Students sought for Hazleton LaunchBox virtual entrepreneurship challenge

HAZLETON, Pa. — The Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq. is seeking the next generation of innovators for its virtual Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge beginning Tuesday. Feb. 2.

The seven-week program, open to rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, will be held remotely via Zoom from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is offered at no cost thanks to support from local businesses.

The program is designed to teach students key strategies for launching a product or startup, how to identify and solve problems, and how to work together as a team.

The challenge culminates on March 25 with a competition where students pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for a chance at winning up to $1,500 in prizes.

Register before Jan. 27 by visiting this link.

For more information, call 570-450-3135 or email Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator William Andahazy at [email protected], or Entrepreneurial Facilitator Fermin Diaz at [email protected].

About the Hazleton LaunchBox

Located at 13 W. Broad St. in Hazleton, the Hazleton LaunchBox is a no-cost startup accelerator and co-working space designed to provide early-stage startup companies with the support and resources needed to build a sustainable business and a viable plan for growth. 

The LaunchBox is a signature program of the Invent Penn State initiative, a commonwealth-wide system to spur economic development, job creation, and student career success. The initiative, launched by Penn State President Eric Barron in 2015, redefines the University’s land-grant mission to include entrepreneurship and innovation programs, including the development of “innovation hubs” in Penn State Commonwealth Campus communities across the state.

Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and University-community collaborations to facilitate the process of turning ideas into viable products and services.