10/28/26 - SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA: Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) hosts the annual Elevator Pitch Competition where students present startup ideas on October 28, 2026 at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo, California. (Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE)
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship hosts an annual competition featuring 90-second business pitches from colleges across campus
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – At the recent 17th annual Elevator Pitch Competition, biomedical engineering sophomore Emily Morrow, of Scottsdale, Arizona, took home the $1,000 first-place prize for pitching her team’s idea of an assistive swim device. This wearable navigation headband assists blind and visually impaired swimmers, allowing them to train more safely and independently.
“It was definitely a really great surprise winning,” Morrow said. “I’m a second year, and I was surrounded by fourth years. But if you have an idea and you’re excited about it, you should just go out and do it.”
Biological sciences sophomore Alejandro Lachica, of Memphis, Tennessee, earned the $500 Audience Choice Award for his product, VialValidate, an independent testing service and viable data base that helps ensure people are aware of what peptides they are injecting into themselves, to proactively receive informed medical decisions on their health.
This event, hosted by the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) took place on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m in the Pavilion Room of the Performing Arts Center. This year’s event featured a Battle of the Colleges, with finalists from each Cal Poly college competing head-to-head for cash prizes in just 90 seconds.
“This year, the Elevator Pitch Competition was unique because we had finalists representing every college at Cal Poly. The wide range of pitches shows how far entrepreneurship reaches across campus,” Manager of Student Innovation Programs Sophie Hosbein said.
The CIE is Cal Poly’s hub for innovation, supporting entrepreneurs at every stage with resources, mentorship and a collaborative startup ecosystem. The Elevator Pitch Competition is open to students from all majors and years to explore new ideas and practice their pitching skills.
The finalists were judged by Diana Garcia Quevedo, Assistant Professor ITP and Entrepreneurship; Matt Benetti, Senior Advisor, M&A Integration Practice Acquire2Win and SBDC Marketing Advisor; and Jake Winett, former VP of Marketing Product Development and Co-founder of Zibby.ai. Judging criteria included how clearly the problem was explained, creativity and innovation, effectiveness of communication, persuasive potential and entertainment value.
This year’s finalists included a variety of ideas, from a bone broth hot cocoa mix to wheelchair conversion kit for the beach:
- Identifying Fake Images in the Courtroom, an image detector to authentic digital evidence set to be used in a courtroom, ensuring that Artificial Intelligence will not be used; pitched by computer science senior Jillian Bogosian of Morgan Hill, California, representing the College of Engineering.
- Beach Wheelchair Conversion Kit, a product, featuring larger wheels that attach to a wheelchair, allowing the user to push themselves through sandy environments, giving the freedom back to a person who is wheelchair-bound; pitched by biomedical engineering senior Dean Eggers of Pleasanton, California, representing the College of Engineering.
- Sewing Studio, a studio and store serving as a hub for learning, honing and buying craft supplies; pitched by art and design senior Daylin Enriquez of Los Angeles, representing the College of Liberal Arts.
- Ferrell Foods, a single-serving, four-ingredient bone broth hot cocoa mix, designed to reimagine whole foods with collagen and protein into a craveable product, pitched by agriculture business junior Leightyn Ferrell of Minnetonka, Minnesota, representing the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
- Drawings in a Day, an AI-based tool that builds a three dimensional model site plan, floor plan, elevation plan, taking into account the lot space and dimensions, with preparing it to be sent to the city; pitched by architecture fifth-year Arsh Gupta of Ludhiana, India, representing the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
- Biostrike Baseball, an affordable phone-swing analysis platform that brings lab-based grade biomechanics feedback to baseball players, designed for high school baseball players looking to take the next step into professional baseball; pitched by biomedical engineering senior Jett Hayes of X, California, representing the College of Engineering.
- VialValidate, an independent testing service and viable data base that helps ensure increase awareness of what peptides they are injecting into themselves, to proactively receive informed medical decisions on their health, pitched by biological sciences sophomore Alejandro Lachica, of Memphis, Tennessee, representing the College of Science and Math.
- Melon Seed Milk, a non-dairy beverage product that utilizes commonly discarded melon seeds to produce a new milk that uses less water and clears all nine major allergens, pitched by industrial technology & packaging student Emmanuel Okpan, representing the Orfalea College of Business.
- Assistive Swim Device, a wearable navigation headband assists blind and visually impaired swimmers, allowing them to train more safely and independently, pitched by biomedical engineering sophomore Emily Morrow, of Scottsdale, Arizona, representing the College of Engineering.
- Crohn’s Disease Inflammation, a bracelet device designed to support people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, tracking up to four inflammatory markers, electrolytes and additional biomarkers, pitched by biomedical engineer senior Ruby Richards of Park City, Utah, representing the College of Engineering.
As Hosbein has coached each finalist on their pitch, she said she was impressed by how much traction many of them have already made.
“Beyond the idea themselves, students have built assistive tools for people with disabilities, formulated and tested healthier alternatives to everyday foods and developed prototypes to measure biomechanics,” Hosbein said.
To watch this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition finalist pitches, visit the YouTube playlist.
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunities 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, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu
October 19, 2026
Incubator teams ENTEIN, Greensight Technologies and
SafePlate Technologies posed together at the Incubator graduation ceremony with current and former CIE staff.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Three startups have completed the two-year Incubator program at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), marking significant milestones in their growth and development.
Since its inception in 2010, the CIE Incubator has promoted regional economic development by supporting tech and innovation startups with scalable potential. The program has helped startups create more than 481 jobs, raise over $114.9 million in angel and venture funding, $5.5 million in grant funding, and earn over $12.9 million in revenue. Out of 50 companies that have graduated, 35 have continued to operate and five have been acquired, resulting in an 80% success rate.
