Story by Dan Armstrong
Images by Rob Gerth
Manpreet Patel MBA ’25 knows how to turn a dream into reality.
It’s something she’s done time and again in her own life, from landing a coveted corporate gig to becoming a small business owner to completing a degree at Lehigh, an institution she’d long had in her sights.
Now, Manpreet Patel ’25 MBA, is officially in the dream-making business.
At Hologram Zoo Lehigh Valley, she’s helping people realize some of their most imaginative fantasies, with the help of one-of-a-kind technology.
The business uses immersive holographic technology to transport visitors into experiences they could only dream about before—from roaming a prehistoric earth where dinosaurs rule to exploring the wilds of Africa alongside lifelike lions and even travelling to outer space.
Developed over several months in partnership with Axiom Holographics, the business aims to help people of all ages experience the wonders of the world in an accessible, informative and engaging way.
“This is a high-tech experience that hasn’t been available to the public previously,” Patel said.
“We call it ’edutainment,’ because you’ll actually learn while you’re having fun.”
The proprietary tech has already been used primarily in military and research settings. Using specialized 3D glasses and advanced hologram technology, the experience surpasses that of virtual reality, Patel said, because groups can enjoy the experience together, while continuing to socialize.
It’s the first mass-audience application of the tech in the Northeast.
Located in a 6,000-square-foot space in downtown Easton, the business offers a variety of experiences, including the Hologram Zoo with content that changes quarterly, immersive group rooms, a hologram wall, a party room and an arcade.
Patel selected the site for its size, foot traffic, and proximity to Easton’s other attractions, which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year from the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York.
The burgeoning area reminded her of her childhood in Reading, PA, where she frequently explored local shops and restaurants. In those early years, Patel developed her ambition and work ethic.
Her earliest work experience was at a local Dunkin Donuts, where she was proudly promoted to management at age 14.
“I was always imagining what it would be like to own my own shop,” she said. “That’s where my entrepreneurial spirit was born.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University and working a series of internships and jobs, she landed a role in global operations at Dun & Bradstreet. She worked at the firm for over five years, earning a promotion to senior consultant.
While those experiences gave her a strong knowledge base, she credits Lehigh’s FLEX MBA with honing new areas of expertise that directly fueled the launch of her new venture.
The deliverables from her Future of Marketing course formed key parts of the Hologram Zoo’s launch plan, and she applied lessons from her negotiations course in real-time.
“I was enrolled in the negotiations class while we were in the middle of negotiations for the space, and it was so helpful,” she said. “The MBA has given me multiple tools and resources that I was able to directly apply to my business.”
Patel began the FLEX MBA program in 2020, while working full-time, launching her first businesses, and raising her son, now six. She credits the program’s flexibility, the ability to attend classes synchronously via Zoom and the support of her advisors and fellow students with making her degree possible.
For Patel and her husband Harshal, who already owns two successful convenience stores in the Lehigh Valley area, opening Hologram Zoo Lehigh Valley is yet another dream realized.
“My husband and I had always dreamed of being business owners,” she said. “You can have a great idea, but until you know how to execute it, it’s just a dream.”