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 ELITE Fellowship provides MD, PhD, and MBA graduates—or those with equivalent experience a paid opportunity to lead the commercialization of cutting-edge health technologies. Fellows gain hands-on experience at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and business.
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 workspaces and labs that house digital and analog fabrication technologies that empower the Penn community to make their ideas a reality.
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
17
April
Whether you're into VC, startups, or the future of AI, this is a rare chance to hear directly from someone who’s been on both sides of the table—as an investor and a founder. Come with questions, leave with insight.
Join us for an exclusive AMA with Jack Soslow, former investor at Andreessen Horowitz, where he led AI investments on the Games team and closed 36 deals in just three years. A Wharton alum ('19), Varsity Football kicker, and founder of the Wharton Undergraduate Data Analytics Club, Jack now leads Ciridae, a pioneering Generative AI services firm.
Join us for an exclusive AMA with Jack Soslow, former investor at Andreessen Horowitz, where he led AI investments on the Games team and closed 36 deals in just three years. A Wharton alum ('19), Varsity Football kicker, and founder of the Wharton Undergraduate Data Analytics Club, Jack now leads Ciridae, a pioneering Generative AI services firm.
16
April
Navigating the legal world while launching or growing your startup can be a labyrinth. Whether you're exploring venture formation, creating founders' agreements, drafting your first contracts, or considering taking VC money, understanding the legal aspects can be complicated and confusing.
Have all of these questions or more, especially around technology, security, and corporations? Gain some clarity with an AMA and 1:1 meeting with Venture Lab’s Legal Visiting Expert, Arina Shulga, Fox Rothschild.
For questions, email Margaret Chen (margchen@wharton.upenn.edu)
Have all of these questions or more, especially around technology, security, and corporations? Gain some clarity with an AMA and 1:1 meeting with Venture Lab’s Legal Visiting Expert, Arina Shulga, Fox Rothschild.
For questions, email Margaret Chen (margchen@wharton.upenn.edu)
15
April
Join us for an insightful discussion on Beyond Meat + Perennial, scaling sustainable brands, and transforming global food systems.
04
April
Need help with safeguarding your startup idea? Does the landscape of intellectual property (IP) seem vast and daunting? Venture Lab is here with 1:1 sessions tailored to help you traverse the nuances of IP for startups, featuring Josh Slavitt from Slavitt IP Law, LLC.
These sessions are only for students interested in IP and safeguarding your innovations.
These sessions are only for students interested in IP and safeguarding your innovations.
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