WYOMISSING, Pa. — Justin Rosenberg, founder of honeygrow and Penn State alumnus, will lead a luncheon conversation on “Failure, Pivots and Building What Lasts” at 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, in the Perkins Student Center Lion’s Den. This event is free and open to the public and lunch, featuring favorites from the honeygrow menu, will be provided. Attendees must register in advance.
Rosenberg will share his story behind building a fast-growing restaurant brand. In this candid 20-minute talk, he said he will discuss what didn’t work, how and why he pivoted, and the critical thinking required to adapt when an original idea needs to change. His experience, he said, highlights a truth many founders learn the hard way: Lasting businesses are built through iteration, resilience and learning from failure.
Founded in 2012, honeygrow is a Philadelphia-based fast-casual restaurant known for its customizable stir-fries, salads and signature honeybar desserts made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The brand has grown to 71 restaurants across the East Coast, with the mission to offer wholesome, health-forward options including vegan and gluten-free choices, while staying true to its mission of honest eating and thoughtful growth.
This event is designed to give startups and students practical insight into navigating uncertainty and making smarter decisions as ideas evolve. It is sponsored by the Berks LaunchBox and Penn State Berks Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Center.