beacon that showcases the wide variety of opportunities across the University. Come grow with us!
Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School
Startup Stories
Find out what's happening across the #entrePENNeur community! Want to tell your story? Contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
A first-generation Nigerian-American, Jonathan Muruako CAS'17 SPP'24 grew up in a low-income household in Mississippi, where access to educational resources was limited. After Muruako began attending the University of Pennsylvania, he found himself constantly needing to play catch-up in an educational environment different from his upbringing. He recognized that many other first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students faced similar challenges as he did. According to his research, only 10% of first-generation students graduate within six years, while close to 45% end up dropping out.
3 Min Read
Meet The Community Grocer, a scalable non-profit community market, resource, and education center advancing food justice and health equity through EBT accessible meal solutions.
5 Min Read
Philadelphia, PA, June 8, 2023 — Penn President Liz Magill and Wharton Dean Erika James are delighted to announce a $10 million gift to establish the Robin S. Wolpow, PAR’14 and Marc B. Wolpow, W’80, PAR’14 Fund for Healthcare Entrepreneurship at Venture Lab, the center for student entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania. The Wolpows’ landmark gift, facilitated through the Arbour Way Foundation (“AWF”), will create vibrant programming focused on healthcare innovation and co-curricular learning and collaboration across the University of Pennsylvania.
6 Min Read
News
Highlight, an in-home product testing company, raised $18 million in Series A funding to continue developing its technology already helping hundreds of brands test thousands of products.
1 Min Read
News
No surprise here, but the University of Pennsylvania has produced a whole bunch of venture-backed companies.
1 Min Read
Featured Videos
Discover our selection of recorded entrepreneurial events and workshops as part of our co-curricular entrepreneurship program.
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