Berks LaunchBox

Coffee tastes better from a mug you designed yourself. ☕🎨

This week's Free Dye Sublimation Mug Workshop turned creativity into something participants can use every day. After designing their artwork in Inkscape, everyone brought their ideas to life with vibrant, full-color mugs, from sea turtles and custom gifts to gaming-inspired creations.

What would you put on your mug?

Leurys Mesa recently met with Berks LaunchBox coach Seth Shriner to explore a new business idea designed for gymgoers and bodybuilders.

During the early stages of a business, understanding the customer, identifying the problem being solved, and testing the idea are important steps. We look forward to supporting Leurys as the concept continues to develop!

✨ Creativity lit up the room during our Laser Engraved Night Light Workshop! Participants learned how to create their own custom designs, prepare them for laser engraving, and bring them to life with colorful LED bases. From whimsical jellyfish to enchanted storybook scenes, everyone left with a unique piece they designed themselves. 💡🎨 Next FREE class is Tuesday, July 28 - 10 spots left. Sign-up today! https://berkslaunchbox.psu.edu/project/design-laser-cut-night-light/

🚀 ¿No sabes cómo poner precio a tus productos o servicios? Aprende a calcular tus precios tomando en cuenta tus costos, tu tiempo, el valor que ofreces y tu margen de ganancia.

Únete al webinar gratuito en español de Berks LaunchBox: “Cómo poner precio a tus productos y servicios”. Será el 4 de agosto de 2026, de 6:00 a 7:30 p. m. y al final recibirás una hoja de trabajo simple para aplicar lo aprendido en tu negocio.

📍 Taller virtual gratuito en español

¡Regístrate hoy y empieza a cobrar con más confianza! https://berkslaunchbox.psu.edu/updates/

At the Berks LaunchBox, we meet entrepreneurs at every stage: someone with a brand-new idea, someone preparing for a first sale, someone testing a product, and someone trying to figure out what to do next.

You do not need to have it all figured out before you ask for help.

We offer free coaching, entrepreneur workshops, and prototyping help in our makerspace for Berks County and nearby entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next step.

Berks County entrepreneur Chaniera Stewart recently met with Berks LaunchBox coach Seth Shriner to discuss the development of her prototype for a new children’s product.

Turning an idea into a physical product requires research, testing, feedback, and plenty of persistence. We are excited to support Chaniera as she works through the early stages of bringing her idea to life!

Stay out of the heat and wildfire smoke tonight at the cool Berks LaunchBox at the GoggleWorks in Reading. Free, with only 6 seats left!

Join us tonight, Thursday, July 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to design and 3D print your own fidget spinner. Children ages 10+ may attend with a supervising adult and should be able to stay engaged for two hours, use a computer mouse, navigate web-based tools, and follow instructions.

Register: https://berkslaunchbox.psu.edu/updates/

We recently welcomed Jennifer Reis, owner of CrownRise Capital, to the Berks LaunchBox for coaching sessions with Seth Shriner and Michelle Hnath.

CrownRise Capital is a commercial loan brokerage that connects business owners and real estate investors with strategic lending solutions designed to support financial stability and business growth. https://www.crownrisecap.com/

We look forward to seeing Jennifer continue to build her business and help clients identify financing options that fit their goals.

A good idea gets stronger when you test it early.

Before investing in a website, inventory, equipment, branding, or a full launch, take time to talk with potential customers and understand the problem you are solving.

The Berks LaunchBox offers free coaching to help early-stage entrepreneurs think through their idea, identify next steps, and move forward with more confidence.

Need help getting started? Reach out to the Berks LaunchBox.