The Pennovation Accelerator, an annual six-week program that teaches local startups about business development, held their fifth annual Pitch Day at the Pennovation Center in July 2022. Penn startup Baleena was named as the overall 2022 Pennovation Accelerator Winner, based on the team’s engagement throughout the program, the company’s growth over the term of the program and the quality of their final pitch.
Baleena, founded by Penn Engineering graduates Sarah Beth Gleeson, Shoshana Weintraub, and Julia Yan, is a developing a device that traps microfibers in laundry machines to reduce microplastic pollution in the ocean. Baleena was also awarded the 2022 President’s Sustainability Prize for this innovative solution to help address microplastics pollution.
As the winner of the Pennovation Accelerator Pitch Day, Baleena received a $7,000 cash prize to continue their work, a Pennovation Center Resident Desk membership for six months (for up to 4 people), an Accounting Startup Package sponsored by Stephano Slack, and company promotion at the PCIV @ Pennovation Center Showcase.
Read more about 2022 Pennovation Accelerator Pitch Day here.