WILKES-BARRE — Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Asher Smart competed in and won the spring 2019 Innovation Challenge hosted by Wilkes-Barre Connect on Feb. 4.
The Innovation Challenge is an initiative that allows students to pitch their ideas to the Connect team.
As part of this event, Smart pitched his idea for a modified tennis racket for tennis enthusiasts with lower back pain. Along with the other student participants, Smart made a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges from the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry and Wilkes-Barre Connect.
The judges provided competitors with detailed feedback on their pitches. Student competitors were also offered assistance in development of their pitches, products, and businesses.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre Innovation Challenge competitors can continue to expand their ideas at the PITCH Competition held twice a year at the THINK Center in Wilkes-Barre as part of the Invent Penn State initiative.
Additionally, Smart has been invited to the Student Recognition and Networking Reception during Startup Week at Penn State. This event is hosted at the Pegula Ice Arena and recognizes the efforts of pitch competition winners. Penn State President Eric Barron hosts the reception and student honorees have the opportunity to network with thought-leaders and innovators.
The next Penn State Wilkes-Barre Innovation Challenge will be held in October 2019 and is open to all full and part-time Penn State students. For information on upcoming events, contact Erin Brennan, Assistant Teaching Professor of Business, at eab31@psu.edu.
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