Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Join the Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center for their first Coffee & Conversation of 2021 and hear from Sandbox Marketing co-owner Steve Ehret about his experience working as an #entrepreneur during the pandemic. Learn how Ehret went from dealing with the sudden shut down of his #business to generating millions in revenue in just a few short months. Register today for free at https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_5GU61ia6QH6LvtLqJfgUyw

Innovation Quest is perfect for student #innovators looking to take their #innovative idea into the market take it from Sidney Collin, CEO and co-founder of De Oro Devices. iQ helped show this #engineer turned #entrepreneur how to fine tune her business idea to build the successful #startup she has today. Learn more about iQ at https://cie.calpoly.edu/prepare/innovation-quest/

Keep up with the SLO #startup scene with our monthly newsletter! We’ll keep you apprised of the latest CIE news, events, and #innovations. Sign up today at https://calpoly-msmmb.formstack.com//cie_website_contact_f

Dr. Laura Cacciamani, Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts, will be joining the CIE as a faculty fellow. Dr. Cacciamani plans to use her #neuroscience expertise to provide insight into the #entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more about Dr. Cacciamani at https://cie.calpoly.edu/learn/cie-fellows/

Multimedia #journalism professor Kim Lisagor Bisheff is joining the CIE as one of our five newest faculty fellows. Bisheff has worked within the College of Liberal Arts since 2004 and is passionate about teaching media literacy concepts. As a CIE fellow, she hopes to introduce her #entrepreneurship students to CIE programs as they #innovate new, real-world media solutions. Learn more about Bisheff and her plans for the CIE at https://cie.calpoly.edu/learn/cie-fellows/

Obstacles are inevitable in #entrepreneurship, but when presented with a challenge, president and founder of Calwise Spirit Co. Aaron Bergh doesn’t back down. He welcomes the challenge and uses it as an opportunity to create and #innovate. Because Bergh know that #StartupsDontStop.

Happy #NewYear from the CIE! 2020 was a year filled with unprecedented challenges, but our #entrepreneurs and #innovators are resilient. As we step into the first full week of 2021, we want to encourage you to continue creating, #innovating, and moving forward. Because #StartupsDontStop, and neither do we.

#HappyHolidays from the CIE! As the year draws to a close, we want to wish all of our #entrepreneurs, #innovators, and supporters a wonderful #HolidaySeason and a happy and healthy #NewYear. Stay safe and enjoy the holidays.

Are you looking for investments to help build your #business? AngelCon 2021 is your chance to win $100K in equity funding to grow your #startup! Apply today at https://bit.ly/angelconstartupapp

Incubator company The Future Is Good (FIG) has launched an online marketplace for #sustainable goods. Every product offered through the marketplace is evaluated on its social and #environmental impact to ensure it is #ethical and environmentally friendly. The FIG website also connects users with content that teaches them the importance of #sustainability and #environmentalism. Learn more about how this #startup plans to make the future good at https://calpolynews.calpoly.edu//2/december/garret_perkins

Andrew Lacanienta, an assistant professor within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, has joined the CIE as one of our five newest faculty fellows. He will spearhead the creation of new CIE program Experience Journey, which will encourage student #innovators to think beyond their products and focus on #entrepreneurial experiences and live interactions. Learn more about Dr. Lacanienta at https://cie.calpoly.edu/learn/cie-fellows/

This year has brought about unprecedented challenges for #smallbusiness owners. That is why Cal Poly and the other California State Universities (CSU) partnered with Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to help local #entrepreneurs to overcome the obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about how CSU and SBDC have worked together to help small businesses adapt to these uncertain times at https://www2.calstate.edu//big-help-for-small-businesses.a

When Sidney Collin engineered a device to help a local veteran overcome a common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease known as freezing of gait, she had no idea that the #engineering project would become her gateway into the #entrepreneurship world. Today, Collin is CEO and co-founder of successful #startup and graduated HotHouse Incubator company De Oro Devices. View the photos below to read her recent interview with SLO Life Magazine and learn all about her journey as an #entrepreneur.

