Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Entrepreneurs, hors d’oeuvres and handshakes: innovators to gather at Factory LLC in Bethlehem
Jeff McGaw//October 16, 2019
Entrepreneurs, hors d’oeuvres and handshakes: innovators to gather at Factory LLC in Bethlehem
Jeff McGaw//October 16, 2019//
Listen to this articleWith an eye on making the Lehigh Valley an innovation hub of the east coast, Factory LLC, a dormant steel mill-turned business innovation center on Columbia Street in Bethlehem will host an event called Startup Valley on Oct. 30.
The event, which will run from 6:30-to-8:30 p.m. will bring local business leaders, angel investors, industry experts, merchants, higher education representatives, students, community members and, of course, entrepreneurs under one roof.
The evening will include a networking cocktail hour with light bites prepared by Factory’s in-house chefs and drinks by Molly’s Irish Grill and Sports Pub of South Bethlehem and Black Hawk Imports, a wine and spirits importer.
Afterwards, Factory-selected innovators will compete in a quick pitch to win cash prizes and Factory services, with the audience voting on their smartphones via DirectPoll for their favorite new business ideas.
The event is sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley’s entrepreneurial LaunchBox program, Lehigh University’s Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation; Lafayette College’s Dyer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Northampton Community College’s Follett Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and ArtsQuest.
Factory LLC was founded by former Freshpet and Meow Mix CEO Rich Thompson.
Thompson poured $12 million into the 40,000-square-foot former steel mill at 315 Columbia St. near Lehigh University, SteelStacks and Northampton Community College’s Fowler Family Southside Center.
He hopes to invest in food, beverage and pet product companies with between $2 million and $20 million in revenue.
For a stake in those companies, Factory provides professional services and professional development resources that, he said, can help businesses get to the next level.
Editor’s note: Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the event can contact Grady Barth at 610-442-5663 or email him at [email protected].