In the past two years, the three companies completing the program have collectively created 10 jobs, benefited from 1,105 hours of business advising and secured $677,000 in capital funding, grants and awards.
“At the CIE, we’re building the nation’s leading entrepreneurial pathway — one where every Cal Poly student and local entrepreneur, regardless of major or work history, can take an idea and turn it into a business,” said Peter Falzon, CIE Executive Director. “We are very proud of the accomplishments of this year’s graduating teams. They represent the very best of what we do.”
The companies graduating from the CIE Incubator program include:
- ENTEIN – Converts food manufacturing by-products into insect protein and fertilizer through insect agriculture.
- Greensight Technologies – Provides an AI-powered pricing platform for the secondary electronics market helping the circular economy value, route, and resell electronics.
- SafePlate Technologies – Develops portable, rapid food-safety testing solutions for food manufacturers.
“The incubator has provided us with a place to come back to. It’s been where we experimented and launched multiple products from,” said Greensight Technologies Co-founder and CPO Mackenzie Kettwig, “And it’s just really provided us with the support and the team that we needed to really help us take our company to the next level.”
The CIE recently added three new startups to the Incubator, making a total of 10 startups currently in the program:
- Avaia – Creates wearable chemical sensors that can detect date-rape drugs in a beverage to give users the information they need to feel safe during social experiences.
- Ecoplasticity – Develops a seaweed-based coating that replaces the plastic lining found in paperboard take-out containers, making them fully compostable and recyclable.
- Everest Medical Solutions – Develops a shoulder dystocia treatment device that ensures peace of mind for both obstetricians and new families during a shoulder dystocia emergency.
- Get Tasked – A voice-powered project management and execution platform that turns conversations, voice notes, and meetings into organized tasks, clear ownership, and actionable next steps.
- Happycampr – Helps operators reduce employee turnover by predicting which hourly workers are at risk of leaving and recommending actions to retain them.
- Hikari Medical Technologies – Develops a precision drug-dosing platform that uses light-responsive nanoparticles and a wearable device to control and monitor drug release in real time.
- Hopscotch Education – Offers a personalized learning platform that transforms students’ class materials into interactive exercises built around how they learn.
- Los Osos Medical – Develops CPAP that is safer and easier to manage for premature infants. Their modular Pnoia Interface is designed to reduce the nasal injury, air leaks, and dislodgment common with current NICU devices.
- Nibble Foods – Redefines traditionally indulgent desserts into something that satisfies the craving without the guilt, compromise or overeating.
- Twizz Travel – Provides a web-based travel app that uses AI to generate bookable itineraries, drastically simplifying trip planning for groups or individuals for any occasion.-
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The CIE provides Cal Poly students, faculty and community members with the tools, mentorship and resources to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses, fostering entrepreneurship and regional economic development. By providing quality coaching, professional consulting and connections with industry professionals, the CIE creates an environment in which new businesses can develop and thrive. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.
The CIE Incubator program is open to the broader business community, and Cal Poly affiliation is not required. Enrollment is open year-round. Startups interested in applying for the Incubator can visit cie.calpoly.edu/launch/incubator.
September 4, 2026
SAN LUIS OBISPO — More than 200 people gathered at Rod & Hammer Rock on Friday, Aug. 21, for the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) annual Demo Day, with an additional 200 viewers tuning in via YouTube Live to watch seven startups from the 2026 Summer Accelerator pitch their ventures.
The event was the culmination of the CIE’s 2026 Summer Accelerator program, an intensive program that helps Cal Poly students and recent graduates develop their startup ideas into scalable businesses. Typically a 12-week program, the Accelerator was compressed to 10 weeks this year as Cal Poly transitioned to the semester calendar, with Demo Day taking place the Friday before fall classes began. Founders from each startup shared the progress they made throughout the summer with support from CIE mentors, staff and industry experts.
This was the first cohort of startups to operate from the CIE’s new HotHouse location in downtown San Luis Obispo. The HotHouse provides entrepreneurs and startups with collaborative workspace and access to the broader CIE community.
“It was fun getting to watch this group of young entrepreneurs step up to the challenge of building their businesses during an especially accelerated summer,” said CIE Academic Programs Director and Cal Poly professor of entrepreneurship Thomas Katona (pictured above). “Tremendous work by all of them.”
The Summer Accelerator provides each startup with $10,000 in seed funding, mentorship from industry experts, entrepreneurial workshops and dedicated workspace in the HotHouse. Throughout the program, founders test their ideas, conduct customer discovery and work toward milestones that move their companies closer to market.
For Hopscotch founder (pictured above) and recent Cal Poly business administration graduate Lily Bryan (’26), one of the program’s greatest benefits was access to mentors and industry experts.
“The people that walk through the door and take their time to meet with the whole cohort and one-on-one and speak in front of the whole cohort is just so amazing,” Bryan said. “Regardless of the industry they’re coming from, they’re always able to apply their expertise to our situation.”
The 2026 cohort represented a range of industries and academic disciplines, from food and beverage innovation and education technology to aviation, water management and medical technology. The startups included:
— AquaX is a marketplace for agricultural water credits, enabling peer-to-peer transfers in basins regulated by California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. AquaX was created by William Stevens (Economics, ’25) of Los Angeles.
— Flyer Design Solutions is the creator of AviateVFR, a flight-planning app that automatically finds safe and legal general aviation routes, considering real-time airspace, terrain and weather, with displays that are clear and easy to use. Flyer Design Solutions was an iQ 2026 finalist and was created by brothers Chase and Weston Mitchell of Chico, California. Chase (Aerospace Engineering, ’26) is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Cal Poly, while Weston is a senior accounting student at Santa Clara University.
