Merge State College
Hosted by: Penn State's Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub on Friday, October 2nd, 2026This first-ever State College Keystone Merge event was hosted at Penn State’s downtown Barron Innovation Hub, home of the Happy Valley Launchbox, and conducted as a free side-event to Invent Penn State’s big annual Venture & IP conference happening on campus at Innovation Park.
Our goal was to help engage the wider and local startup community within the context of out-of-town visiting entrepreneurs and investors and the exciting venture energy of the week on campus at the VIP conference.
The special event featured quick elevator pitches and open networking among student founders, PSU faculty and staff, State College community and visiting entrepreneurs, as well as various venture investors and entrepreneurial ecosystem supporter attendees.
Former Penn State President Eric Barron spoke publicly the night prior within the same Mezzanine Space of the beautiful downtown Innovation Hub that bears his name, as part of a special Donor Wall unveiling ceremony; but we should note here that he was not present at our actual Keystone Merge event, and that picture was taken the day prior.
