Lion Cage 2021

MALVERN, Pa. — The LaunchBox @ Penn State Great Valley will host the fourth annual Lion Cage pitch competition from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Saturday, March 6. This year’s program will be live-streamed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Lion Cage gives budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their products or ideas to a panel of judges and compete for invaluable prizes. This year, Lion Cage will consist of two tracks – one for community entrepreneurs and one for students. Participants will have the opportunity to work with a mentor the week prior to the competition to refine their presentation. Each participant will have five minutes to present their idea to the judges, who will then ask questions and provide feedback.

Past winners include Raghav Hardas’ Squawkr app, which allows users to livestream their own commentary over televised sports, and Wayne Frick’s Chirpsounds, a product that wirelessly transmits the sounds of birds at their feeders to an indoors receiver.

To enter, entrepreneurs must submit an application by 11:59PM on Monday, February 22. Accepted applicants will be notified on Thursday, February 25. Members of the public are encouraged to watch the competition, but advance registration is required.

The Great Valley LaunchBox was established in May 2020 with a mission to inspire, advise and educate early stage companies. The LaunchBox provides free expert mentoring and advisory services, educational content including webinars, workshops, and speaker series, co-working space, makerspace, and free legal assistance through PennState Law.