Venture Lab’s Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, launched in 2022, supports entrepreneurs in the Penn ecosystem who are building commercially viable, scalable ventures that create both financial returns and meaningful social or environmental impact.

Open to all of the Penn community, inclusive of undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni. Financial award opportunities are open to all students who are enrolled full time in a University of Pennsylvania academic program.

Social enterprises are businesses that seek to achieve financial sustainability while addressing pressing societal challenges. They are found in every industry and often blend funding sources, including traditional venture capital, impact investors, and occasionally charitable foundations.
March 29, 2023 02:16 PM

Supporting Programming

The Venture Initiation Program (VIP) is where Penn’s boldest founders turn ideas into impact. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, VIP is your launchpad—a high-energy, founder-first ecosystem designed to help you build, test, and grow.
The Penn Wharton Innovation Fund supports innovative student-led ventures at Penn with funding while equipping its student investment team with hands-on experience in early-stage investing.
The Startup Challenge is Venture Lab’s flagship and Penn's largest competition, where top Penn student ventures pitch to a live audience for a chance to win over $150,000 in cash and prizes. It’s a campus-wide showcase that connects student entrepreneurs with alumni leaders and accelerates venture growth.

Social #entrePENNeur Highlight

Penn students who are making an impact via social entrepreneurship and their mission-driven ventures.
By  Christine Cheng
, November 05, 2023 09:03 AM
Beginning on September 18th, students participated in the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative’s week-long Climate Change and the Future of Food Salon Sprint, culminating in a pitch competition.
3 Min Read
By  Christine Cheng
, August 28, 2023 08:00 AM
Jonathan Muruako, CAS'17 SPP'24
Founder of Fitalyst: Empowering First-Gen Students with Self-Regulation Tools for Success
3 Min Read
By  Christine Cheng
, September 12, 2023 03:22 PM
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

Alumni Companies

Founder & CEO: Christine Moseley (WG'11)
Co-founder & CEO: Katherine Sizov (C'19)
Co-Founders: Moraru (C'21) and Alexandre Imbot (C'22), The
Co-founder & CEO: Matt Stephenson (WG'11)
Co-founder & CEO: Miranda Wang (C'16)

Additional Resources

See below for Social Entrepreneurship Initiative events and related resources for the Penn community.
November 01, 2022 07:00 AM

Learn about social entrepreneurship pathways from experienced industry leaders.


Workshops designed to support members of the Penn Community interested in Social Entrepreneurship

October 23, 2021 03:16 PM

Fund your mission-driven venture using the opportunities available for the Penn community.

This program delivers experiential learning that complements Wharton's existing social impact curriculum, providing hands-on opportunities for budding social entrepreneurs to build new ventures that change the world.
Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship
The fundamental purpose of the social enterprise is to address a social problem and generate revenue in doing so.
The Social Entrepreneur’s Playbook; Ian C. MacMillan & James D. Thompson
Our new social entrepreneurship program puts Wharton and Penn’s institutional power into educating the next generation of leaders to solve the world’s most pressing social problems.
Trang Pham, Executive Director, Venture Lab