Contact: Candice Conti
805-756-5171; clconti@calpoly.edu

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) today announced three new startups that have been selected to join the growing cohort of SLO HotHouse Incubator companies.

The incubator program, which started in 2012 to help startup companies get off the ground and become financially stable and high-growth enterprises, had previously only accepted applications from Cal Poly students and recent graduates.

“Now that we are accepting community startups into the program, the list of success stories continues to grow at CIE with 12 startups currently incubating and three new ones joining,” said Judy Mahan, CIE Incubator, and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) director. “Entrepreneurs are the engine of economic growth all over the world, and at CIE there is nothing we care about more than supporting them.”

The new startups accepted in CIE SLO HotHouse Incubator program include:

— Motoroso is a website that helps automotive and powersports enthusiasts plan, build and share their dream vehicle projects. Conceived by founder and CEO Alex Littlewood. www.motoroso.com

— Savvy Leadership Academy empowering today’s youth with the tools they’ll need to become tomorrow’s leaders. Maggie von Stein is the founder and CEO. www.savvyleaders.com

— Stollmeyer Technologies delivers unmanned automated vehicle (UAV) solutions for professionals; enabling them to perform mission critical tasks reliably. Created by Marc Stollmeyer, founder and CEO, James Thrasher, chief technology officer, and Joseph Coplon, electrical engineer. www.stoll-tech.com

Startups participating in the SLO Hothouse Incubator programs benefit from mentorship, monthly peer-to-peer roundtable discussions, an advisory board for each startup in the program, participation in Pitch Night, networking opportunities, and exclusive access to various entrepreneurial events in the community. Businesses will also be able to utilize all CIE SLO HotHouse resources, including office space, conference rooms and an invaluable peer network.

Participants are excited by the opportunity.

“Leveraging the incredible resources and amazing mentors at CIE and the SLO HotHouse will ensure Savvy Leadership Academy is strongly rooted in San Luis Obispo with the potential to offer our programs around the world,” said van Stein. “SLO roots with a global reach.”

Community startups interested in applying for the CIE SLO HotHouse Incubator program should go to https://calpolycie.wpengine.com/launch/hothouse-incubator.

About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunity to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members, and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo County. For more information, go to https://calpolycie.wpengine.com/.

About the SLO HotHouse
The SLO HotHouse is a community space created through the efforts of Cal Poly, the city and county of San Luis Obispo, the business community and the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The goal of the SLO HotHouse is to support students and community members as they work to create new innovations and start business ventures. For more information, visit https://calpolycie.wpengine.com/slo-hothouse.

Photo information: New CIE SLO HotHouse Incubator Companies.jpg
From left: James Thrasher, Joseph Coplon, Marc Stollmeyer, Maggie von Stein and Alex Littlewood are new members of the CIE SLO HotHouse Incubator program.

# # #