Lehigh Valley LaunchBox

09/03/2026

Business Owners and Entrepreneurs: Legal hurdles shouldn't catch you off guard! 💡 Whether it’s choosing the right business structure, drafting airtight contracts, or protecting your intellectual property, getting your legal foundation right from day one can save you costly headaches down the ro...

07/30/2026

Day 5 of the Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge was packed with learning, collaboration, and unforgettable experiences!

The morning kicked off with an engaging session focused on pitch development and communication skills, giving our young entrepreneurs the tools and confidence to share their business ideas effectively. They then headed to the computer lab to continue refining their presentations in preparation for Saturday's pitch competition.

The excitement continued with a surprise visit from the Penn State Nittany Lion, bringing plenty of smiles and energy to the day! We also had the opportunity to work with the Penn State Lehigh Valley Strategic Communications team to capture professional photos and special moments that our participants will remember for years to come.

In the afternoon, we traveled in style aboard a luxury coach to Goggle Works, where students received the red-carpet treatment before exploring the incredible world of innovation and prototyping with Berks LaunchBox. They learned how laser cutting is transforming manufacturing, discovered how technology is being used to create prosthetic limbs, and even participated in a fun racing challenge that showcased creativity, engineering, and teamwork.

We wrapped up the day with an important conversation led by the Penn State Berks Police and Public Safety team, who shared valuable insights on personal safety, leadership, and being responsible members of a community.

Every day, these students are gaining more than entrepreneurial knowledge—they're building confidence, expanding their perspectives, and developing the skills they'll carry long after this week ends.

We can't wait to see them take the stage for the Pitch Competition on Saturday!

07/30/2026

07/30/2026

Day 4 of the Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge brought our participants one step closer to Saturday's pitch competition. With every session, they're gaining the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to transform their ideas into viable business concepts.

The morning began with Professor Colleen Krcelich, CPA, who introduced students to the fundamentals of budgeting and accounting. Understanding the financial side of a business is essential for every entrepreneur, and the students learned how thoughtful financial planning supports long-term success.

After lunch, our participants took a deep dive into artificial intelligence during an interactive workshop led by TaskRipple's Kwame Lewis. Rather than simply exploring what AI can create, students learned how to use AI as a tool to strengthen the businesses they're already building. They worked through customer discovery, market and competitor research, value proposition development, and business model thinking—all while learning how to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and use AI responsibly. The session emphasized that AI can be a powerful resource, but successful entrepreneurs still need critical thinking, real-world validation, and sound judgment.

The evening was dedicated to putting all of these new skills into practice. Teams rolled up their sleeves to continue developing their businesses, refining their pitches, and preparing for Saturday's competition.

The excitement is building, the ideas are becoming stronger, and the pitch competition is just around the corner. Things are getting real!

07/29/2026

07/29/2026

As we finish Day 3 of the Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge, our participants are beginning to settle into their startup teams and embrace the leadership roles they've been assigned. Each team now has a CEO, CFO, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Impact Officer, and it's exciting to watch them learn how these roles work together to build a successful business.

The day began with Catherine Connelly, who introduced students to key marketing concepts, including the Rule of Seven and the importance of consistently reaching their target audience.

Next, Dr. Justin De Senso, Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty member, led an interactive Design Thinking workshop, encouraging participants to view challenges through the eyes of their customers and develop creative, innovative solutions.

The learning didn't stop there. During our evening session, one of our Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge sponsors, Game Face Grooming, welcomed founder Philip Williams to share his entrepreneurial journey. Philip spoke candidly about the challenges, opportunities, and determination it takes to turn an idea into a successful business, giving our students valuable insights from someone who has lived the entrepreneurial experience.

Every day, these young entrepreneurs are building new skills, growing in confidence, and taking another step toward turning their ideas into reality. We can't wait to see what Day 4 has in store!

07/28/2026

Day 2 of the 2026 Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge was filled with learning, collaboration, and inspiration!

The day began with breakfast before participants strengthened one of the most important entrepreneurial skills—**communication**. A special thank you to **Sandy Kile**, Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty member, for leading an engaging session that helped our young entrepreneurs become more confident and effective communicators.

In the afternoon, participants explored the importance of **ethics and sustainability in business** with **Dr. Maung Min**, challenging them to think beyond profits and consider the long-term impact of the businesses they hope to build.

Although a summer storm changed our schedule, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm! We were fortunate to welcome **Rachael Wolfe** from the Kutztown Small Business Development Center (SBDC), who shared valuable insights and encouragement with our participants.

Each day these students are building the knowledge, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to turn ideas into opportunities. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

07/27/2026

🎉 Day 1 of the **2026 Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge** is officially underway!

Today, our 22 participants arrived and settled into the residence halls that they'll call home for the next week. After getting settled, they received a warm welcome from **Dr. Tina Richardson**, who officially kicked off this year's challenge and encouraged them to embrace every opportunity the week has to offer.

Following lunch, the students met their Resident Assistants and our Program Manager before jumping right into the fun. The afternoon was filled with icebreakers designed to help everyone get to know one another and start building a strong team.

Then it was time for their first entrepreneurial challenge! Students received a quick introduction to the basics of developing a business idea—and within minutes, they were pitching their concepts to the group. It was an exciting reminder that innovation often begins with a single idea and the confidence to share it.

Tonight, we'll continue building friendships with some fun activities before the real entrepreneurial learning begins tomorrow.

We're excited to watch these young innovators grow throughout the week. Stay tuned as we share their journey!

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06/25/2026

What an inspiring evening at the LaunchBox Ladies Fourth Annual Pitch Competition hosted by Lehigh Valley LaunchBox June 24.

We had the privilege of hearing from five outstanding entrepreneurs - - Ali McGuire, April Schiel, Lisa Pammer, Virginia Ellen, and Donna Boden, RD, LDN as they pitched their ventures with passion and purpose, aiming to attract a wider audience, attract customers, partners and media attention.

Congratulations to:
Virginia Ellen our Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award winner.

April Schiel, named Runner Up .

Thank you to our panel of judges, Katie Kupstas, Deb Colitas, Rachael E. Wolfe M.Ed. and Edith Gutierrez-Hawbaker who challenged each presenter with insightful questions and thoughtful feedback making this competition a powerful learning experience.

A huge thank you to Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley marketing professor Denise Ogden who brought energy and charisma as our emcee.

We were also thrilled to welcome back Yuliya Semenovych. the 2025 grand prize winner, who shared her entrepreneurial journey and how pitch competition provided increased confidence.

Thank you to everyone who made this event unforgettable.

06/24/2026

Meet Our Tonight's Host: Denise Ogden
One of the founding voices behind everything Lehigh Valley LaunchBox represents.

Dr. Denise Ogden is not only a repeat host for the 4th Annual LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition. She helped build the vision it stands on.

As one of the founding faculty members of Lehigh Valley LaunchBox, Dr. Ogden has championed entrepreneurship education and regional economic development in the Lehigh Valley for years. Her commitment to creating space for women-led innovation is woven into the very DNA of this competition.

We are honored to have her lead our finalists to the stage tonight.