Hatchery #company Celebrate wants to help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Celebrate is an online #registry that makes gift-giving easy with personal interest boards and they’ve finished building key features of their #website just in time for the #holiday season. Help Celebrate to test their site and find the perfect gifts for your friends or family in the process. Fill out their quick, two-minute survey at https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSdD4JSwshaU0q4o1g/viewform

Assistant professor of English literature Deb Donig has joined the CIE team as one of our five newest faculty fellows. Donig’s research and teaching focuses on ethical technology. As a CIE fellow, she will be working to increase diversity in #technology culture and #entrepreneurship. Learn more about Donig at https://cie.calpoly.edu/learn/cie-fellows/

Juan Pèrez, co-founder of CIE Hatchery company Celebrate, has launched a #podcast sharing the stories of young people of color. The podcast is titled The First Few to honor those who have broken barriers to become the first person in their family or community to achieve success. Read more about The First Few and Pèrez’s mission to inspire young #POC at https://www.calpoly.edu//student-launches-podcast-celebrat

Congratulations to this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition winners! Cal Poly student Ross Levine pitched Business Outsider, an online source for satirical #tech and #business news; Elliot Thorogood of Cuesta College pitched Vision: First Step Photography, an #innovative yearbook #photography company; and Cal Poly’s Julie Arnett won the audience choice award with her pitch for Celebrate, an online gift registry. Learn more about these #innovators and their #startups at https://calpolynews.calpoly.edu//2/december/elevator_pitch

Grab yourself a cup of coffee and join us for the Dec. 9 Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center Coffee and Conversation! Learn what Venture Capital looks for in a #startup from #venturecapital veteran and angel investor Jeff Bocan. Don’t miss out RSVP today for free at https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_N09U4w0OQGmfapb7CNT_Uw

Are engineering students really learning from their failures? Assistant professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Tom Katona isn’t so sure, so he and his team plan to look into failed student startups in the engineering field to reshape engineering curriculum and better prepare students for failure. Read more about Katona’s research into the value of failure at https://ceng.calpoly.edu//are-students-really-learning-fr/

Where is the best place to build your #business? Some might say it’s right here in San Luis Obispo, where the #startup scene is booming with #innovative leaders and resources for #smallbusiness owners. Learn from four Cal Poly graduated #entrepreneurs, including two #founders that began building their #companies through CIE programs, why they chose to keep their startups SLOcal at https://www.cob.calpoly.edu//four-cal-poly-grads-explain-/

Graduated HotHouse Incubator company Alydia Health is working to make childbirth safer for mothers everywhere. They have recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an #innovative medical device designed to treat postpartum hemorrhaging. Read more about how Alydia Health could save thousands of mothers’ lives at https://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases//october/jada

Happy December, entrepreneurial community! With a new month comes the perfect opportunity to set new goals. What are you hoping to accomplish this December? If you’re hoping to grow your #startup or build your #smallbusiness, let us help! Learn all about how our resources can help you reach your #entrepreneurial goals at https://cie.calpoly.edu/#launch

Hey, Mustangs! As fall quarter comes to a close, we at the CIE want to wish everyone good luck with your #FinalsWeek. We know that this quarter has been an unusual one, but Cal Poly students are resilient. Finish the quarter strong and have a safe and happy winter break.

