Navigating Your Alumni Journey
Whether you're an entrepreneur in the trenches of scaling your venture, a rising executive shaping the future of Fortune 500 giants, or a visionary in the venture capital landscape, here you'll find:
Discover pathways to give back, mentor, and contribute to the ongoing legacy of excellence at Venture Lab.
Dive into success stories from peers who've turned bold ideas into remarkable ventures.
Network with a vibrant community of like-minded leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
Access exclusive resources, industry insights, and personal development tools to accelerate your journey.
Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship Alumni Achievement Award
The Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship Alumni Achievement Award honors a Penn graduate who exemplifies entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, and community building. This recognition celebrates alumni who not only lead boldly in their ventures but also give back—through mentorship, investment, or thought leadership—strengthening the Venture Lab ecosystem for future entrepreneurs. Recipients are chosen by the Venture Lab Advisory Board.
Our 2025 awardee is Tory Burch, C’88, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC, and Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation.
Our 2025 awardee is Tory Burch, C’88, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC, and Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation.
Alumni Opportunities
The Wharton Scale School series hosted in conjunction with Lifelong Learning in San Francisco guides entrepreneurs making the transition from a successful startup to a large enterprise. Hear from experts who share solutions to critical challenges faced by rapidly growing companies.
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.
Get actionable insights through a professionally managed consulting process. Tap into Penn’s world-class research and top student talent for market research, competitor analysis, customer discovery, and growth strategies. Our program advisors guide each project with weekly check-ins, presentations, and quality reviews—delivering fresh perspectives on your toughest business challenges.
VIP-X in San Francisco is an accelerator open to Penn alumni and student entrepreneurs in the Bay Area who are founders or leaders of early-stage ventures. This four-month program runs twice per year, in the fall and in the spring. The company must have traction, and the team must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area during their time in the program.
Partner with Penn’s Bet on Entrepreneurship Startup Program to host talented, first-generation and/or limited-income undergraduates for a fully funded summer internship that brings entrepreneurial energy and fresh insight to your team. You'll gain access to driven, startup-trained students ready to contribute from day one — while advancing equity and innovation in Philadelphia’s growing startup ecosystem.
Honoring Feng Deng, WG'05, Founding General Partner, Northern Light Venture Capital
The 2024 Penn Wharton China Entrepreneur Award. is given by Venture Lab and recognizes entrepreneurial achievement in China and worldwide.
The 2024 Penn Wharton China Entrepreneur Award. is given by Venture Lab and recognizes entrepreneurial achievement in China and worldwide.
Upcoming Events
October 16, 2025 at 5:30pm - 8:00pm
2 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105
This high-impact discussion will focus on the critical tax considerations that can shape the trajectory of a scaling business, particularly in fast-moving and capital-intensive sectors like technology. Learn how to anticipate and navigate tax complexities before they become barriers to growth.
October 24, 2025 at 5:30pm - 8:30pm
2 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
This recognition celebrates alumni who not only lead boldly in their ventures but also give back—through mentorship, investment, or thought leadership—strengthening the Venture Lab ecosystem for future entrepreneurs. Recipients are chosen by the Venture Lab Advisory Board. Our 2025 honoree is Tory Burch, C'88, Executive Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC and Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation
FAQ
What is the Venture Lab Alumni Community?
The Venture Lab Alumni Community is a vibrant network of University of Pennsylvania graduates who have ventured into entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. This platform offers resources, networking opportunities, and continuous learning to support your ongoing success.
How can I get involved with Venture Lab as an alumnus?
There are numerous ways to get involved, from attending events and workshops, participating in mentorship programs, to contributing your expertise as a speaker, writer, or judge in one of our pitch competitions.
What types of events and programs does Venture Lab offer to alumni?
We offer a wide range of events and programs, including networking events, professional development workshops, webinars, and exclusive alumni gatherings.
How can I subscribe to the Venture Lab Alumni Newsletter?
Simply fill out the subscription form in the 'Get The Inside Track' section of this page. You'll receive regular updates on news, events, and opportunities directly in your inbox.
Can I contribute to Venture Lab as a donor or mentor?
Absolutely! Your contributions as a donor or mentor are invaluable. Email us at venturelab@upenn.edu to learn more about how you can make a difference.
How can I share my own success story with the Venture Lab community?
We love hearing about our alumni's achievements! Please contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu to share your story.
How can I reconnect with fellow alumni?
Join our events, participate in our programs, or subscribe to our newsletter to reconnect with your peers. Our platform is designed to foster strong connections among our alumni.
Alternatively, you can find the list of Penn and Wharton alumni clubs here.
Alternatively, you can find the list of Penn and Wharton alumni clubs here.
Who can I contact for more information or specific inquiries?
For more information about Venture Lab or specific inquiries, email us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
Additional Resources
Our partners at Lifelong Learning provide Wharton alumni with continuing education opportunites throughout their professional lives with extraordinary resources—online, on-campus, and in regions worldwide
Unstoppable Entrepreneurs
"Discover your own path to entrepreneurship and make your mark in the world. Meet the seven Penn entrepreneurs reshaping the narrative.
In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, redefines our perceptions, revealing a diverse array of entrepreneurial paths that are open to anyone with the drive to create value through innovation. Drawing from her thirty-year career and interactions with more than 20,000 students, Rosenkopf offers a compelling roadmap for entrepreneurial success.
In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, redefines our perceptions, revealing a diverse array of entrepreneurial paths that are open to anyone with the drive to create value through innovation. Drawing from her thirty-year career and interactions with more than 20,000 students, Rosenkopf offers a compelling roadmap for entrepreneurial success.
Alumni Success Stories
From groundbreaking startups to transformative leadership roles, these stories showcase the spirit and success of our Venture Lab graduates.
news provided by Kasa Living
1 Min Read
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
by Jeff Schmitt, Poets&Quants
1 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
In May 2022, Nemu took home the Ashton Family Award for Female Founders in the 2022 Venture Lab Startup Challenge. In this article, Sarah Powers (WG '23), Nemu's founder, unveils the mission and values of Nemu. Follow her journey below!
5 Min Read
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
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