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launchU Startup Challenge Celebrates 5th Year of Empowering Young Innovators; Enter Today!

launchU Startup Challenge Celebrates 5th Year of Empowering Young Innovators; Enter Today!

January 8, 2025

Harrisburg, PA – The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is excited to announce the 5th annual launchU Startup Challenge, the premier startup pitch competition for aspiring entrepreneurs in high school and college. This milestone year promises to inspire innovation and drive creativity among the next generation of changemakers.

The launchU Startup Challenge, powered by Harrisburg University and proudly supported by The Hershey Company, has grown into a global platform that welcomes participants from Central PA, the region, the US, and around the world. Past competitors included teams from Turkey, Panama, and Kenya. Each year, the launchU Challenge provides students with a unique opportunity to refine their entrepreneurial ideas with the guidance of experienced mentors, develop essential business skills, and compete for cash prizes. To see which student teams took home the top honors in 2024, click here.

Applications are now open for launchU Startup Challenge 2025, with an application deadline of March 7, 2025. The competition culminates with a virtual event on May 14, 2025, where finalists pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to win top honors.

“The launchU Startup Challenge has become a flagship program for the CIE, helping students build confidence, network with like-minded peers, and develop solutions to real-world problems,” said Jay Jayamohan, Executive Director at CIE. “We are incredibly grateful to The Hershey Company for their unwavering support and their commitment to fostering innovation among young entrepreneurs here in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.”

launchU’s impact has been transformative, with past winners using their success to launch businesses, expand their networks, and gain recognition on a global scale. This year’s competition aims to continue that tradition by inspiring students to think creatively and dream big.

HOW TO APPLY

Students can apply as part of a team of up to five members. The top eight applicant teams (four from high school and four from college) will be selected to participate in the competition and receive mentorship to refine their pitches. Finalists will present their ideas virtually to a distinguished panel of judges. To learn more about the competition and apply, visit CIE.HarrisburgU.edu/launchU.

ABOUT CIE

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is dedicated to empowering students and the community to turn ideas into action and action into successful business ventures. Through mentorship, professional development programming, hands-on opportunities, and a focus on bringing opportunity to underserved communities, the CIE helps entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s dynamic global economy.

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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