For many recent graduates, the post-college transition comes with an unexpected challenge: loneliness. After leaving behind the built-in community of school, making new friends in adulthood can be difficult. That reality is exactly what sparked the idea behind Social Spark, a startup helping young adults build genuine, in-person friendships during life’s most transitional phases.

Founder Sam Moberly, a Cal Poly mechanical engineering alum with a minor in entrepreneurship, first started working on Social Spark as a senior project. Inspired by what she and her friends were experiencing during that post-grad adjustment, she felt a pull to create something new.

“I had a lot of friends who were graduating and realizing that after college, it’s really hard to meet people in person,” Moberly said. “And when I graduated myself, I started to realize this too.”

Through interviews, research and early testing, Moberly discovered a clear gap: people craved authentic friendships but didn’t know how to find them without relying on dating apps or awkward networking events. “We realized there were pretty abysmal solutions out there if you want to actually have the authentic way of meeting people in person,” she said.

Social Spark offers a more thoughtful approach. Users fill out a short application with their interests and availability, and Social Spark invites them to curated group outings (also known as “socials”), such as hikes, dinners or coffee meetups, designed to foster low-pressure environments for real connection. After piloting the idea and seeing how much people valued the experience, Moberly recognized the startup’s potential, but didn’t feel ready to grow it alone.

“I had never worked in business before, so I was not ready to take that step by myself,” she said.

That changed when her senior project advisors pointed her toward the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Summer Accelerator, a 12-week program that helps student founders launch their startups full-time. The experience became a launchpad for Social Spark, and once it ended, joining the CIE Incubator program was a natural next step.

“It’s a pretty natural lead-in there because you go through 12 weeks of working on your startup every day, and now we get to be a part of this two-year program where we can continue to be connected to the CIE,” Moberly said. “We get help from all of these amazing advisors and have that strong support system while you’re still in the beginning phases of your startup.”

She credits the Incubator community as a key reason Social Spark has been able to grow. “We wouldn’t be where we are without all of those supporters,” she said. “And then there’s also the community element of getting to work with fellow founders who are oftentimes also in their first startup experience.”

Social Spark now hosts socials in cities across California, helping young adults statewide make meaningful connections where they live.

Moberly is building Social Spark alongside a dedicated team of fellow recent grads—Quoya Mann, Mariah Olson and Sophie Liu—who all bring shared passion and lived experience to solving the problem of post-grad loneliness.

Currently focused on serving 21 to 29-year-olds, Social Spark already sees opportunity to scale. “There is so much more that we can do—so many more age groups and demographics that we want to serve, and so many different communities across the country that we want to reach,” Moberly said.

Even as the company grows, the core mission remains the same: building genuine human connections. “Our goal is to be the future of friendships,” she said. “So whenever you’re in a phase of life where you’re not feeling like you have the solid friends around you and the support you want from the community, you can go out and easily make new friends.”

While Social Spark has evolved since its student project beginnings, the motivation behind it is still deeply personal. “We’re not meant to do life alone,” Moberly said in a recent interview with New Times SLO. “We all need support and a sense of belonging—and we want to help people find that.”

It’s been over six months since the 2024 Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Summer Accelerator wrapped up. Throughout the 12-week program, Cal Poly students and recent grads dedicated their summer to building out their business ideas, gaining hands-on experience and turning early-stage startups into tangible ventures.

The program concluded with Demo Day, where each team took the stage to pitch their startup and share the progress they made over the summer.

Now, months later, the 2024 Accelerator teams have taken the momentum they built and channeled it into exciting new paths—whether that’s launching full-time startups, continuing their education or pursuing new opportunities in the entrepreneurial world.

Here’s a look at where each team is now:

ODIN 

Connor Heffler, CEO and co-founder of ODIN, first got involved with the CIE through Innovation Quest, a high-stakes competition where Cal Poly students pitch their business ideas for the chance to win funding. 

ODIN, a startup developing sideline-ready headsets for fast and objective concussion assessments, took home the first-place prize and $15,000. That win launched the team into the Accelerator, where they spent 12 weeks building momentum and refining their vision.

Throughout the course of the Accelerator, Heffler and his team sharpened their focus. “We narrowed in on the problem and started really discovering what the customer’s true problems were in our space,” Heffler said. 

He credits the Accelerator not only with helping ODIN evolve, but also with helping him grow as a founder. Connecting with experienced entrepreneurs and executives through office hours and mentorship opportunities gave him invaluable insight. “I personally grew by talking to all the Entrepreneurs in Residence and seasoned entrepreneurs who had already done what we were doing,” he said. “That hands-on experience and guidance was huge.”

The Accelerator also shaped ODIN’s team dynamic and work ethic. “Our team was big on momentum,” Heffler said. “We would always celebrate the little successes, even if they were really small, to propel things forward.”

By the time Demo Day rolled around, Heffler felt ready—and excited—to showcase ODIN’s progress and share a mission that’s deeply personal to him as a former football player who has seen firsthand the impact of concussions. 

“Pitching in front of all of those people was unlike anything I’d ever done before, but I was just excited because it’s something I am extremely passionate about. It hits close to home for me,” he said. 

His pitch skills had significantly improved over the summer, which he credited to the consistent feedback he received. “Night and day difference,” Heffler said.

Since the Accelerator, ODIN has continued to make significant strides. The team completed their minimum viable product (MVP) within three months, filed a provisional patent, accumulated 8 letters of intent from high schools across the state and won the People’s Choice Award at the Pacific Coast Business Times Innovation Awards event.

