Wilkes University has expanded its entrepreneurial education offerings with the new Wilkes Enterprise Center, a downtown business incubator intended to encourage and support startups from Wilkes students, faculty and staff.
According to a university blog post, nine nascent businesses are already housed at the center, which opened in March. Three are student-run enterprises: Kraken Boardsports, which manufactures outdoor recreation products; Magnesium Works, a company developing a therapeutic wrap for athletic and other applications; and Penwel, developers of a product to increase student safety at parties.
Other businesses run by Wilkes faculty and staff include Bepa Studio, a nature photography studio; Four Hound Solutions, which provides automated testing solutions (and is the recipient of a new investment, reported in this issue, from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania); Penn Manufacturing, an additive manufacturing company; MC2 Consulting Group, which provides leadership training and consulting services; and Xonnel Enterprises, which designs and manufactures fitness equipment. A ninth company, At The Inkwell — which specializes in book promotion and reviews in an online platform — is not physically located at the center, but will use its support services.
The new center is an integral part of Wilkes' vision to expand entrepreneurial education across academic disciplines, explains Wilkes University President Patrick F. Leahy.
“The Wilkes Enterprise Center strengthens our educational mission, providing opportunities for students to apply what they have learned to invent new products and processes and to build businesses,” he said in a statement. “Students also benefit by working with faculty who will start businesses under the auspices of the center.”
An initiative of the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Wilkes, the center also reflects the University’s commitment to the city by attracting new businesses to downtown and retaining talented individuals to work locally.
Businesses at the center receive office space and advising from an executive-in-residence and a team of volunteer business advisors. Wilkes is also planning a seed venture fund and technology transfer office to further support fledgling businesses.
Source: Wilkes University
Writer: Elise Vider