This Thanksgiving, we want to give thanks to all of our wonderful CIE supporters! Thank you for encouraging #innovation and making it possible for our #entrepreneurs to pursue their passions. #HappyThanksgiving

Happy National Espresso Day! Celebrate by grabbing your favorite espresso drink and registering for the Dec. 9 Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center Coffee and Conversation to hear all about #smallbusiness and #startup funding from Okapi Venture Capital partner Jeff Bocan. Register today for free at: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_N09U4w0OQGmfapb7CNT_Uw

To close out our #womenentrepreneurship week, we want to recognize one more #innovative entrepreneur. Katerina Axelsson is the founder and CEO of Tastry, a graduated incubator company that is using sensory sciences and# artificialintelligence to reinvent the #wine industry. Learn more about how this #chemistry graduate became a successful #entrepreneur at https://cie.calpoly.edu//cie-graduates-keeping-it-slocal-/

Happy Women’s Entrepreneurship Day! This day was founded by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization to empower and celebrate women #entrepreneurs and #innovators worldwide. your favorite #womenentrepreneurs with us today by tagging them below and learn more about today’s mission to inspire women in business at https://www.womenseday.org/

With one day until Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, we’re celebrating another one of our CIE #womenentrepreneurs, Alexandra Joelson, CEO of Hatchery company Intego Sports. This student startup founder is revolutionizing the athletic footwear industry by creating durable and cost-effective soccer cleats with interchangeable soles. Learn more about how Joelson turned her #innovative idea into a #startup at https://cie.calpoly.edu//meet-a-hatchery-startup-intego-s/

For day two of our #womenentrepreneurship week, we’re celebrating incubator company @shopsnackwithsoph founder Sophia Shapiro for continuing to #ventureforward with her startup mission through her upcoming virtual event, #NOFILTER! This Friday, Nov. 20, SNACK WITH SOPH is highlighting the power of #healthyliving and self-love at their online event. Register for free to hear from #healthandwellness influencers on #bodypositivity and #mentalheath, their #entrepreneurship journeys, and more. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nofilter-event-registration-12

In honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day this Thursday, we’re taking the week to celebrate our amazing #womenentrepreneurs! Today, we want to recognize Sidney Collin, inventor of NexStride and co-founder of De Oro Devices. Learn how this biomedical #engineer turned her #innovative idea into a successful #startup in her recent @thrive interview: https://thriveglobal.com//lessons-from-inspirational-wome/

Our Elevator Pitch Competition was chock-full of #innovative ideas and three took home winning titles! Congratulations to the Cal Poly winner Business Outsider, the Cuesta College winner Vision: First Step Photography and our audience choice winner Celebrate. Missed the event? You can see all of the inventive elevator pitches from the competition at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOmebWlHs6I

Your #startup could win big at the 2021 Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center AngelCon! Apply today for a chance to win $100K in investment funds to grow your #innovative startup. Learn more at https://bit.ly/angelcon2021

We’re here to help you get back to work safely. The SLO HotHouse and HotHouse Annex are open for coworking, with safe and socially distanced workspaces perfect for local #entrepreneurs, #smallbusiness owners and #startups. Free day passes are available throughout November but space is limited, so reserve yours today at the https://cie.calpoly.edu/coworking/

Thank you for helping us SLO the Spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask and social distancing. Post a photo or video wearing a mask with #MaskUpMustangs, and follow Cal Poly on social media for a chance to win great prizes! Let’s all do our part to keep our campus safe. Find more information at http://bit.ly/MaskUpMustangs

Join us on November 9 for the Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center Coffee and Conversation with Atlas Alpha Inc. CEO and AngelCon 2020 winner Trent Ellingsen. Hear all about Ellingsen’s #entrepreneurship journey since winning $120K in equity #investment. Register today at https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_Nxcy10uGTCuI5wh7Nf4q6g

Someone will take home $1,000 for their #innovative idea. Tune into our 2020 Elevator Pitch Finals on November 10 to find out who. You’ll hear innovative 90-second pitches from #students competing for cash prizes, and help us decide a winner. Register today for this FREE virtual event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevator-pitch-competition-fin

Are you interested in obtaining federal research funding for your #smallbusiness or #innovative project? Learn how to successfully shape funding opportunities from President and CEO of Strategic Marketing Innovations, Glen Mandigo at his FREE webinar event on Nov. 12. Register today at https://calpoly.zoom.us//register/WN_mumPFAyeSwykY1azwiI0Sg

It's almost #Halloween... How will you be spending the weekend? One thing you can do is register early for the upcoming Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center Coffee and Conversation with AngelCon 2020 winner and Atlas Alpha CEO Trent Ellingsen, because there's nothing spookier for a #smallbusiness owner than missing out on business #networking and #personalgrowth. Register today at https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_Nxcy10uGTCuI5wh7Nf4q6g.

