The Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference, one of the largest tech startup conferences in the mid-Atlantic region, virtually hosted more than 500 attendees April 15-16. Drawing more than 80 startups and more than 50 venture capital investors from across the country, the conference highlighted innovations from high growth and emerging markets to promote collaboration, investment and startup acceleration.
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Farm payroll startup Labora wins SFU entrepreneurship competition
Surrey, British Columbia-based FinTech startup Labora has taken home the top prize at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) 10th annual Venture Prize competition, coming away with a $35,000 prize package.
The awards were announced on April 21 during an online ceremony. For the second year in a row, the competition, which was sponsored by BC credit union Coast Capital Savings, was held virtually. According to SFU, this year, the competition saw a 35 percent increase in applications compared to 2020.
According to SFU, this year, the competition saw a 35 percent increase in applications compared to 2020.
Labora offers a digital payroll service for seasonal agricultural workers and farmers. The startup provides simple, automated payroll transfers, allowing workers to send remittances back home more easily by giving them a “safe, convenient alternative to travelling to a physical bank.”
Innovations comprised biotechnology, IT, energy, advanced manufacturing, and other high-growth markets
Kenneth Frazier, a 1975 Penn State alumnus and chairman and CEO of Merck, served as the keynote speaker for the 2021 Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference.
Image: Penn State
Virtual Venture & IP Conference showcases disruptive technology, innovations
April 22, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference, one of the largest tech startup conferences in the mid-Atlantic region, virtually hosted more than 500 attendees April 15-16.
Drawing more than 80 startups and more than 50 venture capital investors from across the country, the conference highlighted innovations from high growth and emerging markets to promote collaboration, investment and startup acceleration. The conference’s popular Venture Connection “speed-dating” platform hosted over 600 meetings between investment seeking startups and venture capital investors.
Startups are not required to have a Penn State affiliation to apply.
The VIP Conference is one of the largest tech startup conferences in the Mid-Atlantic and draws more than 600 attendees, including 70-plus startup ventures and 40-plus investment firms from across the country. The conference highlights innovations from high growth and emerging markets such as Information Technology, FinTech, EdTech, Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Business to Business, and Business to Consumer, among others.
In addition to Venture Connection, attendees can look forward to several Penn State innovator competitions and showcases. The Student Startup Showcase kicks off each conference. Hosted by University President Eric Barron, the event features one-minute pitches from Penn State’s top student entrepreneurs.