— Hopscotch is an AI-powered learning platform that models how each student learns by translating the learning process into their preferred approach, catering to a variety of ways to engage with the material. Hopscotch was created by Lily Bryan (Business Administration, ’26) of San Diego and Liam Hyde (Computer Science, ’24) of Seattle, who is pursuing a master’s degree in quantitative economics at Cal Poly.
— Nibble Foods is creating frozen cheesecake bites in a low-calorie, protein-packed format made with clean, organic and fair-trade ingredients. Nibble Foods was an iQ 2026 finalist and was created by Joshua Van Tassel (Agricultural Business ‘26) of Los Altos, California, and Alex Pope (Agricultural Business ‘26) of Pleasant Hill, California.
— Osos Medical (formerly PNOIA) is developing a low-profile nasal pillow CPAP interface designed specifically for premature infants that improves therapeutic reliability, reduces clinical complications and simplifies care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Osos Medical received the first-place award at iQ 2026 and was created by Josiah Waltner (Biomedical Engineering ‘26) of Bass Lake, California, and Aidan Geurts (Mechanical Engineering ‘26) of Seattle.
— Permi helps architects identify and resolve building code issues in their plan sets before submission, reducing costly revisions and delays in permitting and construction. Permi was an iQ 2026 finalist and was developed by computer engineering senior Soe Ko Ko Lin of Yangon, Myanmar; Wilson Yu (Computer Engineering ‘26) of Los Angeles; and Muska Said Hasan Mustafa (Software Engineering ‘26) of Irvine, California.
— Tango is creating a nonalcoholic, low-sugar sparkling electrolyte mocktail crafted with clean ingredients. Tango was created by agricultural business senior John Piro of San Jose and business administration senior Nathan Donovan of Long Beach, California.
A recording of the 2026 Demo Day presentations is available on YouTube below:
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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, visit cie.calpoly.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Zombek
szombek@calpoly.edu; (714) 401-2371
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has accepted eight startup teams into its Summer Accelerator, an intensive 10-week program that provides Cal Poly students and recent graduates with the resources necessary to turn their innovative ideas into full-fledged startups.
Participants receive $10,000 in seed funding, as well as access to expert mentorship, entrepreneurial workshops and a dedicated workspace in the HotHouse, the CIE’s office located in downtown San Luis Obispo.
“This year’s cohort is hitting the ground running,” said Dr. Thomas Katona, CIE academic director and professor of entrepreneurship. “Every team is coming in with prototypes already built, and we even have two teams that have been generating revenue, demonstrating a real drive to get into the market early and learn fast. We’re also excited to see stronger representation from our College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, a reflection of the incredible work being done by our Faculty Fellow in that college, Dr. Lucy McGowan.”
Four out of the eight teams in this cohort participated in Innovation Quest (iQ), a high-stakes competition where Cal Poly students pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges in the hopes of winning funding for their startups.
The 2026 Summer Accelerator teams represent a variety of different ideas, from healthy cheesecake bites with Nibble to simplifying care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with PNOIA.
This year’s cohort includes:
AquaX, a peer-to-peer water trading marketplace for agriculture. AquaX was created by William Stevens (Economics, ’25) of Los Angeles, California.
Campus Cuts, a digital platform that connects college students with college student barbers through a distributed campus marketplace, enabling independent student service providers to build clientele and generate income while delivering convenient, high-quality haircuts to students on campus. Campus Cuts was an iQ 2026 finalist and was created by Justin Schroeter, an industrial technology and packaging junior from San Luis Obispo, California, and economics junior Liam McKeown of San Jose, California.
Flyer Design Solutions, an aviation app that automatically finds visual flight routes, or VFR, for pilots — considering real-time airspace, terrain and weather — with displays that are clear and easy to use. Flyer Design Solutions was an iQ 2026 finalist and was created by aerospace engineering senior Chase Mitchell and Santa Clara University accounting junior Weston Mitchell, both of Chico, California.
Hopscotch, an AI-powered learning platform that models how each student learns and transforms standard content into personalized, interactive educational experiences. Hopscotch was created by business administration senior Lily Bryan of San Diego and Liam Hyde (Computer Science, ’24).
Nibble, a food startup creating frozen cheesecake bites in a healthy, protein-packed format made with only clean, organic and fair-trade ingredients. Nibble was an iQ 2026 finalist and was created by agricultural business seniors Joshua Van Tassel of Los Altos, California, and Alex Pope of Pleasant Hill, California.
Osos Medical (formerly PNOIA), a low-profile nasal pillow CPAP interface designed specifically for premature infants that improves therapeutic reliability, reduces clinical complications and simplifies care in the NICU. PNOIA received the first place award at iQ 2026 and was created by: mechanical engineering student Jack Mahoney of Santa Barbara, California; biomedical engineering majors Josiah Waltner of Bass Lake, California, and Madeline de la Concha of Lompoc, California; and mechanical engineering fifth-year Aidan Geurts of Seattle.
Permi, a startup using AI to automate building code compliance and permit application completeness check, transforming municipal permit reviews from days-long processes into minute-level decisions. Permi was an iQ 2026 finalist and was developed by: computer engineering seniors Soe Ko Ko Lin of Yangon, Myanmar, and Wilson Yu of Los Angeles; and software engineering senior Muska Said Hasan Mustafa of Irvine, California.
