news & events

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. — By Colin McEvoy on October 27, 2022 BETHLEHEM, Pa. — With Meraki Co., the maker of a probiotic supplement for urinary and vaginal health, took home the grand prize of $20,000 at the fourth annual StartUp Lehigh Valley, a pitch competition co-founded by Penn State Lehigh Valley LaunchBox that showcases regional entrepreneurs and the innovation taking place in our community. The event took place on Oct. 26 at Factory LLC, a Bethlehem-based investor and operator for food, beverage, and pet health companies in Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) was one of the...

Penn State Lehigh Valley — By Sharon Tercha on November 22, 2022 CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — An audience of students, faculty and community entrepreneurs heard Dr. Neeli Bendapudi speak about education and innovation at the Nittany Lion Cafe in the Lehigh Valley campus’ new $16 million expansion — recently completed under Chancellor Tina Q. Richardson. The event introduced newly appointed Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Director Jill Crane, before turning to a “fireside chat” between the president and chancellor. Bendapudi spoke to the region’s massive transformation. “The entire region has revitalized itself through entrepreneurship,” Bendapudi said. “Entrepreneurs don’t just react. They are...

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. - By Colin McEvoy on March 4, 2022 Lehigh Valley LaunchBox and Penn State Lehigh Valley hosted a virtual discussion with Lehigh Valley bank representatives to discuss information, incentives, resources, and advice that could help entrepreneurs support their business needs. “There are so many resources here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Dinoli Rowlands, Regional Business Banking Relationship Manager with PNC Bank. “We’re so lucky to be in a place with such a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit; a place that supports entrepreneurs so well.” The event, entitled “Community Banks Small Business Funding Opportunity,” was hosted online via Zoom on March 3 as part...

By Colin McEvoy FLX Solutions, a Bethlehem-based startup that creates modular snake robots, has received national recognition on the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s fourth annual Most Fundable Companies List. The company was one of 16 early-stage U.S. companies to receive the prestigious designation, and one of only three to receive a Platinum registration. FLX Solutions competed against over 3,300 other companies under consideration for the list. “It is a great honor to be named as one of the 3 Platinum level Most Fundable Companies of 2021,” said Matt Bilsky, CEO & Founder of FLX Solutions. “The entire FLX Team had...

By Josh McAuliffe CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Continuing to spotlight the talents of women entrepreneurs, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox powered by Penn State featured sisters and business owners Cory Dahlia Varona and Nicol Varona Cancelmo at its most recent LaunchBox Ladies Speaker Series talk held at Penn State Lehigh Valley. At the event, titled “The Next Entrepreneur: Steps to Starting Up,” the Penn State Berks graduates shared the story behind their natural women’s hair products company, DN Organics, and offered the campus community some hard-earned wisdom on the challenges of running a business. The sisters, who refer to themselves as “sister-preneurs,”...