What is an Explorer?
Curious Learner
Explorers are driven by curiosity—they’re eager to understand the entrepreneurial world, even if they haven’t defined a specific idea or goal yet.
Opportunity Seeker
They actively engage with new topics, people, and experiences to discover where their passions and strengths align within the innovation landscape.
Path Finder
Explorers use experimentation and reflection to clarify their direction—whether that leads to founding, joining, investing, or something entirely their own.
Programs for Explorers
The Bet on Entrepreneurship Program empowers first-generation and/or limited-income students with training, real-world experience, and community to explore entrepreneurship and build skills for any career path.
The Penn ELITE Fellowship is a paid, one-year, full-time post-graduate program where Fellows serve as entrepreneurial leads to advance Penn and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia health technologies. Delivered by Venture Lab and Penn Health-Tech, the Fellowship advances healthcare innovations toward translation and market readiness.
The Visiting Experts Program is a Venture Lab program that provides students with the opportunity to meet and learn from alumni founders, entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and industry experts in one-on-one or small group AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions.
The Food Innovation Lab is a hands-on launchpad for Penn students ready to turn bold food ideas into real ventures, offering a commercial test kitchen, expert support, and industry tools from concept to consumer.
Our Retail Lab is a flexible retail space to showcase successful alumni and student ventures, inspire Penn students, and provide active learning opportunities.
The Engineering Studios @ Venture Lab are a collection of fabrication labs open to the
entire University of Pennsylvania community
- powered by the School of Engineering & Applied Science - to make ideas tangible and testable.
The Studios support both curricular and co-curricular projects with a focus on entrepreneurial endeavors and technology commercialization.
Have an idea for a project, product, or technology? Come talk to us! There's always Studio Technicians here to help.
entire University of Pennsylvania community
- powered by the School of Engineering & Applied Science - to make ideas tangible and testable.
The Studios support both curricular and co-curricular projects with a focus on entrepreneurial endeavors and technology commercialization.
Have an idea for a project, product, or technology? Come talk to us! There's always Studio Technicians here to help.
The Digital Design Studio at Venture Lab is an educational resource to support current Penn student startups of all stages with their branding and marketing, featuring a state-of-the-art audiovisual production studio.
What is an Explorer in the context of entrepreneurship?
An Explorer is someone who’s curious about innovation and startups but still discovering where they fit in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
I’m curious about entrepreneurship, but I don’t know what I want to do—can I still get involved?
Yes—Explorers are supposed to be uncertain. Programs like Visiting Experts gives you space to learn, ask questions without pressure, and figure out what excites you most in the entrepreneurial world.
What kinds of experiences are available to Explorers?
Explorers can attend workshops, speaker series, and mentoring sessions, and they’re encouraged to engage with different pathways and perspectives to expand their understanding.
Where can the Explorer Pathway lead?
Explorers often go on to become founders, joiners, or investors—or use their entrepreneurial mindset to drive innovation in any career they pursue. Some may already identify with another pathway but use the Explorer experience to expand their perspective and explore new possibilities.
What will I get out of being an Explorer?
You’ll still have the opportunities to gain exposure in entrepreneurial thinking, build confidence in unfamiliar territory, and start connecting ideas, people, and opportunities across Penn’s innovation ecosystem.
How do I know if I’m ready to explore entrepreneurship?
If you’re asking questions, curious about how things are built, or excited by the idea of solving real problems—even without a clear plan—you’re already ready to explore.
Latest Explorer Events
27
March
Whether you're navigating cofounder dynamics, structuring equity, or creating a culture of trust, this in-person workshop is for Penn students and their team members in the VIP Incubator. You’ll learn how to recruit top talent, align your team with your mission, and lead with confidence.
31
March
Join Venture Lab for a special virtual 1:1 session with Chris and Natasha Ashton, co-founders of Fetch Pet Insurance (formerly Petplan), one of North America’s leading pet health insurance providers.
02
April
Chris is a Partner and leads the Portfolio Development function at Dell Technologies Capital (DTC), the venture capital arm of Dell.
02
April
Join the Venture Lab Visiting Experts program for an in-person session with Griffin Owens, Co-founder of YUZUCO, a Los Angeles–based premium citrus brand bringing high-quality yuzu products to top chefs, bartenders, and consumer brands.
💡 Perfect for students interested in: CPG, food & beverage startups, brand building, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy.
💡 Perfect for students interested in: CPG, food & beverage startups, brand building, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy.
07
April
Bikram is a partner at Blu Ventures. He is a seasoned CEO, innovator, and entrepreneur with multiple exits experience.
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