Tango, a non-alcoholic, low-sugar, sparkling mocktail and mixer crafted with clean ingredients and functional electrolytes. Tango was created by agricultural business junior John Piro and business administration junior Nathan Donovan.
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE):
The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunities to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu.
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Two California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) startups won prizes at the Sunstone Startup Launch Competition, a California State University (CSU) pitch competition with a total of $200,000 in prize money at stake. At this event, held at CSU, Northridge on Friday, May 8, 2026, teams showcased their ideas to a panel of 30 judges from across the state.
Elora is developing aesthetic jewelry that is embedded with drug detection technology to empower women to feel safe and confident while enjoying social experiences. Elora was a participant in the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Summer Accelerator 2025 cohort, an intensive 10-week program that provides students and recent graduates with the resources necessary to turn their innovative ideas into full-fledged startups. The startup was created by Addison Bounds (Business Administration, ’25), MBA student at the University of South Florida, of Jupiter, Florida, and biomedical engineering master’s student Kiara Robichaud of Redding, Connecticut.
Elora claimed first place in the Hardware and Consumer Products category, earning $20,000, and also took home the Grand Prize, with an additional $20,000, bringing their total winnings to $40,000.
“Winning is very encouraging because it validates Elora’s business plan on another level with the provided funding,” said Bounds. “Such a large scale win shows that community leaders and influential people care about the horrific issue of drink spiking enough to fund a solution. That gives me hope for the future we are trying to create, where survivors are supported and prevention is prioritized.”
Everest Medical Solutions pitched their shoulder dystocia treatment device, a tool designed to support safer births by offering providers a standardized and effective way to manage shoulder dystocia emergencies. Everest Medical was an AngelCon 2026 finalist, where they competed for more than $100,000 in equity-backed funding. The startup was created by Jenna Eissmann (M.S. Engineering Management, ’25) of Reno, Nevada, and Madeleine Mumford (M.S. Biomedical Engineering, ’25) of Snoqualmie, Washington.
Everest Medical won first place in the Health and Wellness category, taking home $20,000.
“This win is truly awesome for Everest. The tabling event gave us the opportunity to defend and explain our timeline, business model and milestones to the judges,” said Eissmann. “I am proud of Everest, and grateful for the opportunity to represent my company and the quality of entrepreneurship that comes from Cal Poly.”
The competition featured a two-phase format. All teams first participated in a “trade show”-style expo where 30 judges evaluated startups and selected the top three winners in each of five categories: AI and Digital Technology, Hardware and Consumer Products, Health and Wellness, Service-Based Businesses and Social Impact. The first-, second- and third-place winners in each category received $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The first-place winners from each category then took the stage to deliver a pitch and face a Q&A from judges, competing for the grand prize of an additional $20,000.
Next year’s Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition will be held at CSU, Fresno in May 2027.
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE):
The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunities to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu/.
Innovation Quest 2026 finalists and judges at the banquet at Rod and Hammer Rock in San Luis Obispo on April 25, 2026.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Zombek
szombek@calpoly.edu; 714-401-2371
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Three student startup teams split $30,000 at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) annual Innovation Quest competition where students pitched inspired business ideas to a panel of judges to fund their startups.
“Innovation Quest draws such a diverse range of students from all corners of campus,” said Sophie Hosbein, CIE’s manager of student innovation programs. This year, we had entrepreneurial students from all six Cal Poly colleges working on ideas ranging from novel medical devices to guilt-free desserts. “After working with each team one-on-one, it was impressive to see how far they had come from their first pitch to the final presentation.”
Since the first high-stakes Innovation Quest, or iQ, was held in 2004, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been awarded to student startups that have blossomed into thriving businesses. The top three presentations and proposals in the annual competition receive cash prizes: third pick gets $5,000; a $10,000 prize for second; and $15,000 for first.
Osos Medical, first-place winner of iQ 2026, accepting top prize of $15,000 on April 25, 2026.
Osos Medical (formerly PNOIA) received the top prize at the event, which took place April 25 on campus, with awards presented later at Rod and Hammer Rock.
“Building [Osos Medical] from day one has been a labor of love, and having the CIE believe in our vision is incredibly motivating,” said Jack Mahoney of Santa Barbara, California. “This opens real doors for us to get our technology into the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that need it.”
Osos Medical is a low-profile nasal pillow CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, interface designed specifically for premature infants (before 37 weeks) that unlike a ventilator improves therapeutic reliability, reduces clinical complications and simplifies care in the NICU. The startup creators include: mechanical engineering student Mahoney; biomedical engineering majors Josiah Waltner of Bass Lake, California, and Madeline de la Concha of Lompoc, California; mechanical engineering fifth-year Aidan Geurts of Seattle; and business administration senior Jordan Garver of Clovis, California.
Fere, second-place winner of iQ 2026, accepting prize of $10,000 on April 25, 2026.
The Rich and Jackie Boberg Innovation Award, of $10,000, went to Fere, a specialized macOS desktop application designed to visualize, monitor and manage network connections and running processes. It operates by analyzing active network activity, providing a live, graphical representation of ports, network connections and services that gives developers a real-time visual map. The app was created by a trio of computer science freshmen: Rahul Thennarasu and Snehil Kakani of San Jose, California, and Siddharth Balaji of Sunnyvale, California.
“Placing second at iQ means a lot to us. Fere started as something we built to solve our own problems as developers, and now we feel it could be something real,” Kakani said. “In the future, we want to build with the community, not just for it, and this win gives us the opportunity to do that.”
Roguewave, third-place winner of iQ 2026, accepting prize of $5,000 on April 25, 2026.
