ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow, Venture Lab Healthcare
Job Details
ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow, Venture Lab Healthcare
University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow, Venture Lab Healthcare
Job Profile Title
Manager Research Project A
Job Description Summary
Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year, 13,000 professionals worldwide advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.
Venture Lab, the student entrepreneurship center at the University of Pennsylvania, supports students, founders, and innovators across all twelve schools. Venture Lab delivers educational programming, resources, and flagship University-wide initiatives that fuel entrepreneurial success.
The Emerging Leaders in Healthcare Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Fellowship is a one-year, full-time post-graduate commercialization fellowship jointly delivered by Venture Lab and Penn Health-Tech (PHT). ELITE Fellows serve as entrepreneurial leads for University-developed health technologies, working closely with Penn faculty innovators, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) investigators, industry partners, and investors. Fellows gain hands-on experience in healthcare innovation, technology development, commercialization strategy, and venture creation while contributing directly to advancing a Penn or CHOP health-tech project toward translation and market readiness.
Job Description
The ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow serves as a key commercialization contributor within Penn's healthcare innovation ecosystem, advancing high-potential technologies developed across Penn and CHOP toward translation, licensing, or venture formation. As a core member of the ELITE Fellowship program, the Fellow drives the strategic, analytical, and operational work required to transform early-stage scientific or clinical discoveries into commercially viable solutions.
Under the joint leadership of Venture Lab and Penn Health-Tech, the Fellow functions as the entrepreneurial lead for a vetted health-tech capstone project, a structured, real-world commercialization project assigned to each Fellow. In this role, the Fellow conducts market discovery, engages directly with clinicians and end users, assesses product and regulatory pathways, evaluates intellectual property considerations, and develops go-to-market strategies. Fellows collaborate closely with faculty innovators, project teams, and regulatory, IP, and industry advisors to de-risk technologies and build clear commercialization pathways.
As entrepreneurial leads, Fellows exercise project leadership, including drafting and directing commercialization milestones, managing external consultants, and collaborating with faculty innovators and Penn Health-Tech leadership on key decisions.
Beyond project work, the Fellow participates actively in Penn's broader health-tech community through monthly seminars, investor roundtables, workshops, and Venture Lab programming, and by engaging with external stakeholders such as investors and industry partners. Fellows contribute to a collaborative, learning-oriented environment while gaining hands-on experience in innovation management, venture development, and healthcare commercialization.
The Fellow reports directly to the Senior Director of Healthcare Strategy and receives additional guidance from Penn Health-Tech leadership and faculty innovators.
This role requires strong analytical skills, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to synthesize technical, clinical, and commercial insights into actionable strategies. Through this year-long experience, Fellows help accelerate the advancement of Penn- and CHOP-developed health technologies while receiving structured mentorship, education, and exposure to the full continuum of healthcare innovation.
This is a full-time, limited-term position that is contingent upon funding. The position is for one (1) year, with the possibility of extending for one (1) additional year, subject to review after the first year. The start date for this position is August 1, 2026.
Working Conditions & Additional Information
- Position is based on-site in Philadelphia with hybrid flexibility consistent with Wharton's hybrid work policies.
- Work is performed in an office setting with regular in-person engagement across Penn, CHOP, and partner sites.
- Occasional evening or early-morning commitments may occur due to events, seminars, or meetings with external partners.
- Some travel may be required to attend conferences, site visits, or ecosystem engagements.
- This is a full-time, 12-month fellowship with the possibility of one additional 12-month extension (maximum of 24 months total), subject to performance, project fit, program needs, available funding, and required University/HR approvals.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Specific Duties
Entrepreneurial Leadership (Capstone Execution)
- Lead the commercialization strategy for assigned Penn or CHOP technologies by developing and executing structured project plans spanning unmet need validation, value proposition refinement, market analysis, and strategic prioritization.
- Conduct stakeholder discovery across clinicians, patients, technical teams, investors, and end users to inform product requirements, workflow integration, and early go/no-go decision-making.
- Perform market analyses, competitive assessments, workflow evaluations, and early financial modeling to guide product direction and commercial feasibility.
- Collaborate with innovators, technical teams, and external partners throughout concept evaluation, prototyping, risk identification, and milestone planning to advance technologies toward translation.
Regulatory, IP, and Translation Support
- Coordinate with Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), PCI Ventures (PCIV), CHOP's Office of Technology Transfer, and external consultants to support IP landscape evaluations, invention disclosures, and patent-related activities, and execution of recommended regulatory and reimbursement strategies (including Q-Sub planning and early claims considerations).
Go-to-Market Strategy and Communication
- Develop high-quality commercialization materials, including pitch decks, milestone-based budgets, commercialization plans, proposals, and fundraising briefs, that outline early funding strategy (e.g., SBIR/STTR, early venture interest, partnership development).
- Prepare and deliver clear, persuasive presentations to leadership, faculty, partners, and investors, translating technical opportunities into compelling commercial narratives.
Program and Ecosystem Engagement
- Engage with key stakeholders across Venture Lab, Penn, and CHOP at events, seminars, workshops, and meetings.
- Participate fully in all Fellowship elements, including workshops, didactics, mentorship sessions, investor meetings, and cohort activities, and contribute to ongoing program development, peer learning, and community-building initiatives.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree (e.g., MS, MBA, MPH), doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PhD), or equivalent training in business, engineering, life sciences, public health, clinical fields, or related disciplines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated interest in health innovation or technology commercialization.
- Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and collaborate within cross-functional, fast-paced environments.
Preferred Qualifications
- A range of 2-5 years of professional, technical, consulting, clinical, entrepreneurial, or research experience in health-tech, medical devices, biotechnology, digital health, or related healthcare and/or technology sectors.
- Experience in early-stage innovation, design, prototyping, consulting, venture analysis, regulatory strategy, technology transfer, or startup formation.
- Familiarity with commercialization processes, including market research, IP evaluation, or regulatory considerations.
Department / School
Wharton School
Pay Range
$57,500.00 - $70,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
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