Fresh ideas are in full bloom... and some of them are about to win big $$$! Coming up on Nov. 10 is our Elevator Pitch Competition Finals, where #students will be quick-pitching their best ideas for cash prizes and you can help us choose a winner. Will we see you there? Tag someone below who should attend, too! Register for the FREE #virtual #event today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevator-pitch-competition-fin.

Graduated incubator company Flume Water is constantly #innovating to put consumers in control of their water usage in the smartest way possible. Now, they've released an upgraded Flume 2 device for tracking usage, detecting leaks and more. Learn more about it at https://www.techhive.com//flume-2-smart-home-water-monitor.

According to Alexandra Joelson, who founded Hatchery #startup Intego Sports during her first year at #CalPoly, "There’s no better time to start a company than now, especially when you’re a freshman." Along with becoming CEOs like Joelson, students can also dive into #entrepreneurship by taking entrepreneurial classes, innovating #technology, joining Cal Poly Entrepreneurs and more even within their first year of college. Read more about thriving in entrepreneurship as a #freshman at https://cie.calpoly.edu//entrepreneurship-for-all-the-fre/.

Fresh ideas are in full bloom... Who will win cash prizes for theirs? Tune into our 2020 Elevator Pitch Finals to hear #innovative students #elevatorpitch their top ideas in 90 seconds and find out who will take home $1,000. Did we mention you'll get to help us pick a winner? Don't miss this high-energy #event, register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevator-pitch-competition-fin.

Three companies, two years, over a dozen employees, nearly $1.7 million in #venturecapital funding raised and infinite success to come here's to De Oro Devices, NeoCharge and Roopairs Technologies, Inc., our 2020 HotHouse Incubator graduates. We look forward to seeing how these #SLOcal #startups continue to grow here on the Central Coast. Want to launch and scale your #smallbusiness, too? Join our incubator today at https://cie.calpoly.edu/launch/hothouse-incubator/.

While Cal Poly Entrepreneurs (CPE) meetings usually consist of ambitious students piling into Building 2, Room 210, discussing #innovation and #startup ideas over pizza, the virtual shift has altered the scene. What hasn't changed is CPE's forward-thinking members and the club's dedication to fostering entrepreneurial energy all throughout campus. Check out CPE's mission for the year ahead and how you can join at https://cie.calpoly.edu//cal-poly-entrepreneurs-fosters-c/

According to The WIB Wire, 39 percent of U.S. businesses are women-owned a number we look forward to seeing grow through our programs and beyond. But did you know that some of these women #entrepreneurs are right here on Cal Poly's campus? Hear the stories of two of the CIE's own #womeninbusiness and their innovative ventures in a "Students to CEOs" feature by The WIB Wire at https://www.wibwire.com/blog/students-to-ceos.

If you need to take your #business back into an office space, do it with us. Our downtown SLO HotHouse has spacious coworking areas, private offices, and open space for meetings or conferences to accommodate you in the safest, smartest way possible. Find out how to make our space your own at https://cie.calpoly.edu/coworking/ and learn about our current COVID-19 policies at https://cie.calpoly.edu//hothouse-and-hothouse-annex-reop/.

