Joiner

For those who love working in an entrepreneurial environment, but are not the prime movers creating a new venture. They prefer to join with others and contribute in ways that best fit their skills and preferences.

Top Resources For Joiners

VIP-Practicum invites you to roll up your sleeves and join a startup as an early member of the team. Gain invaluable experience that shapes not only your skills but also the trajectory of ventures on the rise.
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.

Founder Programs
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.

Joiner Events & Workshops

05
November
William is the founder and managing partner of Mucker Capital, the largest seed fund exclusively focused outside of the Bay Area.
29
October
Can İkinci is the Founder and President of WAM Portfolio & Asset Management, and has experience in growing retail and consumer companies.
27
October
Rich Cisek is a serial entrepreneur and early stage investor. He is an expert in AI imaging automation.
19
October
Use Penn's library tools to find market data, validate your food or beverage concept, and gain a competitive edge!

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.
August 31, 2026 01:27 PM
More than 500 attendees gathered at Tangen Hall to explore entrepreneurial resources, opportunities, and pathways across Penn.
1 Min Read
May 04, 2026 02:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2026 — The University of Pennsylvania’s Venture Lab is proud to announce the winner of its tenth annual Startup Challenge: Cloak, founded by an all freshmen team, Rishi Ambavanekar, ENG'29, W'29, and Tyler Sacharow, C'29.
3 Min Read
April 29, 2026 05:10 PM
On Apr 22, 2025, Venture Lab’s Food Innovation Lab and ZenBroth (founded at the innovation Lab!) hosted a tasting and demo cooking session at Tangen Hall.
1 Min Read
April 01, 2026 03:41 PM
Announcing the Finalists of the 2026 Venture Lab Startup Challenge
1 Min Read
By  Jay Kan
, October 13, 2025 11:36 AM
At Tangen Hall, Penn’s interdisciplinary hub for makers, designers, and entrepreneurs, two alumni chose to leave a lasting mark by naming state-of-the-art labs that reflect their personal journeys. Amish Jani (W'99 and WG'00) and Svetlana Dunaevskaya (WG'06) share how naming spaces in Venture Lab became a way to invest in future entrepreneurs, honor family legacies, and create a sense of belonging across borders.
1 Min Read
August 22, 2025 06:10 PM
Two Venture lab alumni are among this year’s 84 Scholars from 25 countries!
2 Min Read