For students looking for spring internships, State College’s entrepreneurship think tank, the Co.Space, will host a rather unconventional job fair next week.

Eleven different employers will attend the Co.Space’s “Internship Potluck,” which will take place on place Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m., as a part of Penn State’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. Students in attendance will be able to mingle with owners of local businesses — including Videon Central, known for its Blu-Ray technology — while enjoying a home-cooked meal or two, hence the “potluck” moniker. How can you turn down free food?

The Internship Potluck will be sponsored by the Co.Space, along with the Centre Region Entrepreneurship Network and the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center.

Spud Marshall, Co.Space co-founder and “Chief Catalyst,” hopes that the Internship Potluck will offer students a more relaxed environment to find internships.

“There are countless opportunities for young people to get involved with innovative companies in State College, but too often College Ave acts as a great divide and students are unaware of the openings for them in town,” Marshall said.

“The Internship Potluck event hopes to connect students with local companies in a relaxed and fun environment, so you get a chance to meet the entrepreneurs and heads of the companies while sharing a meal together,” Marshall continued. “This will be anything but a suit-and-tie-in-the-BJC style job fair.”

The employers include:

• CityStateBiz – An innovation and business magazine serving the State College area.
• West Arête – A web and mobile development company located on Allen Street.
• Videon – A software and hardware developer who works on media technologies.
• Fleet Energy – An energy conversion and fueling company based in State College.
• State College Borough  – State College’s local government.
• DataDriven For Schools – A provider of student information services for the education sector.
• DecisionVis – A design and visualization software provider for engineers, designers, and analysts.
• KCF Technologies – A technology development firm specializing in diagnostic maintenance systems.
• CBICC – Centre County’s Chamber of Business and Industry, similar to a chamber of commerce.
• L!ve !t
• New Leaf Initiative – A community center and coworking office focusing on community issues.

Students wishing to attend the event are encouraged by its organizers to RSVP on the potluck’s Eventbrite page.