Wharton Stories: Entrepreneurship & Innovation

A group of medical professionals in surgical attire holding a banner for VISIPLATE Aqueous Shunt at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
“It was really special to bring this technology back to Penn,” says Avisi Founder and CEO Rui Jing Jiang, W’18. “We first met glaucoma patients in the same operating room all those years ago, and now we have the chance to bring them a new technology designed to help preserve their vision.”

Y-Prize Winner Avisi Technologies Returns to Penn for Its Next Chapter

A football player holds the Super Bowl XLVIII trophy on a stage with others in background, while confetti falls in front of a MetLife banner.
“When you’re playing, you only have time to invest and pick people and opportunities to bet on. But I wanted to be more active. Wharton gave me confidence to be more active and do things on my own.” — Malcolm Smith, WG’25

From the NFL to Finance: How Wharton Is Shaping Malcolm Smith’s Next Chapter

A small group of people having a meeting around a conference table with laptops and notebooks.
“It’s a creative space,” says Hetvee Marviya, WG’27, of the Generative AI Studio. “Just like I dance, this is something that’s creative, but using AI.”

Learning by Building: Inside Wharton’s Generative AI Studio

A group of seven individuals in professional attire (one holding an award) pose for a group portrait in front of a Wharton Global Youth Program backdrop.
The competition brings together thoughtful analysis, global collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose, where students from around the world rise to the challenge and deliver impactful investment strategies.

Wharton Global High School Investment Competition Hosts Future Business Leaders

Headshot of a person smiling, with long dark hair, wearing a white jacket, standing by a dark wall.
“It’s about getting the best out of your colleagues and working together to solve real problems,” says Raina Moskowitz, W’05, CEO of The Knot Worldwide. “That’s another piece from Wharton that gave me a great head start — introducing me to relevant scenarios that have carried through my career.”

From Inspiration to “I Do”

A large group of smiling people poses together at Venture Lab, with some individuals holding awards or plaques from the 2026 Startup Challenge.
“Creatives need a way to proactively protect their work. By protecting authors, we’re protecting innovation.” — Rishi Ambavanekar, ENG’29, W’29, 2026 Startup Challenge Grand Prize Winner

Top Winners at Venture Lab 2026 Startup Challenge

An aerial view of a wooden desk with someone's hands at a laptop alongside ear buds and other tech accessories.
“Wharton gives you an unusually safe environment to test things: classmates who will give real feedback, professors who will pressure-test your assumptions, and programs like VIP-X that simulate real investor scrutiny.” — Ojú Junaid, WG’26

Inside VIP-X Philadelphia: How Wharton MBA Founders Are Scaling Startups

Kristen Denzer, WG’26, (middle) in front of a Tierra Encantada location. (Image Credit: Robert Thesing)
“I’m leaving Wharton a stronger operator, leader, and decision maker thanks to what I learned here,” says Kristen Denzer, WG’26.

How Wharton Is Helping This Founder Scale and Lead a Childcare Brand

Students learning about the Penn Wharton Innovation Fund. (Image Credit: Venture Lab)
“Venture Lab has been the cornerstone of my entrepreneurial evolution. It’s where ideas get pressure-tested and pushed to a higher level,” says Madison Li, WG’26.

Entrepreneurship at Every Stage: How EMBA Students Engage With Venture Lab

A modern building with large glass windows and brick walls, featuring a sign that reads

The Path From Labs to the Marketplace