Ceremony marks Weiss Tech House opening

Students finally have the resources to meld their innovative minds with commercial success.

Weiss Tech House held its opening ceremony on Friday evening. About 130 people attended, including University President Judith Rodin and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

The Tech House, located at 3340 Walnut Street, recently moved to Levine Hall after operating out of Huntsman Hall since February. It aims to be a hub for the development of new technology and its commercialization.

"Tech House offers unlimited opportunity and serves a myriad of interests and disciplines," said Wharton senior Dwaune Dupree, the house's student director.

Class of '65 graduate George Weiss -- whose $1.5 million gift made the house possible -- and Professor William Hamilton, the director of the management and technology program, together generated the idea for the house. "Bill said we needed a place where we can congeal these ideas" of business and innovation, Weiss said.

As befits a Penn resource center, education is one of the major objectives of the house.

"We educate students about entrepreneurship and innovation," said Wharton sophomore Sarah Dong, the house's president of marketing.

Several people noted that the previous lack of a technology center was detrimental to students trying to push technological boundaries.

"We always seem to lose many of our best and brightest students" after they graduate, Rendell said. "They take their [innovations] elsewhere to develop commercial ventures."

The house therefore provides mentoring, workspace and an innovation fund, through which students can apply for grants to develop their ideas.

The house also offers the opportunity to learn marketing skills.

"Weiss Tech House encourages students to take on leadership positions," Dupree said. "It creates innovative leaders."

Some students have already taken such advantage of the house. Wharton senior Sameer Gupta created an operating environment called "Smiling Screens," and with the aid of the house has started a company to sell the product.

"We have helped many students jumpstart their business," Dong said.

Many thought that new concepts originating from the house could serve the University and Pennsylvania at large.

"I hope that universities can be community centers for innovation," Rendell said. "There is nothing more consistent with that than Weiss Tech House."

Directors also believe that the house could help bridge the technological generation gap, a goal which Weiss particularly sympathized with.

"I did this because I'm technologically impaired," Weiss said. "I got a new laptop two weeks ago, and it took me two hours to open it."

Both Rodin and Rendell praised Weiss' generosity.

"Let's just add Weiss Tech House to the list of unbelievable ways you've made an impression on this campus," Rodin said.

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