Penn State Startup Week 2026

Have you ever wondered what SDGs are? How can you incorporate them into E-ship courses? The PSU Biotech Boardroom Pitch competition will show how students from different majors and colleges across Penn State University came together as teams in Biotechnology 459 offered by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department in the Eberly College of Science.

Over the semester, students started by identifying one or more of the United Nations' 17 sustainability development goals (SDGs). Then, they applied their hard and soft skills in the natural and physical sciences, entrepreneurial grit, and global perspectives to develop an innovative solution for these SDGs. The proposed projects were then presented in an elevator pitch to further their ideas, receive feedback, and form teams of people with similar ideas and solutions.

Throughout the semester, after the team formation, students were accompanied by alum mentors and judges from the industry, including entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, and healthcare workers.