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CONTACT: Jenny Brennan at 703-919-6292 or jennycb@seas.upenn.edu

March 20, 2007



PHILADELPHIA. Tierney Communications is the newest sponsor of PennVention, the annual inventor’s competition organized by the Weiss Tech House technology hub at the University of Pennsylvania, organizers announced today. Tierney Communications joins returning sponsors QVC, Inc.; Bresslergroup; Paramount PDS and Lowenstein Sandler PC in support of students who are creating, developing and commercializing innovative technologies.

“We’re proud to support aspiring student inventors and entrepreneurs as a sponsor of the PennVention competition,” said Mary Stengel Austen, President and CEO of Tierney Communications. We look forward to exchanging ideas with the winning group and anticipate an energizing experience.”

PennVention sponsors have provided educational workshops, monetary donations and/or in-kind services tailored to their specific industry expertise. Bresslergroup will provide one-on-one product development mentoring leading up to the third annual Invention Fair on April 6, 2007 at which ten student teams will compete for the following sponsor awards:

• Bresslergroup Best Product Concept Award: Bresslergroup, a product development firm will provide $2,500 worth of professional services to be used at the winner’s discretion towards research, concept development or CAD modeling in the development of their product for production.
• Paramount Rapid Prototype Award: Paramount PDS, a Rapid Prototying and Manufacturing Consulting group, will award $1,000 worth of Selective Laser Sintering Rapid Prototyping services to the design that is most commercially promising and best lends itself to Rapid Prototyping.
• Lowenstein Sandler PC Legal Mentor Award: The law firm of Lowenstein Sandler PC, will provide five hours of legal counsel to selected PennVention winners and assist in their strategic plans for business development.
• QVC Consumer Innovation Award: QVC, Inc., will award the $2,500 QVC Consumer Innovation Award which includes a consultation with a QVC buyer.
• Tierney Communications Strategy, Positioning & Branding Prize: Tierney Communications will provide one full-day session with senior executives to determine branding, positioning and communication strategies.

“The support and expertise provided by our corporate sponsors has helped past PennVention winners launch innovative products to market,” said Weiss Tech House Director Anne Stamer.

Lowenstein Sandler PC has helped past PennVention winners, like Samuel Reeves, founder of Humanistic Robotics, Inc., to obtain patents and navigate the incorporation process. Paramount Industries helped Intellistem Orthopaedic Innovations create the first prototype of their proprietary prosthetic implant. Last summer, Allison Floam, inventor of the SunSak convertible beach towel, and Kunal Bahl, inventor of Dropps, environmentally safe laundry detergent capsules, debuted their products to a national audience on the QVC network.

ABOUT THE WEISS TECH HOUSE:
The Weiss Tech House is a student-run hub of technological innovation at the University of Pennsylvania that encourages and supports students in the creation, development and commercialization of innovative technologies. Students with a range of technological interest and skill can learn about technology, collaborate with peers, and take advantage of our in-house Innovation Fund, PennVention inventors’ competition, educational workshops, speaker series, and business mentoring programs. For more information, visit www.tech-house.upenn.edu