Now part of the CIE Incubator, ODIN continues to grow with long-term support. “[The Incubator] feels like a continuation of the Accelerator, but you get a wider net of resources and specific advisors in your space,” Heffler said. 

MindSprout

MindSprout is on a mission to help individuals struggling with gambling addiction replace destructive habits with healthier ones. Through a gamified mobile app, the startup aims to provide daily accountability and accessible support right at users’ fingertips.

Before the Accelerator, MindSprout competed in Innovation Quest and took home second place and a $10,000 prize. 

“Competing in Innovation Quest really validated our vision that this problem is real and people are invested in it,” said founder Diana Koralski. That validation encouraged her to apply for the Accelerator, where MindSprout would continue to evolve.

“The Accelerator provided incredible mentorship,” Koralski said. “We got assigned two awesome mentors, Jonathan York and Antonio Sylvia. Jonathan really helped us put together a business plan and determine how we’re gonna grow beyond just having a good idea. Antonio was really good with the technical stuff and could tell us a lot more about how to grow an app, how to get it out there on the marketplace, and what a natural growth would look like.”

Alongside mentorship, Koralski appreciated the community aspect of the program. “The Accelerator was really beneficial to meet like-minded people and draw ideas from them and get feedback from them because you’re all trying to figure it out together.”

By Demo Day, Koralski had developed a refined pitch, shaped by the feedback she’d received throughout both Innovation Quest and the Accelerator. “I was really nervous doing it, but there was not a doubt in my mind that it was something I could or couldn’t do,” she said. “It was something that I was going to do, even scared, but it happened and it was so rewarding.”

Just after the Accelerator ended, Koralski took on full leadership of the company. After parting ways professionally with her original co-founder, she committed to carrying MindSprout forward on her own. 

Since Demo Day, MindSprout has continued to grow. The team ran its first beta test and received insightful feedback, which prompted a full redesign of the app’s core features. 

“We’re focusing on urge surfing,” Koralski said. “The game aims to replicate the dopamine spike of gambling in a safer environment without monetary loss and also offers immediate support alongside long-term behavior change through tools like habit tracking.”

She also shared that the app is now fully embracing gamification, moving beyond just including gamified elements. With a new team of interns, each working on different concepts, MindSprout is working to create a full mind-body gameplay experience that connects progress in the app with real-life personal development.

Koralski also recently connected with the founder of their primary competitor app, who has provided additional mentorship and guidance. 

Reflecting on the journey, Koralski says the Accelerator gave her the confidence and mindset she needed to keep moving forward. “The Accelerator prepared me to stay curious and keep asking questions without judgment,” she said. “Being in that supportive community made me realize that people want you to succeed.”

Skymark Systems 

Skymark Systems is tackling a critical issue in modern warfare: helping soldiers distinguish between friendly and enemy drones. The startup is developing a handheld device that uses advanced radio frequency technology and military-grade encryption to identify small and medium-sized drones in real time—a game-changing tool for frontline defense.

The idea for the company emerged from co-founders Oleksandr Gorpynich and Matan Kedar’s personal connections to the conflicts in their home countries. “We looked into the wars in both of our homes and discovered that soldiers often can’t identify drones,” Kedar explained. “We believed we could engineer something to fix this.”

When Skymark entered the Accelerator, the team was heavily focused on the technical side of their product. However, through the program, they learned to shift their perspective. “The Accelerator taught us how to focus on the business aspect of everything,” Gorpynich said. “At first, we were focused on building the technology itself. By the end, we were more focused on identifying a real market for it.”

That shift in mindset proved to be one of the biggest takeaways from the experience. “When trying out any idea, the first step should be to research your market and figure out if this is something that people actually need,” Gorpynich said.

The team also saw major improvements in their pitch delivery over the course of the Accelerator. By Demo Day, their confidence and clarity had grown, helping them communicate the value of their idea more effectively to a broader audience.

Since completing the Accelerator, Gorpynich has returned to Cal Poly to finish his undergraduate degree and resume his internship at Amazon. For his senior project, he’s diving deeper into drone technology, with the goal of gaining more hands-on experience to support a future return to Skymark Systems after graduation. 

“I found a professor I really like who does cybersecurity at Cal Poly, so I decided to do my senior project with him,” he said. “Right now, I want to improve my technical skills, and maybe after graduation, focus again on the business side.”

Although the team discovered that the commercial drone defense market isn’t quite there yet, they’re confident that it will be in the near future. “In the meantime, what we’re doing is coming up with a few potential problems, a few potential solutions, and exploring them as more of a tech-related senior project,” Gorpynich said. 

The impact of the Accelerator continues to shape his approach. “It taught me what to look out for when doing market research,” Gorpynich said. He’s even shared what he learned with his professional contacts in Ukraine, hoping to make a difference with the knowledge he’s gained.

SafePlate Technologies 

SafePlate Technologies is working to revolutionize contaminant detection in the food manufacturing industry by streamlining testing and data management with innovative biosensor technology. Their device uses electrochemical aptamer-based sensors (EABs) to identify food contaminants, essentially taking advantage of the unique shape of each contaminant and capturing them with synthetic DNA strands.

The team behind SafePlate began working together during a senior project led by Dr. Thomas Katona, the CIE Academic Programs Director. With a shared passion for improving food safety, the four founders immediately clicked and began developing their solution.

