From Validation to Growth: The Ventures Lab at Year Four
Lehigh's Ventures Lab isn't where ideas are born — it's where they grow into fully formed companies. Now in its fourth year, four Ventures Lab founders were highlighted at the 2026 Innovate! Celebrate! awards ceremony.
Innovate! Celebrate! 2026: From 'What If?' to What's Real
The annual Innovate! Celebrate! event was less a ceremony than a demonstration. On the evening of April 28, Lehigh University's Office of Entrepreneurship filled the room with confetti, applause, and something harder to manufacture: proof. Proof that curiosity, when given the right ecosystem, becomes something real.
From Weight Room to Startup: The Unexpected Origin of YumEats
YumEats is transforming mealtime for families facing feeding challenges. Inspired by co-founder Eric Markovcy’s experiences with his sons, the app uses rewards, progress tracking, and evidence-based methods to help children develop healthy eating habits while reducing screen dependence.
Backed by funding from Lehigh University and a Kickstarter campaign, YumEats is set to launch in early 2025. With a strong team and ongoing research validating its impact, YumEats aims to create stress-free mealtimes and improve lives worldwide.
Milestone Accelerator
Purpose-built for those past the proof-of-concept phase, the Milestone Accelerator offers rigorous support, strategic guidance, and the momentum to scale what’s already working.
Founders’ Forge
The Founders Program is for Lehigh University students, faculty, and researchers who are ready to transform their ideas, innovations, or research into a real-world startup. Whether you’re building your MVP, forming a team, or navigating the incorporation process, we provide the structure, mentorship, and funding to help you move forward with confidence.
