MALVERN, Pa. — Penn State Great Valley will hold the second annual Lion Cage pitch competition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.
Designed for early-stage entrepreneurs, Lion Cage creates an opportunity to pitch business products or ideas to a judging panel of startup and business experts, receive valuable feedback, and compete for prizes. A total of $5,000 will awarded this year, and the contest is open to both the Penn State community and the public.
The event is held through the campus’ REV-UP Center for Entrepreneurship, which was established in May 2016 through a grant from the Invent Penn State Initiative. Operating in partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council, REV-UP aims to engage and encourage Penn State students, faculty and community members to generate innovative, commercially-viable solutions to address existing and emerging business and social needs, and to support their entrepreneurial efforts as they serve the Philadelphia region.
In its first year, Lion Cage saw 10 pitches from students, alumni and community members. Their ideas ranged from an Esports strategy app, to an on-demand child care center, to a community-centered coffee shop. Speakers included Michael Dermer, founder and author of the Lonely Entrepreneur, and Anthony Gold, co-founder of ROAR for Good.
“Last year's inaugural event was a great success,” said Doug Schumer, faculty director for the REV-UP center. “Participants and attendees came together to celebrate entrepreneurship. This year we will build on that success, featuring a pitch contest with bigger awards and a keynote address by the entrepreneur and author Wayne Kimmel.”