After competing in Innovation Quest, the team decided to apply for the Accelerator. “The Accelerator gave us a better chance to spend more time on the business side and actually flush things out,” said Dann. “We also had to change the technology.”

Working alongside other student founders added another layer of support. “Getting to talk to the other teams and help each other out was one of the best parts,” Dann said.

For Dann, the biggest lesson was the reality check that startups are tough—progress isn’t always fast, and success isn’t guaranteed. “The work will always be hard and it requires a lot of drive,” he said. However, Demo Day reminded the team how far they had come. 

“Even though I was a bit nervous, I was just excited to share everything we’ve been working on. It was a great experience and we got in touch with great people.”

He credits the Accelerator for helping refine their pitch from something that “sounded like a school project” to one that represented a “legit startup.” “I’m super grateful for all the CIE and SBDC programs we’ve been in. They helped us go from a senior project to being a legitimate business, and they put us in a really good place after only three months,” he said.

Since the Accelerator, SafePlate has made significant strides: their technology is functional and moving into the next phase of testing, where they’ve been able to assess key factors like reusability, longevity and sensitivity. They’ve also spoken with representatives from two of the largest food safety companies in the industry, who expressed openness to potential funding or future acquisition. SafePlate recently secured $40,000 in a friends and family round and has officially formed an advisory board to support their continued growth.

Now part of the Incubator program, the team is continuing to build on the momentum from the Accelerator. “The Accelerator set the expectation for the number of hours we’d work and how many different things we’d be doing at once,” said Dann. “It showed how time-consuming it can be, but also how flexible and fun it is to work with people you like on something no one’s ever done before.”

GreenSight Technologies

GreenSight Technologies is tackling the growing issue of electronic waste by promoting a circular economy for used electronics. Their AI-powered platform helps refurbishers and resellers identify, evaluate, and resell devices more efficiently, keeping electronics out of landfills and making technology more accessible to all.

The idea for GreenSight Tech was born in the entrepreneurial senior project class, led by Dr. Thomas Katona. While exploring potential focus areas, the team discovered the staggering scale of electronic waste and set out to develop a tech-forward solution. 

Up until the Summer Accelerator, GreenSight Tech was still structured like a school project, but the Accelerator helped them make the leap to a legitimate business. “It propelled us forward with our product development,” Daniels said. “It also connected us with incredible resources and introduced us to advisors and like-minded entrepreneurs. That helped us shift out of the school mindset and into a space where we could really thrive.”

One of their biggest challenges was explaining the niche problem they were solving, as not everyone is familiar with what happens to old electronics. “It took us the whole summer to figure out how to explain what these companies do and the problem they’re facing,” Daniels said. “But by the end of the program, we could explain it clearly enough that our pitch actually made sense.”

That clarity came just in time for Demo Day. “It was an incredible platform for us,” Daniels said. “Pitching was thrilling. It was hard to fit all we’d done into a few minutes, but it was the perfect way to wrap up a really fun and productive summer.”

Since the Accelerator, GreenSight Tech has incorporated as a company, completed the final version of their mobile app, and is preparing for beta testing in April with four electronics recycling and refurbishment companies. The app enables technicians to snap a photo of a device, automatically identify it and receive a value estimate—helping them decide whether to recycle or resell. The team also raised initial funding and is preparing to scale the platform across more companies in the industry.

Reflecting on his Accelerator experience, Daniels said it gave him essential insight into what it takes to run a startup. “You just have to throw yourself out there and do it,” he said. “If you’re thinking about doing something like the Accelerator, you’ll never know if it’s the right fit—but you have to be willing to take that risk to find out. I was on the fence at first, but I followed my gut, and I don’t regret it at all.”

ONGAWA 

For Lucas Li, ONGAWA is more than just a startup — it’s a passion project rooted in his love for music, gaming and anime.

“I am a gamer, a musician and an anime lover, so I wanted to create something that I would really enjoy working on,” said Li, a recent computer science master’s graduate from Cal Poly.

Li is the founder and CEO of ONGAWA, a gaming software startup that fuses rhythm-based gameplay with role-playing elements. Beyond offering a one-of-a-kind gaming experience, ONGAWA supports independent musicians by showcasing and monetizing their work through the platform.

Li first pitched ONGAWA publicly at the CIE’s Elevator Pitch Competition in Fall 2023. The experience, he said, helped him learn how to speak about his product in a way that resonated beyond the technical details.

“Since the Elevator Pitch was my first exposure to business, I learned to convey my idea in simple terms and quickly capture people’s interest,” Li said. That experience encouraged him to apply for the Accelerator.

“Before the summer, we were just thinking about product development as a programmer, as a coder, and that’s it,” Li said. “During the Accelerator, we started to think more about the business perspective, like customer development, product market fit, and all of those sorts of things.”

Throughout the Accelerator, the ONGAWA team learned how to tailor their message for broader audiences and gained a better understanding of their market. Li said Demo Day was one of the most memorable experiences of the summer.

“Demo Day felt like an actual conversation,” he said. “I was looking at what’s happening on the audience’s face, trying to read through their impression and decide how I want to say my next sentence.”

Since the Accelerator, ONGAWA has continued to make strong progress. The team, which has grown to 15–20 members, is now running quarterly play tests to gather feedback and improve the product. Each play test involves 15 to 25 participants and focuses on a specific aspect of the game’s design or functionality. They’ve also collaborated with KCPR, Cal Poly’s student-run radio station, and have begun integrating a variety of new music genres into the game. In addition to building new environments and characters, they’ve significantly expanded their game assets—setting the stage for continued growth.

