Explorer

For those who may not yet know what they want to do or where they might fit in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. At Venture Lab, explorers can learn about innovative approaches, gain exposure to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and its key players, and get help in defining their goals and interests.

Top Resources For Explorers

Looking for opportunities to meet alumni founders, entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and industry experts to explore potential ideas or guidance? The Visiting Expert offers one-on-one or small group AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions.
Don’t know where to start? Meet with one of our knowledgeable staff and craft your entrepreneurial path.
The Startup Internship Awards are awarded to select students who will spend the summer interning at a startup and who demonstrate both a commitment to entrepreneurship at Penn and to pursuing an entrepreneurial career.
The Food Innovation Lab is an 800-sq. ft. facility that supports a unique cohort of food and beverage startups at Penn.
Now Accepting Applications For Fall 2022
The Digital Design Studio at Venture Lab offer its services to the students, faculty, and staff engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Pennsylvania and alumni who are part of the global Penn entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The Studios @ Venture Labs 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.
Our Retail Lab is a flexible retail space to showcase successful alumni and student ventures, to inspire Penn students and provide active learning opportunities.
Missed our Entrepreneurship Expo? No problem! Check out our recap video and galleries from our kickoff event at Tangen Hall.

Explorer Events & Workshops

13
November
Join the Venture Lab Visiting Experts program for an in-person session with John Bishop, a seasoned energy industry leader and investor with over two decades of experience spanning investment banking, corporate leadership, and principal investing.
11
November
Join the Venture Lab Visiting Experts program for an in-person session with Kristin Gervasio, Founder of The CM Collective and the only person dual-certified in culinary medicine and as an olive oil sommelier.
12
November
Join the Venture Lab Visiting Experts program for an in-person session with Michael Green, a Los Angeles–based entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with over two decades of experience spanning specialty finance, technology, and consumer products.

Founder Fireside Chat with Jim Bankoff, WG'96, Founder & CEO, Vox Media

Moderated by Lori Rosenkopf,Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship and Simon & Midge Palley Professor of Management

A twenty five year veteran of the online industry, Jim developed and led dozens of the most popular websites on the internet including AOL.com, Mapquest, Moviefone, AOL Music, Netscape and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) as an Executive Vice President at AOL. He initiated and oversaw the drive to open up AOL's content and services onto the web and was the first executive of a major portal to embrace professional blogging with his acquisition of Weblogs Inc. and development and leadership of sites such as TMZ, Fanhouse, BloggingStocks and Engadget.
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Video Companion

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Find out what's happening with founders across the #entrePENNeur community! Want to tell your story? Contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
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