Southeastern Pennsylvania's entrepreneurial ecosystem is gearing up for a new edition of the LionCage Pitch Competition, one of the region's most prominent competitions for startups and innovative projects. Organized by Invent Penn State LaunchBoxes, in partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) organization, this event will offer a series of regional competitions between March and October 2025, culminating with the grand finale on November 14 at Penn State Great Valley.

LionCage 2025 has expanded its scope through the "Road to LionCage 2025," an initiative that includes six events prior to the main competition. Each of these sessions will focus on different categories of entrepreneurs, such as women founders, social impact startups, young entrepreneurs and veterans. The winners of these preliminary rounds will get a direct pass to the finals in November, where they will compete for funding, mentorship and visibility within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The first event in this series will be held on March 26, 2025 at Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA. It will be dedicated to women entrepreneurs and will include panel discussions with business leaders, as well as a pitch session where participants will be able to present their innovative projects.

More than cash

Event organizers have emphasized that, beyond funding, LionCage provides key opportunities for entrepreneurs. Participants receive one-on-one mentoring, access to investor networks and the chance to refine their business models with the guidance of experts in technology, consulting and business development.

"Through LionCage, we not only reward innovation, but also provide the tools necessary for entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into sustainable, impactful businesses," said Leo Daiuto, director of Great Valley LaunchBox, according to a release on the University of Pennsylvania website.

Past winners

Last year, the competition brought together 30 teams of entrepreneurs who presented innovative solutions to a panel of judges. Among the outstanding projects were:

The Community Grocer: Eli Moraru won the Social Impact Award and Best in Show for his proposal to reinvent neighborhood grocery stores in Southwest Philadelphia, offering fresh and affordable food for vulnerable communities.

Lectra Technologies: Winning startup in the New Ventures category, with an innovative muscle stimulation therapy solution based on kinesthetic tape and bluetooth electrodes.

Bottimals: Julianne Gardner, winner in the Penn State alumni category, created a device in the form of a stuffed animal to enhance the bottle-feeding experience by harnessing the sense of smell to strengthen the bond between mother and child.

H2O Connected: In the experienced startup category, Susan Springsteen presented her technology for detecting water leaks in toilets, helping resource conservation and water efficiency.

Pathlight Project: A team of high school students created an artificial intelligence navigation device for people with low vision, winning in the young entrepreneurs category.

With the 2025 edition underway and a series of events scheduled, LionCage continues to consolidate itself as a key platform for the growth of startups in the region. Interested entrepreneurs can obtain more information and register through the event's official website.