Everest Medical 

Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery, often resulting in serious complications such as clavicle fractures or nerve damage. Everest Medical is developing a handheld device designed to assist in these situations. The device gently wraps around the baby’s upper body, helping safely guide the infant out while working with the mother’s anatomy.

The startup joined the Accelerator in hopes of building their business. “Going into the Accelerator, we had an idea of what we thought a business could be, but we mainly had a solution to the problem and none of the structure to create a business around it,” Eissmann said. “As the Accelerator progressed, our team and concept developed and we really understood that outside of having an idea, there are all these other structures you need to put in place to develop a business.”

Throughout the summer, Eissmann found herself not only learning business fundamentals, but also growing personally even while facing physical challenges. “Having a broken foot at the same time was interesting too,” she said. “It was a little bit of exposure therapy for building confidence despite anything that’s going on, and still moving forward.”

From improving her public speaking to learning how to communicate her startup’s mission, Eissmann said the Accelerator helped her gain a new sense of confidence and professionalism.

“The pitch practice helped my public speaking skills and now I feel really confident anytime I have to go up and do some sort of presentation,” she said. “The Accelerator really improved my professionalism as well as my confidence in my abilities and in myself.”

The experience also pushed her out of her comfort zone. “The Accelerator really embodies being willing to learn and being willing to not know everything, because that’s when you find the best opportunity for improvement,” she said.

Since Demo Day, Eissmann and her team have continued building their business. The startup has competed in several pitch competitions, advancing to the semifinals or finals, and completed its first round of validation testing—proving the mechanics of the device and confirming its viability. Everest Medical also conducted ergonomic evaluations with two different OB-GYNs to get feedback on how the device could be improved for real-world use.

In addition, the team won the Tom Leben’s Patent Award through the Accelerator and has been working closely with Leben to prepare their materials to file a provisional patent. They’ve officially incorporated as a company and are actively seeking funding to help bring their device to market.

“I would not be able to run a business without the Accelerator,” Eissmann said. “The amount of information we learned in just those 12 weeks is more practical than a lot of what I had learned through my entire education.”

Eissmann is currently finishing her master’s degree in engineering management and recently completed her master’s project. In April, Everest Medical will join the Incubator program, where Eissmann hopes to keep the progress going.

“I’m really excited to start the Incubator because it’ll really help launch us forward which is what we need in terms of funding, specifically,” she said.

For Eissmann, the Accelerator not only gave her the tools to build a business; it taught her how to understand the world of innovation, intellectual property and entrepreneurship in a deeply practical way.

“Without the Accelerator, I would not have the understanding of patent law that I do now,” she said. “That’s a really valuable skill in my field because that’s where a lot of innovation lies.”

NeuroCom 

NeuroCom is creating a wearable tactile interface designed to improve communication and situational awareness for first responders and military personnel. The device operates through sensory substitution, a technique that enhances one sense by replacing or augmenting it with another. In this case, NeuroCom’s product uses tactile and haptic feedback to convey location information—making it the first of its kind in this specialized field.

NeuroCom’s product is designed for use by military personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters, helping them better understand their surroundings even when traditional visual or auditory cues aren’t sufficient.

Solo-founder Alex Rosenbaum has participated in multiple events at the CIE, from the Biomedical Make-a-Thon (where he won twice) and the iQ competition to the Accelerator program.

Rosenbaum found the Accelerator to be transformative for his startup, especially in refining his approach to targeting the right customers. “The Accelerator helped us gain clarity about who we need to sell to, as opposed to just who the product is going to be used by,” he said. “We were pushed to talk to more of the stakeholders, not just the end users, which is especially important when you’re selling to the state or government.”

Rosenbaum’s journey to Demo Day also marked a significant shift in how he pitches his business. “The main shift between my first pitch and Demo Day is that it was less of an engineering presentation and more of a business pitch, so there was a lot less focus on the technical aspects and more of creating a story around the product and the vision for what the company will become.”

Since completing the Accelerator, Rosenbaum has expanded his team, bringing on software engineers and looking to recruit computer engineers and electrical engineers. This expansion comes as he gathers more feedback from industry stakeholders about where NeuroCom’s product will be most impactful. “We’ve doubled or tripled the amount of people we’ve talked to with relevant experience in the space,” Rosenbaum said. “We’re forming a better picture of how our product fits into the strategic vision of search and rescue, fire, and military.”

Rosenbaum has also attended several key conferences, including the Joint Interagency Field Exchange Program, and is working on setting up product tests with various armed forces teams and offices. This ongoing feedback is crucial as Rosenbaum is currently in the phase of testing the market and refining the product across different industries.

“The Accelerator helped me run my business when it comes to the long-term vision and planning through milestones instead of planning to milestones,” Rosenbaum said. With his product gaining traction and industry interest, Rosenbaum is now looking to expand his team further. “We’re looking for talented electrical engineers, computer engineers, mechanical engineers and firmware engineers to join the team.”

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As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the CIE is spotlighting leadership on our predominantly women team—Liz Fisher, Stephanie Zombek, Karen Tillman and Nichole McAllister—who work tirelessly to keep CIE & SBDC programs up and running for people to succeed and thrive. These women are a powerhouse of leaders dedicated to empowering students, supporting local small businesses and driving the startup ecosystem forward.