Anthropology junior Benjamin Cooper and computer science senior Nipun Batra, both of Arcadia, California, received the Bakir Begovic Innovation Award, of $5,000, for their startup Roguewave, a surf company that created what they call The Surfers’ Headphones, with an IPX8 high-level water resistance designation.
“It feels infinitely rewarding to win third place at iQ,” Cooper said. “We are so grateful to be acknowledged for all the time and effort both Nipun and I have put into this business — there were so many impressive startups and being among so many like-minded people was amazing.”
Eleven finalists from more than 60 applicants pitched their innovative ideas in Cal Poly’s Nash Family Entrepreneurship Lab. In addition to prize recipients, eight finalists were chosen:
- Kyntex, a tendon-specific wearable platform that quantifies patellar tendon load to improve return-to-sport and training management. Computer engineering sophomore Ben Harris and human biology sophomore Evan Galley, both of Visalia, California, created Kyntex.
- Nibble, creates healthier forms of desserts and snacks, starting with their first product, cheesecake bites made with only clean and low-calorie ingredients, and higher amounts of protein for a guilt-free indulgence. It was created by agricultural business seniors Joshua Van Tassel of Los Altos, California, and Alex Pope of Pleasant Hill, California.
- Campus Cuts, a digital platform that connects college students with college student barbers through a marketplace, enabling independent service providers to build clientele and generate income while delivering haircuts on campus. Justin Schroeter, an industrial technology and packaging junior from San Luis Obispo, California, and economics junior Liam McKeown of San Jose, California, created the platform.
- Dirty Creamer is developing a creamer made with California dairy and protein that replaces the oils and additives commonly found in creamers used in dirty sodas, a beverage trend featuring fountain soda (typically Coke, Dr. Pepper or Sprite) mixed with flavored syrups, heavy cream, or half-and-half. Dirty Creamer is the brainchild of agricultural business students Madison Andrade of Visalia, California, and Delainee Fernandes of Tulare, California.
- Permi, a startup using AI to automate building code compliance, reducing community permit review from days- to a minutes-long process. Permi was developed by: computer engineering seniors Soe Lin of Yangon, Myanmar, and Wilson Yu of Los Angeles; business administration senior Alexios Sideris of San Mateo, California; and software engineering senior Muska Said Hasan Mustafa of Irvine, California.
- AviateVFR, an aviation app that automatically finds visual flight routes, or VFR, for pilots — considering real-time airspace, terrain and weather — with displays that are clear and easy to use. It was created by aerospace engineering senior Chase Mitchell and Santa Clara University accounting junior Weston Mitchell, both of Chico, California.
- Free Foodi Protocol, a decentralized food–rescue logistics platform and a digital twin to a food bank, utilizing a blockchain-backed ledger and NFT-based chain of custody to safely and transparently distribute surplus Cal Poly Campus Dining foods to a student-led volunteer network and end users. City and regional planning graduate student Kari Frances Gephart of Redlands, California, and graphic design junior Maxwell Drummond of San Francisco created the platform.
- Neuronetworks is developing a virtual reality-based cognitive screening platform inspired by personal experiences with family members with dementia, using realistic everyday environments to detect early indicators of cognitive decline before noticeable symptoms appear. Its creators includes: liberal arts senior Kaitlyn Le of Orange, California; computer engineering senior Jose Ornelas of Soledad, California; and Giovanni Wang, a systems engineering master’s student from Los Angeles.
The judges included over a dozen alumni and iQ founders some who have been fans of the event since the start.
“I have been a part of this competition for so long,” said Bakir Begovic (Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, ’96), an iQ judge, entrepreneur and CEO of B&H Engineering in San Carlos, California. “ In the beginning, there were a couple of good teams and some that struggled — but in the last five years, the teams have been exceptional. Choosing the winners was such a hard decision because there was so much impressive talent.”
The other judges included:
- Brian Riley (Business Administration, ’10), founder and CEO of Guardian Bikes
- Patrick Pezet and Matt Canepa (Business Administration, ’09), co-founders of Grinds Coffee Pouches
- Rich Boberg (Electronic Engineering, ’70) and Laura Pickering (Electronic Engineering, ’84), co-founders of Innovation Quest
- Steve Viarengo (Business Administration), senior software executive
- Rich Boragno (Business Administration, ’94), CFO of White Road Capital Management
- Lisa Hufford (Business Administration, ’93), strategic advisor for Simplicity Consulting
- Kelley Scanlin (Agricultural Business and Management, ’89), CEO of Pure Simple Foods
- Erik Steeb, angel investor and advisor in the climate tech sector
- Jennifer Bushman, executive director of Fed by Blue
- Kelly Seither (Biological Sciences, ’87), executive director of Jazz Pharmaceuticals
- Jolie Ditmore (Biological Sciences), partner and managing member of Central Coast Ventures
iQ was founded 21 years ago by Cal Poly electrical engineering graduates and business leaders Carson Chen, Boberg and Pickering. Since its launch in 2004, participants have received more than $400,000 that has helped launch several successful businesses, such as iFixIt, Grinds Coffee Pouches, Mantis Composites, Guardian Bikes, Liftgator and Alydia Health.
“It was amazing to see how far along the finalist teams were,” said Thomas Katona, CIE academic director and professor of innovation and entrepreneurship. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had so many teams that were already testing their products and services in the market, and the maturity in prototype development from those not in the market really speaks to students putting in many hours of hands-on Learn by Doing work.
“It’s exciting to watch the students applying what they learn in the classroom toward their own passion projects and the depth in learning they go through in their self-directed entrepreneurial endeavors.”
