The Visiting Experts Program is a Venture Lab program that provides students with the opportunity to meet alumni founders, entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and industry experts in one-on-one or small group AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions. The program aims to provide insights into the practical, conceptual, and personal challenges of launching, acquiring, or growing a venture.
Our flagship program, the Venture Initiation Program is a joint incubator-accelerator that introduces students to the key aspects of entrepreneurship such as ideation, validation, market-product fit, fundraising, networking, scaling, business planning, development, launching and more.
Get $500, $2,500, or $5,000 towards your venture
The Penn Wharton Innovation Fund exists to fund creative and meaningfully innovative ventures from the Penn student community. Alberto Vitale WG’59, who endowed the Innovation Fund, hopes that it will be “a catalyst to stimulate innovation at the School and to surface the brainpower of its students.”
The Innovation Fund awards are for early-stage ventures founded and led by one or more Penn students. The venture should be a new venture founded while the team lead and/or team members are current Penn students.
The Penn Wharton Innovation Fund exists to fund creative and meaningfully innovative ventures from the Penn student community. Alberto Vitale WG’59, who endowed the Innovation Fund, hopes that it will be “a catalyst to stimulate innovation at the School and to surface the brainpower of its students.”
The Innovation Fund awards are for early-stage ventures founded and led by one or more Penn students. The venture should be a new venture founded while the team lead and/or team members are current Penn students.
VIP Practicum is designed for students with an interest in working at an early-stage venture, particularly as one of the first employees or in joining an early-stage venture as a co-founder.
Join the Venture Lab Social Entrepreneurship program and be a catalyst for positive change! Explore the intersection of business and social impact with our innovative salon series. Dive deep into key industries and communities like Food and Agriculture, Affordable Housing, Clean Tech, and LGBTQ+.
Be part of the solution – your journey towards meaningful impact starts here!
Be part of the solution – your journey towards meaningful impact starts here!
Penn ranked high on all four lists: undergraduate, graduate, female founders undergraduate and female founders graduate. The ranking is based primarily on how many alumni entrepreneurs have founded venture capital-backed companies.
Our Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) program provides training, funding, and guidance to help interested students buy an established small to medium-sized company and operate, optimize, and grow it. Our workshops and events are open to all Penn Students.
Join panelists in a discussion surrounding underinvestment in LGBTQ+ centered projects and the challenges that arise as a result.
Upcoming Events
November 28, 2023 at 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Tickets Are Selling Fast!
December 05, 2023 at 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Tangen Hall
Tickets On Sale Now!!
Labs & Studios
Tangen Hall is home to nine labs and studios specializing in design, fabrication, food innovation, and retail that are available to student #entrePENNeurs across our ecosystem
Our collection of workspaces and labs that house digital and analog fabrication technologies.
Our print and digital production supporting student ventures across the Penn community.
Our 800-sq. ft. facility that supports a unique cohort of food and beverage startups at Penn.
Tangen Hall brings together aspiring entrepreneurs across the University
At seven stories and 68,000 square feet, the Wharton-led Tangen is the largest student entrepreneurship hub in the world.
“The ‘start here’ approach is echoed in our mission of democratizing entrepreneurship for all students at Penn,” says Lori Rosenkopf, vice dean of entrepreneurship and Simon and Midge Palley Professor of Management at the Wharton School.
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“The ‘start here’ approach is echoed in our mission of democratizing entrepreneurship for all students at Penn,” says Lori Rosenkopf, vice dean of entrepreneurship and Simon and Midge Palley Professor of Management at the Wharton School.
READ MORE
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Pathways
Venture Lab offers five unique pathways for students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. Each pathways features tailored programming that intertwines with our collective programs and resources.


Venture Lab was built to encourage interdisciplinary, integrated, and inclusive entrepreneurship. It’s a beacon that showcases the wide variety of opportunities across the University. Come grow with us!
Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School
Featured Videos
Discover our selection of recorded entrepreneurial events and workshops as part of our co-curricular entrepreneurship program.
Startup Stories
Find out what's happening across the #entrePENNeur community! Want to tell your story? Contact us at venturelab@upenn.edu.
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