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Stephanie Zombek – Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Stephanie Zombek’s career began with a love for creativity and design, nurtured by her mother’s encouragement. After discovering her passion for branding and storytelling at Cal Poly, she ventured into marketing but found herself craving more creative work. Her journey brought her back to the CIE—where she had once interned as a Cal Poly student—now leading a creative team that blends marketing and design.

Zombek sees her mother as her biggest role model, a woman who persevered through immense challenges, including battling cancer and overcoming debilitating vertigo. “She’s proof that success isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about knowing when to stop, when to heal and when to rebuild,” Zombek said.

Her career pivot to the CIE was a leap of faith. “I hadn’t applied for a design job in years because I didn’t think I was ‘good enough.’ Imposter syndrome is real,” she admitted. “Thankfully, I went for it, and that one decision changed everything.” Now, she not only channels her creativity daily but also mentors students and leads a dynamic marketing team.

Zombek has faced many of the same challenges that impact most women, whether rooted in social conditioning or generational experiences. “Women tend to second-guess themselves a lot, and I’m definitely guilty of it, too,” she said. “But I’ve learned that the best way to prove yourself isn’t to wait for validation…it’s to show up, do the work and own your space. And surrounding myself with strong, supportive people (especially other women) has made all the difference.”

She finds immense fulfillment in working at the CIE, surrounded by talented, driven women who uplift and inspire one another. “We always talk about wanting to see more women in leadership, in startups, in business—but change starts by showing what’s possible. We get to be that example. If we want more women in these spaces, we have to make space for them, and I love that we’re doing that here at the CIE.” 

Liz Fisher – Assistant Director of the Cal Poly CIE SBDC

For the past five years, Liz Fisher has helped lead the Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC), managing a team of three staff members and over 30 business consultants. With a background in public relations and event coordination, she transitioned into higher education, drawn to its mission-driven environment.

Fisher credits much of her success to female mentors, particularly Judy Mahan, who encouraged her to lean into her strengths. One of her proudest achievements has been building a full-time, all-women staff within the CIE. “Now, we are a team of five amazing women who work well together and truly rely on each other’s strengths to create (in my opinion) the best program in the County,” she said.

Navigating a male-dominated industry has presented challenges, but Fisher remains a steadfast advocate for women entrepreneurs. “I see more challenges for women who are running their own business, which in turns makes me a bigger champion for them as they pursue their dreams and do what I can to support them through our organization,” she explained. 

Beyond her work, Fisher believes in fostering a supportive environment where women can lead with confidence. “I love being part of an all-women team,” she said. “I think the energy is incredible and it truly is a large part of why I love what I do. Being around so many empowered women who are constantly going above and beyond what is expected is an amazing opportunity that I don’t take lightly.” 

Karen Tillman – Interim Executive Director of the CIE

With a background in tech communications, economic development and strategic leadership, Karen Tillman has built a career on curiosity and adaptability. Her experience spans major public companies economic development, and now, leading the CIE. Throughout her journey, she has drawn inspiration from a multitude of women, each offering unique perspectives on leadership and strategy. “There have been so many influential women, not a singular one, but it’s been awesome to learn that way,” she said. 

One of her proudest career moments was helping transform GoDaddy’s reputation from a company known for misogynistic advertising into an industry leader in gender equity. By implementing systemic changes and prioritizing transparency, she helped shift public perception and internal culture. “It was hard work, but incredibly rewarding to see meaningful change take place,” she said.

Tillman has faced the challenges many women encounter in male-dominated industries—working harder, staying longer, and carefully balancing how she presents herself. “You had to be heard, but not too much,” she said, referencing the now-famous “Barbie” monologue. Rather than letting obstacles define her, she focused on understanding people who held different perspectives than her own. “Is it something I can change? If not, how do I work around it?” she said.

At the CIE, Tillman sees firsthand the power of an all-women team. “We’re not all of one mold,” she said. “If there are six women, we are six different molds, and I love that. Because you get something from each of these people. And in a smaller organization like this one, you can really see the impact.” 

Nichole McAllister – Operations Manager

As Operations Manager at the CIE, Nichole McAllster plays a vital role in keeping the HotHouse running smoothly. Whether managing day-to-day logistics, coordinating events, or fostering a welcoming coworking environment, McAllister is the backbone of the CIE’s operations.

Beyond her work at the CIE, McAllister has always been a pillar of support in her family and community. A mother of three and a dedicated student pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business, she often steps into leadership roles, whether in the PTA at her children’s school or at the CIE.

McAllister’s grandmother has been a guiding influence in her life, who helped raise not only her own children, but her grandchildren, instilling in them the importance of patience, support and open-mindedness. “She’s the person you could tell anything to, and she’d listen and support you no matter what,” McAllister said.

McAllister’s journey has been shaped by personal challenges, including supporting her husband after his Parkinson’s diagnosis. “For me, education was always something I wanted to pursue, but life had other plans,” she said. “Now, I’m doing it for myself and my family’s future.” 

Despite her many responsibilities, McAllister continues to push forward, driven by her commitment to her family and personal growth. “Knowledge is power, right? That’s why I push myself to keep learning, so I can be a better advocate, a better leader and a better example for my kids.” she explained. 

When reflecting on the challenges women face in the workplace, McAllister acknowledges being underestimated or taken advantage of. “It’s just important that we believe in ourselves and know that what we have to say matters,” she said.

