CIE - Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

05/07/2026

Meet more of the mentors supporting this year’s launchU Competition 🚀

John Lucas, Dustin Betz, and Dr. Aditya Sharma are sharing their expertise to help students grow their ideas and navigate the entrepreneurial journey.

05/06/2026

The CIE - Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship has announced the 10 finalist teams selected for the 2026 launchU Student Startup Pitch Competition, a global, “Shark Tank”-style event bringing together student entrepreneurs from high schools and universities around the world.

Now in its sixth year, launchU has grown from a small HU student initiative into an international competition, with past participants representing countries including Turkey, Panama, and Kenya. This year’s cohort was selected from more than 50 applications and reflects one of the most diverse groups to date, with ventures spanning agri-tech, healthcare, accessibility, fintech, sustainability, and more.

The 2026 finalists include student teams from: Boston University, Canyon Crest Academy, Commonwealth Charter Academy, Dallastown Area High School, Dickinson College, Downingtown East High School, Florida State University, Hempfield High School, Mcnair Academic High School, Michigan State University, and Washington State University.

🔗 Read more about the finalists here: https://www.harrisburgu.edu/news/2026-05-06-launchu-finalists/

05/04/2026

More mentors helping drive this year’s launchU Competition forward 🚀

Owen Farrell, Alana Davis, and Evan Pappas are sharing their experience and guidance as students develop and grow their ventures.

04/29/2026

Meet some of the mentors behind this year's launchU Competition — the people helping students refine their ideas, navigate challenges, and bring their ventures to life. 🚀

Adam Marsh, Bryan Ortenzio, and Sheri Collins each bring real-world experience and practical insight to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

04/23/2026

Yesterday at the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE), we ran a 2-hour “Side Hustle School” experience—and what happened was incredible.

Students from different high schools formed teams, identified real problems, built solutions, and pitched their ideas like founders.
-No lectures.
-No textbooks.
-Just thinking, building, and doing.

In under 120 minutes, we saw:
-Creative solutions to everyday problems the students faced
-Teams collaborating like seasoned founders
-Confidence growing with every pitch
And maybe most importantly— Students realizing that entrepreneurship isn’t something you wait to learn…it’s something you start. This is exactly why we built CIE—to give young minds (and their families) a space to develop critical thinking, problem solving, and an entrepreneurial mindset for an AI-driven future.

High schools, educators, and community leaders:
If you’re thinking about how to better prepare your students for what’s ahead, let’s connect.

We’d love to bring Innovation & Entrepreneurship to your students—or host your group at CIE for a hands-on experience like this. Because the future won’t be built by those who just study it. It will be built by those who start early and take action.

Thank you to students and counselors from Central Dauphin East High School, Redland High School, Bishop McDevitt High School, and SciTech High School for attending!

04/06/2026

Applications are now open for the 5th annual Small Business Accelerator Program.

This free program, hosted by Harrisburg University’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in partnership with M&T Bank, supports local entrepreneurs with mentorship, hands-on training, and funding opportunities. Participants will also pitch their business for a chance to win up to $5,000.

Spots are limited and filled on a first come, first served basis, and applications are due by April 10.

Applications are now open for the fifth annual Small Business Accelerator Program, a free initiative held in partnership with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s (HU) Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and M&T Bank. The program equips local entrepreneurs with the mentorsh...

03/30/2026

Meet William Alexander, a member of the faculty of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a guest judge for launchU 2026!

William Alexander, MBA is a member of the faculty of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he lectures on the topic “Strategies and Practices of Family Controlled Corporations”. In 2020, he was recognized with an Outstanding Teaching Award in the Wharton Executive MBA Program. In 2022 and 2011, he was recognized with Outstanding Teaching Awards from the Wharton Graduate Division. In 2006, he was the recipient of the William Whitney Award for teaching excellence in the Wharton Undergraduate Division. He has been a visiting Professor at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, Daystar University College, Nairobi, Kenya, and IILM, New Delhi, India.

He was a third-generation principal and CEO of a large construction entity in Central Pennsylvania. In addition, he has served on various boards, including Herr Foods, The Hershey Company, Hershey Trust Company, which he chaired, Highmark Blue Shield, and the Geisinger Health System which he also chaired. He was formerly the managing director of the Snider Entrepreneurial Research Center at Wharton. Mr. Alexander holds an undergraduate degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Don’t miss the launchU Finale on May 13: https://cie.harrisburgu.edu/launchu/

03/26/2026

Meet Danny Fisher, Chief Technology Officer at West Shore Home and a guest judge for launchU 2026!

Danny Fisher is Chief Technology Officer at West Shore Home, one of the nation's largest home remodeling companies. He oversees the company's proprietary technology platform, a vertically integrated suite of applications built on a modular microservices architecture that digitizes every stage of the remodeling process. Under Fisher's leadership, the engineering team has developed tools spanning 3D room scanning, configure-price-quote, warehouse management, and AI-powered scheduling, all built in-house and integrated across West Shore Home's 42 locations in 24 states.

Before his current role, Danny held leadership positions at DynaTech Generators, serving as President and Vice President of Operations. He holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Technology Education from Bloomsburg University.

Don’t miss the launchU Finale on May 13: https://cie.harrisburgu.edu/launchu/

03/26/2026

In celebration of Women's History Month, we’re proud to spotlight women founders making an impact through Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Christina Milano-Damaskos, Co-Founder and CEO of Athlon Inc., is creating new ways to approach youth wellness through technology.

🔗 Read more about her story and insights here: https://www.harrisburgu.edu/news/2026-03-25-womens-history-month-athlon/

03/23/2026

We’re excited to welcome Bry Pardoe, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Chief Information Officer, as a guest judge for launchU 2026!

Bry Pardoe was named the Commonwealth’s Chief Information Officer in October 2025, where she oversees the management and operation of IT services for all executive agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

Previously, Bry served as Executive Director of the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), where she led efforts to transform customer service and improve digital experiences for Pennsylvanians. Under her leadership, CODE PA delivered a range of impactful digital products, including PAyback, a first-of-its-kind system for tracking permit timelines and requesting fee refunds, as well as a redesigned PA.gov and several high-priority online services across state agencies.

Prior to joining the Commonwealth, Bry held digital leadership roles at Main Line Health and Geisinger, focusing on improving accessibility, patient experience, and digital engagement. She began her career in digital experience at Lycoming Engines.

Don’t miss the launchU Finale on May 13: https://cie.harrisburgu.edu/launchu/