Venture Connection is the event at the center of the Penn State Venture & IP Conference. This event features investors hosting tables to meet with entrepreneurs that have been matched with them based on capital needs, industry and other key criteria. Sessions are broken into segments giving each investor the chance to meet with up to a dozen capital-seeking, well-screened entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs do not need to be Penn State affiliated, but must apply to participate in Venture Connection. These applications are then reviewed by our Selection Committee to ensure that Venture Connection will be a quality showcase of promising technology ventures.

Entrepreneurs will be given time to give an “elevator pitch” to the investors. Investors will then share more about what they look for in prospects, and discuss their respective funds and investment strategies. If there is a connection, private one-on-one meetings can be scheduled.

The Tech Tournament is a showcase of disruptive technologies and early-stage companies emerging from some of Pennsylvania’s leading research universities – including Penn State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Lehigh University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Transformation & Opportunity, this event highlights the state’s robust R&D ecosystem and provides prospective investors with an exclusive look at cutting-edge deep-tech companies rooted in our institutions of higher education. The world-class innovators featured in this tournament are driven by a passion for transforming ideas into market-ready solutions that address real-world challenges, while making a significant impact on Pennsylvania’s economy.

Accommodations

We have a room block available at the Penn Stater Hotel available on Wednesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 10th.