GEW Penn State 2026

In-person only
Join us on Tuesday, November 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate the 5th annual Community Networking Event during Global Entrepreneurship Week at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College. For five years, this event has brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, community leaders, and professionals from across the region to spark new relationships and strengthen existing ones.

This year, we're celebrating that milestone by rolling out the blue carpet and inviting attendees to join us for an evening of networking, conversation, refreshments, facility tours, and anniversary cake from a local bakery. Whether you're making your first connection or reconnecting with long-time partners, this special anniversary event offers a welcoming space to engage with the people and organizations helping shape our community's future.

Guests will have the opportunity to explore the six-story Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub, home to Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, OriginLabs, and a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators. Tours will be available throughout the evening. The Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub features collaborative spaces designed to accelerate innovation, technology commercialization, and local business growth through peer learning, knowledge sharing, and mentorship.

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, aspiring entrepreneur, student, community partner, or simply interested in expanding your network, we invite you to join us as we celebrate five years of connections and look ahead to what's next.

Registration is required. This event is free and open to all.

This event is presented by the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC), the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Invent Penn State, Centre Region Entrepreneur Network (CREN), and Happy Valley Changemakers Collective.

Register Here: https://business.cbicc.org/ap/Events/Register/v5Fxbg1TKCyCm

In-Person Only
Innovating within a company is about intrapreneurship. In this highly competitive AI-driven world, setting yourself apart from thousands of other applicants competing for one job can be achieved when you convey how entrepreneurial you are. By understanding the application of the entrepreneurial mindset and how to choose the right company to work for, you can be identified as an intrapreneur. Someone who aligns with the mission of a firm and is ready to collaborate to make a difference to advance the goals and objectives of a company.

The presentation will be held in room 303 of the Engineering Design and Innovation Building, West Campus. Near the Westgate Building.

In-person only
We Are Penn State. We Are Entrepreneurs. is a curated, high-impact entrepreneurship conference hosted by the Happy Valley LaunchBox that brings together founders, startup support organizations, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the region under one roof. Designed as a tactical, outcome-driven resource summit rather than a traditional networking event, WE Connect provides direct access to the people, programs, and tools entrepreneurs need to build, fund, and scale their ventures. The full-day event features a keynote speaker, six hands-on workshops led by regional partners, structured networking opportunities, and a 40-business showcase highlighting founders and resource providers. By connecting entrepreneurs with actionable resources, strategic relationships, and clear next steps for growth, WE CONNECT strengthens the regional innovation ecosystem while positioning Penn State and the Happy Valley LaunchBox as leaders in entrepreneurial development.

Register Here: WEconnect Conference