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunities 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, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu/
Kim Bisheff (right), Cal Poly journalism professor, works with a student on their idea at Builder Bootcamp on February 6, 2026. Photo by Milly Ferreira.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) hosted Builder Bootcamp, a three-day intensive program designed to help student innovators transform early ideas into real-world prototypes. The event took place Feb. 6–8 at the HotHouse in downtown San Luis Obispo and brought together 20 student teams from across disciplines.
Builder Bootcamp provides Cal Poly students with hands-on support as they develop both physical and digital prototypes stemming from senior projects, research, classes or student clubs. Open to individuals and teams, the program offers an immersive environment where participants receive mentorship, early-stage coaching and funding to accelerate their ideas.
The weekend-long program also serves as a stepping stone for students interested in applying to CIE programs such as Innovation Quest or the Summer Accelerator, giving participants early exposure to entrepreneurial frameworks and expectations.
“Builder Bootcamp was a big success! At the CIE, we value being interdisciplinary, and we had way more demand than we expected. We narrowed it down to the top 20 teams with more than 50 students from 15 majors participating, working on projects from a healthy cheesecake to a battery backup system,” said Sophie Hosbein, manager of student innovation programs. “Students benefited from having uninterrupted, dedicated time to make progress on their prototypes over the weekend.”
Participants received up to $150 in prototype funding, access to experienced mentors and founders and coaching focused on preparing teams for future pitch competitions and accelerator programs.
The program kicked off Friday evening with dinner followed by a keynote address from Brian Riley (Finance & Entrepreneurship, ‘10), a Cal Poly alumnus and founder of Guardian Bikes. Teams then introduced their ideas and began initial collaboration.
Saturday focused on building and iteration with meals and dedicated work time and mentor coaching sessions throughout the day. The mentors included:
- Benjamin Arts (M.B.A., ‘26), founder of Mr. Turtle
- Kim Bisheff, journalism and media innovation professor
- Bill Burns (Materials Engineering, ‘24), founder of ENTEIN
- Troy Campbell, chief scientist at On Your Feet and marketing professor
- Jenna Eissman (M.S. Engineering Management, ’25), founder and CEO of Everest Medical
- Daylin Enriquez (Art & Design, ‘27), art and design student
- Ashish Hingle, information systems professor
- Thomas Katona, academic director of the CIE
- Srishti Kush, lead product designer at Cisco
- Avery Taylor (M.S. Computer Engineering, ‘26), co-founder of SafePlate Technologies
On Sunday, teams prepared demos, participated in executive panels, engaged in a networking mixer and shared their progress. The executive panel included:
- Nathan Bair, co-founder of InPress Technologies
- Rob Barrow, chief operating officer at PurPose Care
- Louis Camassa, director of product at Rithum
- Michael Delay, CTO of Mantis Composites
- Peter Falzon, executive director of the CIE
- Brian Riley, founder and CEO of Guardian Bikes
- Anan Seth, assistant professor of entrepreneurship
- David Zilar, co-founder and COO of Mantis Composites
“Builder Bootcamp was an incredibly impactful experience. It connected me directly with experienced founders, CIE leadership and mentors who have successfully built and scaled their own ventures. Many of them were once Cal Poly students in the same position I am now, which made their guidance especially meaningful,” said industrial technology and packaging junior Justin Schroeter of San Luis Obispo, California. “The weekend created an environment of high-level thinking, honest feedback and real entrepreneurial energy that pushed our team to elevate how we think about our business.”
The teams that participated in Builder Bootcamp included 52 students across 15 majors:
- Campus Cuts, an on-campus scheduling and demand platform that helps student barbers get more bookings while giving college students access to convenient and quality haircuts, created by Justin Schroeter and economics junior Liam McKeown of San Jose, California.
- Catalyst Lollipops are sleek, portable wellness lollipops powered by clean functional ingredients to deliver smooth, enjoyable energy and clear focus without the crash, created by agricultural business senior Alex Malone of Los Gatos, California, and business administration junior Wian Roothman of Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Echo, a hearing-wellness platform that helps people with mild to moderate hearing loss understand, track and improve their hearing in real-world environments before they need hearing aids, created by computer science student Trey Martin of Bridgeport, West Virginia; business administration senior JD Teran of Pasadena, California; and mechanical engineering senior Alex Yannelli of Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Ferrell Foods upcycles excess foods into healing bone broths that nourish people who live with digestive, autoimmune and thyroid conditions, created by agricultural business sophomore Leightyn Ferrell of Minnetonka, Minnesota.
- FLARE, a bio-based sunscreen that is completely reef-safe while providing premium application, look and feel, created by business administration senior Luke Soulie of Encinitas, California; biochemistry senior Eva Voss of San Luis Obispo, California; and business administration senior Cate Freundt of San Diego.
- Flow Sense, a startup offering support and guidance for endurance athletes fueling mid-race through human factors engineering solutions, created by biomedical engineering senior Trevor Wilkinson of Ventura, California; business administration senior Dominic Maxfield; and biomedical engineering senior Arthur Klujian of Los Angeles.
- Gameloop, connects indie game developers with playtesters through a revenue-sharing platform to crowdsource quality assurance, created by mechanical engineering freshman Remy DaGiau of Louisville, Colorado, and computer science sophomore Lucas Hom of Lafayette, California.
- Hopscotch, is democratizing education by using AI technology to support teachers, allowing students to learn in an individualized style that prioritizes their dynamic understanding, not static data points, created by business administration senior Matthew Affinito of San Francisco; business administration senior Lily Bryan of San Diego; and industrial engineering senior Alan Sebastian of San Francisco.
- Learning Curb CAP, a centralized accommodation management system for high school students and teachers, created by biomedical engineering freshman Avari Brocker of Troutdale, Oregon.
