Top Resources For Founders
Embark on your entrepreneurial journey with VIP-C. Whether you're a first-time founder or second-time entrepreneur, VIP-C offers an inclusive space for abundant learning, networking, and community-building.
Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund exists to fund creative and meaningfully innovative ventures from the Penn student community.
The Summer Venture Award (SVA) of $10,000 is intended to assist students financially over the summer in lieu of full-time internships so that they can concentrate on developing their entrepreneurial ventures.
This award is now offered to participants of the Startup Challenge
This award is now offered to participants of the Startup Challenge
VIP-Incubator (VIP-INC)
Our 3-month, cohort-based incubator is designed to help founders transform strong ideas into market-ready solutions and tactfully navigate the challenges of launching a new business.
The Startup Challenge is a competition for Penn student-founded ventures where student entrepreneurs pitch to a live audience and alumni judges to show their startups are ready to become the next big thing!
For dedicated student and alumni entrepreneurs with advanced startups, VIP-X propels your venture towards rapid growth and investment readiness with targeted support, non-dilutive funding, and other resources.
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
Now Accepting Applications For Fall 2022
Our Retail Lab is a flexible retail space to showcase successful alumni and student ventures, to inspire Penn students and provide active learning opportunities.
The Wharton Scale School workshop series 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.
Compete for a slice of more than $300,000 in cash and in-kind awards to help launch your venture!
Founder Events & Workshops
05
February
Interested in how to use AI IRL? Remember when COVID-19 disrupted supply chains across the world?Come listen to Peter Benda (G'92,WG'92) and the Axtom Technologies team explain how they used AI to rebuild and modernize the supply chain of the future.This workshop is perfect for students interested in AI, procurement/supplier processes, and SaaS/B2B.
31
January
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, Partner at Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
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, Partner at Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
For questions, email Margaret Chen (margchen@wharton.upenn.edu)
29
January
This is an ideal opportunity for students interested in learning more about fintech, early stage + angel investing, and Venmo and Stripes.
Interested in also doing a 1:1? Sign up here: https://go.oncehub.com/MichaelVaughan
Interested in also doing a 1:1? Sign up here: https://go.oncehub.com/MichaelVaughan
05
December
Stepful is an edtech startup that provides a training platform building accelerated and online allied healthcare programs. Carl has over 15 years of experience working at high-growth startups like Uber, Airbnb and Handy. He also served as the global head of direct-to-consumer business at Handy and was responsible for expanding Amino Apps' business internationally.
This is an ideal opportunity for students interested in learning more about edtech, healthcare entrepreneurship, DTC, and high-growth startups.
Sign up for 1:1 Sessions as well (1pm to 4pm): Register Here
This is an ideal opportunity for students interested in learning more about edtech, healthcare entrepreneurship, DTC, and high-growth startups.
Sign up for 1:1 Sessions as well (1pm to 4pm): Register Here
18
November
Join the Venture Lab Visiting Experts program on Monday,November 18th as we host Bernardo Garcia (G'21, WG'21), Co-Founder of Felix Pago.
Retail Lab Founder Series: Fernando Rojo, CEO of Patos
Fernando Rojo, C’19, CEO of PATOS has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Refinery29, Buzzfeed, NBC News, CNBC, and more. Patos provided work for over a dozen local artisans in Peru's impoverished cities to handcraft sneakers for PATOS.
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Video Companion
Related Articles & Stories
Find out what's happening with founders across the #entrePENNeur community! Want to tell your story? Contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
Joseph Kemp, JD, MBA, MSEd (GSE '21), has been recognized on Forbes' 2025 30 Under 30 list in the Games category for his company, Games That Matter, a testament to his innovative approach to gamified education. As the creator of DISBARRED: The Card Game™, Kemp has successfully leveraged his education and the resources at Penn’s Venture Lab to transform how people engage with essential legal knowledge.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Penn Center for Health, Devices, and Technology (Penn Health-Tech) and Venture Lab are excited to announce the launch of the Emerging Leaders in Health Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn ELITE Fellowship). This new initiative will prepare the next generation of health-tech innovators and support the commercialization of university-developed technologies, bridging academia and the healthcare industry.
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Through the four-year consulting program at Penn, undergrads get real-time experience with startups almost from the minute they step on campus.
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via Kelly Yang, The Daily Pennsylvanian
1 Min Read
via Daily Pennsylvanian
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Alumni entrepreneurs who launched successful startups through Venture Lab return to guide a new wave of student innovators.
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