What does it take to build a $28 billion #cybersecurity company? Cal Poly #computerscience alumnus Todd McKinnon has some insight. As founder and CEO of Okta, one of the fastest-growing companies in #tech, McKinnon will be sharing his #entrepreneurial journey and discussing all things #business and #technology on Oct. 22. RSVP for this virtual Q&A event by emailing [email protected] by Oct. 19.

How are #technology, #business and #entrepreneurship intertwined? Cal Poly Entrepreneurs will show you tonight in their Tech Meets Business workshop with Cal Poly's Information Systems Association and Women Involved in Software and Hardware (WISH Cal Poly). Join this trio in their virtual workshop at 6 p.m. today, Oct. 13, to learn how business and tech come together to solve real-world problems https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/92706629457 (Meeting ID: 927 0662 9457).

Start your week off strong register for Wednesday's Coffee and Conversation event today to learn all about securing the right #investors and #funding for your #smallbusiness from seasoned business advisor Jenny Kassan. Join Kassan and Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center on Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m. for more: https://ucmsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/13319

$1,000 could be yours all you need is an #innovative idea and 90 seconds to pitch it! Apply to our Elevator Pitch Competition by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, for your chance to win big cash prizes. It's our easiest #competition of the year, so what are you waiting for? Learn more and submit your pitch today at https://cie.calpoly.edu/prepare/elevator-pitch-competition/.

Kristen Hazard, CEO of graduated incubator company Wildnote, has a few tricks up her sleeve: she's a #lawyer, an #environmentalist, a self-taught coder, the founder of a software consulting firm turned Benefit Corporation and the head of a company with all-women leadership. Intrigued? Check out Hazard's Forbes Q&A for more on this #SLOcal #startup at https://www.forbes.com//breaking-bold-this-female-founde/.

Fun fact: Four years ago this month, Pashion Footwear came to life on the Elevator Pitch Competition (EPC) stage. Since then, founder and CEO Haley Pavone has taken her #startup through all of our programs, won awards, and landed features in Forbes and on national TV. Now, EPC could change your life next and land you an extra $1,000! Apply today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevator-pitch-competition-fin.

Graduated HotHouse Accelerator startup Perch, a company working on #wildfire detection and prevention #technology, hasn't slowed down since Demo Day this month, the team is planning on testing with the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. Then, they're set on going statewide. Read more about Perch's mission from Mustang News at https://mustangnews.net/meet-perch-the-cal-poly-startup-cr/

Congratulations to Pashion Footwear for receiving the 2020 Central CA Small Business Development Center "Rising Star Business of the Year" award. From starting in the Hatchery and winning our Elevator Pitch Competition, to graduating from the HotHouse Incubator, CEO Haley Pavone and her team have continued to rise within the #fashion world and beyond. Learn a little more about this #startup's journey at https://cie.calpoly.edu//pashion-footwear-jumps-over-star/

Former HotHouse Incubator company Alydia Health (previously InPress Technologies) has received clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its #innovative maternal #healthcare device Jada System. Congratulations to Alydia Health for this advancement in its mission to make childbirth "safer for every mother, everywhere." Learn more at https://www.businesswire.com//Alydia-Health-Announces-FDA-

What if we told you that you could win $1,000 in 90 seconds? All you have to do is send us your best elevator pitch of an #innovative idea and you might take away $1K in cold, hard cashseriously, it's that easy. Join us tonight, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., for a pitch workshop with Cal Poly Entrepreneurs to learn more and refine your pitching skills at https://cie.calpoly.edu/prepare/elevator-pitch-competition/.

Biology graduate Maddie Alexander needed more creativity in her #science-driven coursework, so she minored in entrepreneurship. Not long after this decision, the student who was once determined to be a doctor began recognizing #biology as a space ripe for #innovation and started considering starting her own company one day. Learn how she plans to bring #entrepreneurship into an unlikely field at https://cie.calpoly.edu//cultivating-the-entrepreneurial-/.

