As many as 75 percent of venture-backed startups fail; the failure rate of all U.S. companies after five years is over 50 percent. We take a closer look at three Commonwealth companies that have overcome the odds, making the transition from great idea to thriving company.
On July 19, 2019 Pennsylvania celebrated its first ever Park and Recreation Professionals Day. The honorees are charged with maintaining and promoting over 6,000 community parks and 12,000 miles of trails — life in PA wouldn't be the same without them.
When Dan McKenna decided to start a youth basketball business, he didn't know where to begin — so the fledgling founder tapped into local entrepreneurial resources to get the ball rolling.
Founder Joel Myers has been obsessed with the weather since he was a young boy growing up in Philadelphia. He followed his passion and built an international brand that provides information to tens of thousands of corporate clients along with those who simply need to know if they should pack an umbrella.
Founded by a former Penn State football player, Pledge It is a sport-based crowdfunding platform that ties athletic performance to fundraising for charity. The company is growing fast and has already raised over $10 million for causes around the world.
Nearly one million tons of avocado pits ends up in landfills every year. Persea, a State College startup, is killing two birds with one stone, diverting the pits and converting them into a healthy alternative to artificial colors.
Lancaster's Reflexion offers a portable, rapid concussion test for amateur and school sports. The three founders are tackling a problem that impacts 50 million athletes across the country, and hoping to save lives in the process.
This iconic Pennsylvania institution has been taking startups from great idea to thriving company since 1983, contributing billions to the state's economy. Check out four businesses — one for each of BFTP's regional headquarters — taking advantage of its incubation and acceleration resources to thrive, whether developing next-generation pregnancy tests, fighting bedbugs or saving lives with stroke prevention.
Often the greenest new homes are also the most expensive. GreenBuild, a partnership between Penn State and the State College Community Land Trust, is looking to solve that problem with a net-zero energy duplex that will be affordable both to purchase and to live in.
If you're catching any Penn State football this fall, here some exciting things to see and do beyond the gridiron, from natural wonders to inspiring museums and charming small towns.