Pa. — The Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State recently announced the winners of its summer 2026 Lifestyle Pitch Competition. Prizes awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners totaled $2,000 in seed funding
Twelve participants shared their vision, their story, and the customers they hope to serve while competing for prize money and receiving valuable feedback from the Berks LaunchBox adviser panel. Participants represented a wide range of lifestyle businesses, from family services and wellness to food and gift items to event and technology support. Each entrepreneur brought a unique perspective on how their business meets a need in the community
Jessica King, founder of ElderCARE Collaborative, was the first-place winner and received $1,000. ElderCARE Collaborative provides compassionate aging advocacy that empowers families to make confident decisions. With more than 15 years of experience supporting families through care coordination and complex aging transitions, King offers guidance rooted in clarity, compassion, trust and respect for each senior adult’s autonomy
Tom and Kim Chilton, founders of Garden Infuzions, were the second-place winners and received $600. Garden Infuzions creates more than 200 flavors of handcrafted infused olive oils designed to elevate everyday cooking with bold herb and spice flavors like New York pizza, cilantro-lime, Philly cheesesteak, and more. Customers can sample the oils at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Annette Faust, founder of A Box of Berks and Beyond, was the third-place winner and received $400. A Box of Berks and Beyond creates thoughtfully curated gift boxes that celebrate the history, culture and flavors of Berks County, Reading and Pennsylvania with local treats presented in a modern gift basket. Faust has been creating the gift boxes since 2017
King commented, “Berks LaunchBox has been an invaluable part of my entrepreneurial journey. The mentorship, education, encouragement and resources they provide gave me the confidence to build a business I never would have known how to create on my own. Just a few months before the competition, I was sitting in the audience, inspired by the entrepreneurs on that stage. To then stand there myself, share the vision for ElderCARE Collaborative, and ultimately hear my name announced as the winner was an incredibly humbling, full-circle moment.”
Erica Kunkel, director of innovation, workforce and community Impact, stated that they are grateful to the 12 contestants who prepared excellent pitches and to the 13 advisers who served as judges, offering their time, insight, encouragement and practical feedback to help each entrepreneur move forward
Edvard Philipson, a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries across international markets, serves on the LaunchBox adviser panel
“Serving as a judge for this year’s Pitch Competition was both a privilege and a joy,” Philipson said. “I had the opportunity to learn about 12 inspiring projects and entrepreneurial ventures, each reflecting creativity, passion and determination. While only three teams could be selected as winners, every participant deserves recognition for having the courage to transform an idea into action. I sincerely hope that each of these entrepreneurs continues pursuing their vision and achieves lasting success.”
About the Berks LaunchBox
The mission of Berks LaunchBox, located in Suite 105 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is to support economic development and entrepreneurship. An innovation hub of Penn State Berks, the LaunchBox connects local early-stage entrepreneurs to the support, resources and facilities that they need to build sustainable and scalable businesses with a viable plan for growth. Services include assistance with prototyping, conducting market research, and connecting with advisers. Berks LaunchBox offers entrepreneurship workshops, co-working space for startups, meetups focused on business development, a makerspace with 3D printers for prototyping, and special youth programs. Berks LaunchBox is supported by Invent Penn State — a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu or contact Kunkel at 610-396-6221 or ELS5014@psu.edu.
Last Updated July 22, 2026
Contact
- els5014@psu.edu
- Cell Phone: 610-396-6221