How do you get featured in Forbes? One way is to be a #startup revolutionizing #electricvehicles and #cleanenergy, like HotHouse Incubator company NeoCharge. Learn more about their newest EV charging device, the Smart Splitter, from Forbes at https://www.forbes.com//neocharge-enables-evs-appliance-/.

The first (and only!) Elevator Pitch Competition info session is tomorrow, Sept. 24, where we'll be explaining how you could win $1,000 in 90 seconds All you need is an #innovative idea and a quick pitch. Yep, it's about as easy as it sounds. You can find the info session link and learn more at https://cie.calpoly.edu/prepare/elevator-pitch-competition/.

Happy first day of #fall, CIE community! A new season is a great time to set fresh goals and try new things... So, what are you most looking forward to accomplishing in #autumn2020? If it's starting or scaling your #smallbusiness, let us help. Learn all about what our #startup incubator program can do for you this year at https://cie.calpoly.edu/launch/hothouse-incubator/.

And that's a wrap! Demo Day 2020 is over and our HotHouse Accelerator startups are now on to the next step in the entrepreneurial journey. What was your favorite part of the evening? Let us know below. In case you missed Friday's event, you can rewatch Demo Day at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD_ZYvWr7QA&t=2s

Today’s the day... for Demo Day! Tune in at 4 p.m. on YouTube Live at https://youtu.be/dD_ZYvWr7QA to experience the pitches of the newest game-changing innovators of tomorrow. Who will we see there? Let us know in the comments!

Demo Day 2020 is just a day away! That's right... This is our last call for you to register for our biggest #entrepreneurial event of the year. Eight #innovative #startups, nearly 30 Cal Poly students and recent alumni, and countless hours of hard work it's all coming together tomorrow, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. on YouTube Live. Register at https://bit.ly/2020DemoDay.

Want to win $1,000? Do you have a fresh, #innovative idea? What about 90 seconds of free time to pitch it to us? If you answered yes to any of the above, the CIE Elevator Pitch Competition is for you. Get ready for our easiest competition of the year, coming soon learn more about EPC https://cie.calpoly.edu/prepare/elevator-pitch-competition/.

Helping California's housing crisis, simplifying architectural projects and allowing people to build the home additions of their dreams are all things that accelerator startup CADU is doing. Now, we're just days away from hearing how they're accomplishing these goals at Demo Day 2020 this Friday. Have you registered yet? There's still time: https://bit.ly/2020DemoDay.

Happy first day of fall quarter Mustangs! Even with things being virtual, there are still countless ways to be involved in #innovation and #entrepreneurship like joining Cal Poly’s largest interdisciplinary club Cal Poly Entrepreneurs. Check out CPE at https://cpentrepreneurs.com/ and get ready for their first meeting of the year Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m.

Breaking through the #food industry is hard; reinventing a category within the industry is even harder Fruji is doing both. In just one week, this food-focused #startup will be showing everyone its upgraded take on a classic childhood snack at Demo Day 2020 and you won't want to miss it. Register for free at https://bit.ly/2020DemoDay.

UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company, invested in graduated incubator #startup Tastry AI over the years. Find out how this strategic partnership helped the sensory sciences company expand and why the UST Global Chief Investment Officer cited Tastry's #artificialintelligence technology as "one of the best innovations that he had recently seen" at https://www.prnewswire.com//ust-global-makes-strategic-inv.

HotHouse Summer Accelerator #startup Perch is innovating #wildfire detection in vulnerable and remote areas through sensory networks something that is incredibly timely today. Find out more about this #environment-focused company and its mission to protect our communities at Demo Day 2020. Register for the free event at https://bit.ly/2020DemoDay.

Our #entrepreneurs are humble, so we'll brag for them! This year, Pacific Coast Business Times named three of the CIE's own on its 40 Under 40 list and we couldn't be more proud. Congratulations to incubator company founders Sidney Collin and Kat Axelsson, and CIE Director of Student Innovation Programs Jose Huitron. Send them your congratulations below.