- MockMentor, is like having a senior Google engineer available 24/7 to practice coding interviews with you, except it’s an AI that talks to you naturally and adapts to your skill level in real time, created by computer science sophomore Jay Rajesh of San Francisco.
- Motor Arm Pump, a real-time and data-driven noninvasive device for forearm recovery for motorcycle riders of all types, created by biomedical engineering student Amanda Le of Oakland, California.
- NeuroNetworks, a short, guided VR task that places users in a familiar environment, walks them through a simple everyday activity and records behavioral signals to surface early cognitive patterns, created by liberal arts senior Kaitlyn Le of Yorba Linda, California; industrial engineering junior Aaron Caparaz of Aliso Viejo, California; general engineering senior Gabe De Guzman of Brentwood, California; computer engineering student Jose Ornelas; general engineering senior Manuel Hernandez; and electrical engineering student Ryan Iglesias of Daly City, California.
- Nibble, bite-sized frozen cheesecake made with clean ingredients to take the guilt out of desserts and snacks, created by agricultural business seniors Josh Van Tassel of Los Altos, California, and Alex Pope of Pleasant Hill, California.
- Permi AI, a system that checks building permits against municipal code books for code compliance, created by computer engineering students Soe Lin and Wilson Yu of San Gabriel, California; software engineering senior Saed Mustafa of Gilroy, California; and business administration senior Alexios Sideris of San Francisco.
- PureRise, a high-protein latte made with real, clean ingredients to help people, especially women, start their mornings properly fueled, created by agricultural business sophomore Brea Rossiter of San Marcos, California.
- SLOP, a low-cost, shelf-stable, nutritious rice and beans meal made with simple ingredients and minimal packaging, ready to eat in about 10 minutes with just hot water—designed for backpackers, created by industrial technology and packaging sophomores Owen Hacker and Ty Chapman from San Luis Obispo.
- STOEL, an ergonomic dining chair that seamlessly fits into your home, so when you’re working late without a traditional office setup, your posture, comfort and biomechanics don’t suffer, created by business administration senior Emily Bezinover of Los Angeles; business administration sophomore Cameron Whicker of Santa Barbara, California; and biomedical engineering seniors Sofia Buduchina of San Francisco and Jake Larson of Monterey, California.
- Volts, a battery pack using reclaimed lithium cells from e-waste to make backup energy more affordable, created by computer engineering senior Guru Yalakanti of Rocklin, California; industrial engineering senior Rowan Imlay-Morris of Sacramento, California; and computer engineering seniors Advika Deodhar of Pleasanton, California and Victor Petrov of Union City, California.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephanie Zombek
805-756-5171; szombek@calpoly.edu
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Peter Falzon has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), bringing decades of experience as a technology and life sciences entrepreneur to the role.
Falzon joins the CIE with a strong background in venture-stage and public companies, having spent his career building and scaling businesses at the intersection of technology, healthcare and entrepreneurship. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Ripple Science, a healthcare IT company that provides cloud-based software for engaging participants in clinical research. Falzon led the company for seven years, overseeing its growth and impact in the academic and clinical research space.
A Michigan native, Falzon is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, where he earned his degree with distinction. Earlier in his career, he spent 10 years studying and working in Japan, an experience that helped shape his global perspective on business and entrepreneurship. He later spent 15 years in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, managing and growing life science and technology companies.
Before stepping into the Executive Director role, Falzon was already deeply engaged with Cal Poly’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He previously served as a mentor in CIE student programs, including the Summer Accelerator, and participated on the CIE Advisory Council.
As Executive Director, Falzon will empower the student and local community entrepreneurs to create economic and social value on the Central Coast and beyond.
“I am excited by the CIE’s student and community entrepreneurs who continue to inspire us with innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit. Whether developing a startup idea, taking a product to market, scaling a business with product market fit, or exploring what it means to think like an entrepreneur, their passion for creating meaningful change is inspiring,” said Falzon.
Falzon’s appointment comes at a time of significant growth for the CIE, including the development of a new downtown location that will increase visibility, accessibility and collaboration between students, founders and the broader community.
As Cal Poly prepares to hire entrepreneurship faculty in every college, Falzon will focus on leveraging the CIE’s unique role as a bridge, bringing together interdisciplinary resources to expand opportunities for students and strengthen the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The CIE provides Cal Poly students, faculty and community members with the tools, mentorship and resources to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses, fostering entrepreneurship and regional economic development. By providing quality coaching, professional consulting and connections with industry professionals, the CIE creates an environment in which new businesses can develop and thrive. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Seven innovative startups have officially completed their two-year journey in the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Incubator program.
Since its inception in 2010, the CIE Incubator has promoted regional economic development by supporting tech and innovation startups with scalable potential. The program has helped startups create more than 447 jobs, raise over $102 million in angel and venture funding, $5.3M in grant funding, and earn $12.6M in revenue. Out of 47 companies that have graduated, 33 have continued to operate and 5 have been acquired, resulting in an 80% success rate.
In the past two years, the seven companies completing the program have collectively created 38 jobs, benefited from 2,880 hours of business advising and secured $24.7 million in capital funding, grants and awards.
“The CIE Incubator program is all about helping early-stage startups get the guidance and tools they need to build strong, successful companies,” said Donica Forensich, economic development director for the CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC). “Seeing these teams build from the ground up and land some of their first investments has been incredible, and we’re thrilled to watch their journeys continue.”
The companies graduating from the CIE Incubator program include:
- AMS Therapeutics is dedicated to finding novel treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Abstract Security creates advanced solutions to protect businesses and organizations from cyber threats.
