Events

Innovators Ignite 2024 brings together aspiring and diverse academic entrepreneurs from University of Pennsylvania and Yale to present their promising technologies to a panel of industry experts. The pitch event aims to spotlight academic innovators by harnessing the combined strengths and networks of both institutions.

Leading up to the event, organizers will match the innovators with expert mentors to help them best position their technologies and prepare their presentation for an expert panel of judges. This event is for innovations across the university that address a market unmet need. These innovations may come from medicine, public health, engineering, environmental sciences.

The Innovators Ignite pitch event provides the platform, connections, and personalized mentorship needed to take ideas to the next inflection point to positively impact society.  The event will take place virtually on Zoom from 12 to 1:30pm EST on September 17th. 

Who should attend: 

• Industry: Key players from various industries looking to explore and support emerging technologies.
• VC Community: Angel investors, venture studios, venture accelerators seeking to diversify their portfolios with pre-seed, early-stage academic technologies.
• Innovation Enthusiasts: Individuals passionate about the latest advancements and trends in technology.
• Network Builders: Professionals eager to connect with innovators to foster new partnerships and opportunities, including potential CEOs, advisors, and mentors.
• Champions of Diversity: Attendees dedicated to promoting diversity in innovation and ensuring a wide range of voices and perspectives are represented.

Who should apply: 

• Must be a member of the Yale or UPenn campus-based communities: Faculty, PostDoc, Grad Student, Researcher.
• Highly encourage faculty who would like experience/coaching/exposure to pitching who have thought about translation but have not participated in the process before.
• Intention to continue developing the technology after pitch event.
• Potential to impact an area of high unmet need.
• Should be ready to learn, teach, forge connections, and make professional progress! *Positivity is a core requirement!
• Must be available to pitch live via Zoom on September 17 between 12am – 1:30pm ET.
• DEADLINE TO APPLY: Monday, August 19, 2024

Access the registration and application sites here.