Workshop to bring entrepreneurs together with students and faculty

The Penn State Entrepreneurs Network and the College of Engineering will host the Invention to Venture conference, a one-day workshop on the basics of technology commercialization and entrepreneurship, from 8:40 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Alumni Hall at HUB Robeson Center.

The workshop is intended for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty/staff and community members. Presentations will focus on technology entrepreneurship, opportunity assessment, venture capital, marketing, intellectual property, business plans and related topics.

Speakers at Invention to Venture include experts with national stature as well as regional leaders and technology entrepreneurs. Gavin McIntyre, co-founder of Ecovative Design and featured in Popular Science, CNN, Discovery Channel and the New York Times; Shabbir Dahod, CEO of TraceLink and venture partner with FirstMark Capital; Ujjwal Gupta, co-founder of Watermelon Express; and Pat McNamara,(serial entrepreneur and marketing guru, are some of the confirmed speakers.

Workshop participants will explore technology entrepreneurship fundamentals, discover how to turn an innovative product idea into a new technology venture, hear success stories and network with the people who can help make your ideas a reality.

The cost for the event is $10 for students, $30 for faculty, staff or alumni and $50 for business community members and other participants. A participant guide, breakfast and lunch are all included in the fee. Registration and breakfast will start at 8 a.m.

A networking reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Atherton Hotel will take place after the workshop. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided; drinks will be available.

Watermelon Express, a Penn State student startup and sponsor of the event, is offering standardized test preparation software to all participants free of cost. Participants can choose from GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT or SAT when registering.

To learn more and register for the event, visit http://www.psu-i2v.com/.

The Invention to Venture workshop is held in cooperation with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, RatnerPrestia and the University Park Allocation Committee.