Members of Luzerne County’s entrepreneurial community came together to celebrate the conclusion of the inaugural TechCelerator @ Luzerne County program with a Pitch Showcase on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the THINK Center in Wilkes-Barre.

The 10-week accelerator program helped early-stage tech entrepreneurs refine their ideas, build strong business models, and develop the skills needed to take their ventures forward. Through a mix of educational workshops, hands-on mentoring, and business planning, participants explored key topics such as customer development, financial planning, and funding strategies.

The final showcase provided a platform for seven entrepreneurs to pitch their ventures to a panel of industry experts, gaining valuable insights and connections to help them take the next steps in their journeys. The panel included Jen Gilburg, Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED); Jeremy Satterfield, Manager of TechSpark Virginia at Microsoft; and Kevin O’Boyle, Vice President of Growth & Strategy at Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services.

At the conclusion of the showcase, the panel of judges were given the opportunity to recognize one entrepreneur whose venture showed strong potential for growth. James Monahan, founder of BedRez, received a $2,000 investment award to support the next phase of his business. BedRez is a Recovery Resource Network that helps individuals access key resources at every stage of the recovery process, from crisis intervention to long-term care.

Reflecting on the cohort’s journey, Nico Makuta, Economic Development Manager at Greater Hazleton CAN DO and representative for the CAN BE Innovation Center, shared:

“It has been incredible to watch these entrepreneurs take their ideas and transform them into something real. Over the past ten weeks, they’ve worked hard, taken feedback, and grown in ways that will serve them well moving forward. The panel felt particularly drawn to James Monahan’s work with BedRez, but every entrepreneur in this program has demonstrated impressive potential. We’re excited to see where they go from here.”

Shanie Mohamed, Director of Economic Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry, emphasized the program’s broader impact:

“This program was all about helping early-stage entrepreneurs build confidence, refine their business concepts, and tap into the local startup ecosystem. Each participant has made great strides over the past ten weeks, and this showcase was a fantastic way to highlight their progress and give them valuable exposure. It’s just the beginning of what’s next for these startups.”

The TechCelerator @ Luzerne County initiative was made possible through a collaboration between the CAN BE Innovation Center, CAN DO, Inc., the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes-Barre Connect, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, tecBRIDGE, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center. Additional support came from the Hazleton Launchbox (supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq.) and the Wilkes-Barre Launchbox (powered by Penn State).

Funding for the program was provided through a Microsoft TechSpark grant, which supports technology-driven entrepreneurship and economic growth in local communities.

For more information about TechCelerator @ Luzerne County, visit techceleratorluzerne.com or contact Nico Makuta at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..