- Cove (formerly Mense) provides labs and researchers with the first research-backed, patient-friendly solution for at-home menstrual fluid collection.
- Castlelock Corporation is bringing firearm safety into the 21st century with its innovative firearm safety device integrated with high-speed biometric technology.
- Dopa (formerly Horizen Tech) is gamifying self improvement to help young adults replace unhealthy habits with better ones.
- Nexstera Tech combines waste stream detection with direct-from-home battery collection to stop fires, recover valuable materials, and close the loop on lithium-ion waste.
- ODIN Diagnostics is revolutionizing concussion diagnostics with an objective and reliable eye-tracking solution, reducing the risk of successive concussions and enhancing athlete safety.
“The Incubator is the next step of growth for companies that are moving from just an idea and a product to incorporating and taking on investment,” says McCall Brinskele, founder of Cove.
The CIE recently added three new startups to the Incubator, making a total of eight startups currently in the program.
- AwareNet transforms security by turning communities into real-time safety networks and integrates people with smart devices, AI-driven threat detection and neighborhood alerts to keep families and homes protected.
- Ecoplasticity is creating a seaweed based coating made from an invasive species of algae that replaces the plastic lining found in paperboard take-out containers making them fully compostable and recyclable.
- Everest Medical Solutions, Inc.’s shoulder dystocia treatment device ensures peace of mind for both obstetricians and new families during a shoulder dystocia emergency by providing a safe and standardized solution that blends midwifery practices with traditional obstetric care.
About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The CIE provides Cal Poly students, faculty and community members with the tools, mentorship and resources to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses, fostering entrepreneurship and regional economic development. By providing quality coaching, professional consulting and connections with industry professionals, the CIE creates an environment in which new businesses can develop and thrive. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.
The CIE Incubator program is open to the broader business community, and Cal Poly affiliation is not required. Enrollment is open year-round. Startups interested in applying for the Incubator can visit cie.calpoly.edu/launch/incubator.
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December 11, 2025
Everest Medical Solutions founders Madeleine Mumford (left) and Jenna Eissman (right) celebrate with CIE SBDC Economic Development Director Donica Forensich, after winning the $5,000 “3 Minutes 2 Win It” pitch competition award at the Central Coast Economic Forecast.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Incubator startup Everest Medical Solutions won the $5,000 award in the “3 Minutes 2 Win It” pitch competition at the Central Coast Economic Forecast (CCEF), held on Nov. 7 at the Madonna Inn.
The annual event brings together regional leaders, industry experts, policymakers and innovators to discuss the economic outlook for San Luis Obispo County and the broader Central Coast region, and is widely considered one of the region’s most influential events. This year’s program featured keynote insights from Dr. Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics, presentations from REACH highlighting regional aerospace and workforce development initiatives and pitches from three emerging startups supported by the CIE and the Cal Poly Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
CIE SBDC Economic Development Director Donica Forensich presented an update on the impact of the CIE and SBDC programs, noting that in the last ten months the SBDC has assisted over 400 companies, provided more than 2,700 hours of consulting, supported the creation of 150 local jobs and helped clients secure over $54 million in capital funding.
She then introduced the three Incubator startups selected to pitch: Everest Medical Solutions, ODIN Diagnostics and SafePlate Technologies. All three teams shared innovative products addressing critical challenges in healthcare, diagnostics and food safety.
ODIN Diagnostics founder Connor Heffler delivers the team’s pitch on their eye-tracking concussion assessment technology, designed to improve athlete safety through reliable, objective diagnostics.
ODIN Diagnostics is revolutionizing concussion diagnostics with an objective and reliable eye-tracking solution, reducing the risk of successive concussions and enhancing athlete safety, created by Connor Heffler (Economics, ’24) of San Diego and biomedical engineering graduate student Marina Zellers of Lompoc, California.
SafePlate Technologies co-founders Avery Taylor (left) and Mitchell Dann (right) presented their portable, rapid food safety testing solution, which brings lab-grade precision to on-site food manufacturing environments.
SafePlate Technologies is redefining food safety by offering food manufacturers portable, rapid and easy-to use testing solutions with quality only traditionally offered by lab grade devices, created by Mitchell Dann (Mechanical Engineering, ’24) of Torrance, California; Nahal Sadeghian (Mechanical Engineering, ’24) of Folsom, California; and electrical engineering masters student Avery Taylor of Orangevale, California.
Everest Medical Solutions’ winning pitch focused on their shoulder dystocia treatment device, a tool designed to support safer births by offering providers a standardized and effective way to manage shoulder dystocia emergencies. The company’s mission is to provide obstetricians and midwives with a reliable, accessible and single-use device that improves outcomes for both patients and care teams. The startup was created by Jenna Eissman (M.S. Engineering Management, ’25) of Reno, Nevada, and Madeleine Mumford (M.S. Biomedical Engineering, ’25) of Snoqualmie, Washington.
“CCEF was an amazing experience,” said Eissman. “The conference was really helpful for us because not only did it give us the financial means to make more progress, but it also opened us up to connections within the community that we can leverage to use that money to the best of our ability and get feedback from physicians.”
The team has already begun using their prize money to advance development of their device. “We came back to the office and immediately started buying prototyping materials, which is going to really help us nail down a model that we’re making for our testing. This is instrumental in the next step of our development,” said Mumford.
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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, visit cie.calpoly.edu.
About the Cal Poly Small Business Development Center:
The Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides high-quality complimentary business assistance to start-ups and established companies. They help entrepreneurs launch companies, create and retain jobs and attract capital investment. For more information, visit sbdc.calpoly.edu.