Being part of an all-women team at the CIE has been a unique experience—one she values, but also sees from multiple perspectives. “I think it’s awesome, but I also believe in balance. Sometimes, different perspectives can challenge our way of thinking and that’s important,” she explained. She finds fulfillment in working with driven women who uplift and support each other, knowing that these efforts help create a stronger, more inclusive future.

To her, Women’s History Month represents both the progress made and the work that still lies ahead. “I think about my grandmother and how much change she’s seen in her lifetime,” she said. “Yes, we’ve made progress, but I also see how much more we have to fight for.” 

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The CIE is not only fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs but also setting an example of strong, supportive leadership. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women of the CIE and the impact they make every day.

 

As we continue to highlight inspiring women for Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting Kim Bisheff, an Assistant Professor of Media Innovation at Cal Poly. With a career that has taken her from reporting for the Los Angeles Times to writing feature stories for Outside magazine, Bisheff has dedicated herself to both journalism and the evolving landscape of media innovation. Now, she is shaping the next generation of journalists at Cal Poly, equipping students with the tools they need to navigate an ever-changing industry.

Bisheff’s love for journalism began in high school when her English teacher encouraged her to start a school newspaper. The thrill of reporting, collaborating with fellow students and meeting deadlines sparked a passion that would later define her career. Though she didn’t study journalism as an undergraduate, she found herself drawn to it through her college newspaper.

After earning her degree, Bisheff initially took a job at an investment firm—a position she quickly realized wasn’t for her. That realization pushed her to pursue journalism professionally, landing an internship and later a reporting job at the Los Angeles Times. She then pursued a master’s degree at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, where she fell in love with magazine feature writing. This path led her to Outside magazine, where she covered sustainability in adventure travel destinations, combining storytelling with environmental advocacy.

“It is such a privilege to help journalism students start their own careers, especially in a forward-thinking department that is committed to preparing them for jobs in an ever-changing industry,” Bisheff said.

Throughout her career, Bisheff has been shaped by the guidance of strong women mentors, including Mary Glick, a former Cal Poly journalism professor who introduced her to media innovation and entrepreneurship. She credits Lynn Metcalf and Karen Tillman for their support through the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and Teresa Allen who taught her to “not suffer fools.” 

Now, Bisheff takes great pride in mentoring her own students, helping them develop tech solutions for media challenges and navigate the evolving world of journalism. Her proudest moments come when former students reach out to tell her how they are using the skills they learned in her classes—whether it’s decoding city council reports, digging into public records, or fixing website glitches.

“It makes me so proud. I want to give them an A in life,” she said. 

Bisheff acknowledges that women in professional settings often walk a fine line in how they are perceived, balancing assertiveness with approachability. While she continues to overcome these challenges, she has found strength in working with colleagues who listen, validate experiences and advocate for one another. She emphasizes the importance of having female allies in the workplace and male colleagues who use their voices to support women.

For Bisheff, Women’s History Month is personal. She grew up watching her mother, a champion of women’s rights, break barriers in academia. Her mother pursued a master’s degree and doctorate while raising a family, eventually becoming a food science professor and department chair at CSU Northridge.

“When I was born, women still weren’t allowed to have their own bank accounts,” Bisheff said. “But my mom raised me to believe that girls could do anything while she fought to make that true. Women’s History Month honors the women like my mom who helped create an easier path for their daughters and granddaughters. At the same time, it reminds us that there is still a lot of work to do.”

As the CIE continues to highlight extraordinary women who are making an impact in the community in honor of Women’s History Month, we are spotlighting Skye McLennan, a passionate advocate for cinema, storytelling and community. As the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, McLennan has dedicated her career to the power of film and its potential to foster community. 

Her journey into the film industry began at just 18 years old, when she started working in film festivals simply as a way to be around what she loved most—movies. Over time, that passion evolved into a deep appreciation for the unique experiences film festivals provide.

“I really believe in the transformative power of cinema and connection and cultivating community,” McLennan said.

Her career has taken her to some of the world’s most renowned film festivals, including Sydney Film Festival, Sundance and Tribeca, before bringing her back to her home to San Luis Obispo. Now, she is shaping the local film scene and expanding its reach through year-round programming.

One of McLennan’s proudest career moments was the establishment of the SLO Film Center at the Palm Theatre, a cherished local venue. “It’s a place I treasure near and dear to my heart, and I hope that our vision helps ensure its future for many years to come,” she said.

Like many industries, the film world comes with its challenges, particularly for women.

“I think not only just as a woman but as a younger woman, people judge you on your appearance and have certain expectations of you,” McLennan shared. “There is this constant feeling that you have more to prove and that you also need to be ‘nice’ so you don’t come off the wrong way.”

Though Women’s History Month is an important time to reflect on the achievements of women throughout history, McLennan believes in celebrating those contributions every single day.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks and support one another. I believe in the power of collaboration and a team of peers that uplift each other. Identify the people that support you and hold onto them.”

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience and contributions of women who have shaped history and continue to pave the way for future generations. 

Here at the CIE, we are proud to spotlight inspiring women who are making an impact in the field of entrepreneurship and beyond. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing the stories of incredible women who are driving innovation and empowering others to follow their dreams.

Our first spotlight shines on Mayela Fernandez, Cal Poly MBA student and co-founder of Ecoplasticity, a startup committed to revolutionizing sustainability in the food industry.

