From 0 to 180+ Members: Starting a Tech Community at Penn State

The Spark

When I arrived at Penn State, I was surprised by the gap between the CS curriculum and what companies actually want. Students were learning theory but not shipping code. I wanted to change that.

Devs@PSU: The First Attempt

In January 2025, I started Devs@PSU with a simple premise: build things together.

What Worked

• Weekly "build nights" where we'd hack on projects
• Mentorship pairing between upperclassmen and freshmen
• Partnerships with local startups for real-world projects

What Didn't

• Too broad of a focus initially
• Inconsistent meeting times
• No clear value prop for busy students

We grew to 20+ members, but I knew we could do more.

GDG on Campus: Going Official

In September 2025, I launched Google Developer Groups on Campus at Penn State. The Google brand helped with credibility, but the real difference was focus.

The Formula

1. Weekly tech talks on specific topics (not generic "intro to X")
2. Build nights with clear project goals
3. Industry connections through the GDG network

Growth Tactics

• Posted in every relevant Discord/GroupMe
• Partnered with other CS orgs for cross-promotion
• Made the first meeting incredibly valuable (free pizza + actual learning)

Results

• Scaled to 180+ members in a single semester
• A flagship event pulled 200+ registrations within one week of marketing
• Multiple student projects launched, plus workshops, a CTF, and Google-sponsored build nights

Advice for Student Founders

1. Start before you're ready. You'll figure it out
2. Solve a real problem. "Networking" isn't enough
3. Be consistent. Same time, same place, every week
4. Celebrate wins. Shout out members who ship

Building community is hard, but watching students go from "I don't know how to code" to shipping their first project makes it worth it.