Director of Student Innovation Programs | Associate Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
tkatona@calpoly.edu
Tom Katona is an Associate Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he helps students navigate the intersection of technology, product development and business. With a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of South Carolina, Tom brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen to his work.
His extensive industry experience includes senior roles for three successive startups (SET Inc., Soraa, and NEXT Lighting), where he focused on solid-state lighting and semiconductor technologies. With a career spanning both academia and industry, Tom is passionate about fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.
When he’s not guiding the future of innovation, Tom loves to sing karaoke and participate in the SLO Holiday Parade — just look for the guy dressed as Buddy the Elf!