Fernandez witnessed firsthand how sustainability was no longer just a trend, but rather an essential part of business. This propelled her to take action and create Ecoplasticity’s first product, a biodegradable seaweed-based coating that could replace plastic. 

Fernandez and her business partner, Michelle Cullen (materials engineering, ‘24), developed the perfect formula for their sustainable coating. “That breakthrough validated months of research, problem-solving, and persistence,” she explained. “It was a powerful reminder that women can drive innovation and create meaningful change when they pursue their passions with determination.”

Fernandez is familiar with the challenges that come with working in an industry that is often shaped by male-driven perspectives. She noticed that many leadership strategies and negotiation tactics were framed through a male lens, which initially made it difficult to find her own footing. 

“One of my personal challenges has been redefining what success looks like for me as a woman in this space. I’ve learned to prioritize my well-being, set boundaries, and embrace a more balanced approach to leadership,” she said. 

Fernandez credits her success to the strong women who have guided and supported her. Her mother and sister have been her greatest role models, while the women leaders in her father’s company reinforced her belief in the power of women’s leadership.

“Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women who have paved the way for us,” she said. “For me, it’s an opportunity to amplify women’s voices, support one another, and inspire the next generation to dream big and break barriers.”

In honor of Black History Month, we’re excited to spotlight Hush Harbor Artisan Bakery & Café, a beloved staple in Atascadero that’s been bringing delicious, handcrafted bread and baked goods to the Central Coast for over two decades. Founded by Donnie Monroe and Penni Monroe, this Black-owned bakery has become a true gem for locals and visitors alike.

Donnie Monroe, with a background in aerospace, discovered his passion for European-style bread later in life. After years in the aerospace industry, he shifted gears and pursued his dream of opening a bakery. He attended the San Francisco Baking Institute and honed his skills working at Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro in Riverside before launching Hush Harbor in 2003.

Penni Monroe passed away in 2021, but her impact on the community remains. Their family faced challenges as one of the only Black-owned businesses in Atascadero, but the support from loyal customers and the local community helped them persevere, especially during difficult times such as the pandemic and social unrest.

Hush Harbor is named after the secret “hush harbors,” where enslaved African Americans gathered in private to practice their faith and build community, free from the oversight of enslavers.

The bakery specializes in artisanal bread, made from scratch pastries and other comforting meals. Every loaf is crafted by hand, with no machines or automation, but simply years of expertise and patience. The Monroes’ commitment to quality is clear, and their customers rave about the textures, flavors and beauty of their baked goods. Some of the most popular items include the morning glory muffins, chocolate chip cookies and the seasonal sweet potato pies, all made with fresh ingredients and prepared daily.

Support Hush Harbor by stopping by for breakfast, lunch or a freshly baked loaf. Visit them at 5735 El Camino Real in Atascadero.

Alcohol misuse costs U.S. employers an estimated $249 billion per year in lost productivity, healthcare expenses and workplace incidents. Owen Works, founder and CEO of Horizen Tech, is on a mission to help individuals and companies make more informed health choices regarding alcohol use. Horizen Tech provides corporate wellness solutions focused on alcohol accountability and behavior change, helping businesses reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and support employee well-being.

His entrepreneurial journey began in 2022 when Works saw a flyer for an Elevator Pitch Competition hosted by the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), and decided to try his luck.

Brainstorming an idea that could be presented at the competition and possibly carried on afterward, Works took inspiration from his own experiences and identified a growing movement: sober curiosity. He wanted to develop a solution that supports individuals looking to build healthier drinking habits and explore a lifestyle with less alcohol.

“I think I was terrified because deep down, I knew this is something I really wanted to do, and I was worried I was going to screw it up. But it’s better to try it and possibly screw it up than to never try at all,” Works reminisced.

At the time, public speaking was not a strong suit for Works, but he pitched his idea for an alcohol-detection patch. He won first place in the competition and the grand prize of $1,000. 

Following the momentum from his successful elevator pitch, Works participated in Startup Launch Weekend, an event where entrepreneurial students work for an entire weekend to advance and develop a tangible business.

That following spring, Horizen joined Innovation Quest, an innovation-centered showcase for Cal Poly entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas and gain funding.

As a fifth-year Cal Poly Industrial Engineer minoring in entrepreneurship, Works was able to leverage his academic network and resources. Horizen has collaborated with students across both the business and engineering colleges, working with over 30 student interns to develop the product and refine the business model. These students have played a critical role in research, product design, and software development, helping drive the startup forward.

Horizen Tech was accepted into the 2023 Summer Accelerator, a 12-week intensive program where Cal Poly students and recent graduates transform their business ideas into startups with the help of a $10,000 in seed funding and local resources.

Upon the conclusion of the Accelerator, Horizen Tech joined the CIE Incubator Program in November 2023, a 2-year full-time program that provides resources in all aspects of early-stage companies to develop into high-growth enterprises; including a dedicated desk in the CIE HotHouse coworking space in downtown San Luis Obispo. Works spotlights the importance of this, mentioning the significance of a sense of community in the field of entrepreneurship, which can be so isolating for founders.

 “When we were in the Accelerator, we knew for sure that the Incubator was the place that we wanted to go after that,” Works adds.

In May 2024, Horizen Tech was one of six startups to pitch at AngelCon, an event hosted by the Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC) that brings together tech-based startups who receive training and mentorship from expert business advisors and a group of dedicated angel investors.

