Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)’s Startup Services Hub (SSH) will expand three essential programs in order to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Central Pennsylvania, and expand outreach of pro bono legal services to Pennsylvania’s Rural T region, which surrounds the greater metro areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburg. This project seeks to expand the SSH’s ability to provide startups with three no-cost services: corporate legal assistance through its Entrepreneurial Assistance Legal Clinic (E-ship Legal Clinic); intellectual property assistance through its IP Assistance Legal Clinic; and matchmaking services pairing early-stage tech startups with management talent through its Startup Leadership Network.

Bolstering these three startup support services will enable Penn State to reduce the additional challenges faced by startups attempting to launch in rural Central Pennsylvania: namely, lack of access to entrepreneurial support and experienced executives and entrepreneurs. In addition to direct client advice, such as pro bono patent and trademark advice and legal entity selection advice, SSH will provide a variety of education seminars, bootcamps, workshops, and outreach education activities to various regions throughout rural PA. The Startup Leadership Network is designed to provide rural startups with access to a network of experienced industry leaders from across the Commonwealth interested in working with young companies.

This project is anticipated to support the creation of 40 new companies in three years, leverage $10 million in private investment, and realize $30 million in economic benefit for the 40 central Pennsylvania companies alone within five years.