news & events

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — A health and wellness practitioner and her business won the third annual Penn State Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Ladies’ pitch competition, held at the Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) campus on June 25. Lehigh Valley LaunchBox is an organization that supports early-stage entrepreneurs through mentorship, resources and community-building events, as part of a statewide initiative by Invent Penn State. Yuliya Semenovych, owner of Elixir Health and Wellness in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, claimed the $2,500 grand prize. Elixir Health and Wellness offers services for people to "age backwards" using non-invasive technology and Eastern European protocols. Donna Tomlin, owner of PS It’s...

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Haley Marie McClain Hill is an entrepreneur, Air Force veteran and former NFL cheerleader. But before she was any of those things, McClain Hill was a Penn State student. McClain Hill shared stories from her own incredible personal and professional journey during a recent presentation to Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox Ladies. Drawing on her own inner fortitude and inspired by her strong-willed grandmother, McClain Hill attended Penn State, where she majored in mathematics and joined ROTC. Her military service served as a springboard for her civilian career, she said. Recognizing a need for more form-fitting...

Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) LaunchBox recently hosted two screenings of “Show Her the Money,” a documentary that sheds light on how venture capital funding works and the disparity between male and female entrepreneurs when it comes to venture capital and startup funding. The screenings were co-sponsored by Changemaker, a nonprofit that empowers women entrepreneurs through education, technical and professional support, and grants. Cindy Evans, director of business development for PSU-LV LaunchBox, was first contacted about the film last fall. Evans said the mission of Changemaker and the message of the film aligned perfectly with the mission of LaunchBox — to...

Changemaker Partners with Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox to Bring “Show Her the Money” Documentary to Lehigh Valley       Documentary Highlights the Importance of Diversity Among Angel Investors, Challenges Faced by Female Founders, and the Quest for Venture Capital [Center Valley, PA – January 29, 2025] — Changemaker, a nonprofit known for empowering women entrepreneurs through education, technical and professional support and grants, has joined forces with Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox to host three screenings of the powerful documentary Show Her the Money. This two-day event will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6 p.m., and Saturday,...

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — A sweet dessert infused with tropical flavors took home the top prize in the 6th Annual Start Up Lehigh Valley pitch competition held on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem. The pitch competition is a "Shark Tank"-style event for local entrepreneurs designed to showcase innovation happening in the community and support the next generation of local business leaders. Laura McHugh, vice president, marketing and communications, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Bo Koltnow, anchor/reporter at 69-WFMZ, hosted the event. Thirty-three entries were received and narrowed down to seven finalists...