Works remarked that during AngelCon, “the access to consultants and mentors in different areas, whether that be customer development, finance or marketing, has been instrumental.”

Horizen Tech’s first product, Pulse, is an app designed to support sober-curious individuals by providing accountability, connection and resources. The app pairs with the Pulse Patch, a wearable device that detects alcohol levels in sweat, helping users track their drinking habits and make informed health decisions.

Over time, the wearable patch has evolved into a continuous monitoring device, much like a glucose monitor, that enables individuals to make informed choices about their health. Through Pulse, users can share achievements and goals with their trusted inner circles, providing viable proof of abstinence to sponsors, family or employers.

Eventually, Horizen Tech intends to integrate data with Fitbit and Apple Health, allowing users to correlate their lifestyle choices with well-being practices, such as quality of sleep and impacts of caffeine intake.

In January 2025, Horizen Tech hosted its first-ever SLO Dry January Challenge, attracting over 100 participants. The initiative encouraged community members to abstain from alcohol for the entire month, offering incentives such as cash prizes, yoga sessions and gifts from local businesses. The impact was significant: 97% of participants rated the challenge as successful or very successful, with 69% stating they would participate in a future challenge. Most participants successfully completed the month, reinforcing the effectiveness of structured accountability in fostering healthier habits. 

Works has organized this event to “encourage better health decisions in the community and really make it a fun experience. It is kind of like a preview of what’s to come with our challenges that will be part of the platform.”

With the Pulse Patch now in manufacturing and software development accelerating, Horizen Tech is expanding its corporate wellness offerings. The startup is focused on helping individuals and businesses create healthier environments around alcohol consumption and is on track to make a lasting impact on workplace wellness and personal health.

In honor of Black History Month, the CIE is spotlighting Black-owned businesses across San Luis Obispo county that brings creativity and community to the Central Coast. This week, we are celebrating A Satellite of Love, a vibrant space where art, music and culture intersect. 

Owned and operated by Malik Miko Thorne, the boutique offers an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, vinyl records, books, artisanal decor and handmade goods. Beyond its curated selection, A Satellite of Love also serves as a gathering place that fosters connection, reflecting Thorne’s deep commitment to community. 

Thorne took full ownership of the shop after buying out his friends and has since used his background in the arts to shape A Satellite of Love into a space that goes beyond retail. Before the pandemic, the shop regularly hosted music nights, movie screenings in collaboration with Arts Obispo and small performances from local and traveling musicians. It was one of the few places in downtown San Luis Obispo where people could experience live entertainment outside of the typical bar scene.

Born in Hawaii to a Black and Indigenous father and an Indian mother, Thorne spent much of his early life moving between Georgia and the Bay Area before attending Cal Poly. His passion for music led him to KCPR, Cal Poly’s college radio station, where he discovered a welcoming and creative community that solidified his love for San Luis Obispo.

His love for music later led him to host a soul show on KCBX, San Luis Obispo’s public radio station, and eventually into a career as a DJ for weddings and events for over 15 years. His experience in radio, music and event production continues to shape the vision for A Satellite of Love as a dynamic space that bridges the gap between retail and expression.

A Satellite of Love is a reflection of Thorne’s dedication to fostering independent business, artistic expression and meaningful connections. You can visit A Satellite of Love at 1335 Walker St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, or check out their online store here.

This Black History Month, we’re highlighting Black-owned businesses that are making an impact in San Luis Obispo. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on Ebony SLO, the first Ethiopian restaurant in the area, founded by sisters Helen Abraha and Martha Taezaz. With a deep passion for cooking and a mission to bring authentic Ethiopian flavors to the Central Coast, Ebony is more than just a restaurant — it’s a celebration of culture and community. 

Growing up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Abraha and Taezaz learned the art of cooking from their mother, who instilled in them the value of patience, love and tradition in the kitchen. Abraha’s passion led her to earn a Culinary Arts degree, while Taezaz pursued formal training at Ethiopia’s Catering and Tourism Training Institute. 

Together, they’ve combined their expertise and lifelong love of food to create Ebony SLO, a restaurant that honors their roots while introducing Ethiopian cuisine to a new audience.

Since opening in December 2023, Ebony has quickly gained a loyal following, offering an entirely organic, vegan, and gluten-free menu. Staples like misir wot (a flavorful red lentil stew), shiro (a rich chickpea dish) and freshly made injera (a traditional fermented flatbread) transport customers to the heart of Ethiopia with every bite. 

Beyond the food, Ebony introduces an essential part of Ethiopian culture: the tradition of sharing meals.

“In Ethiopia, food is always about sharing,” Taezaz explained in an interview with Mustang News. “We eat together from one big plate, and that’s what makes it special.”

For many customers, Ebony has become a place to experience not only new flavors but also the warmth and hospitality that define Ethiopian dining. Regulars have praised the restaurant not just for its incredible food, but for the dedication and heart that Abraha and Taezaz put into every dish.

Abraha and Taezaz’s journey reflects the resilience, passion and dedication of Black entrepreneurs in San Luis Obispo. While Black History Month serves as a time to recognize and uplift Black-owned businesses, support shouldn’t stop when February ends.

As the sisters continue to introduce more people to the beauty of Ethiopian food, the best way to support them is simple: show up, spread the word and celebrate the diversity that makes San Luis Obispo a richer place to live.

Visit Ebony SLO at 778 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, or visit their website.