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 Matthew Affinito of San Francisco; business administration senior Lily Bryan of San Diego; and industrial engineering senior Alan Sebastian of San Francisco.

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.

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 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.

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; mechanical engineering fifth-year Aidan Geurts of Seattle; and business administration senior Jordan Garver of Clovis, 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.

###

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. 

###

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/. 

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. 

PNOIA, first-place winner of iQ 2026, accepting top prize of $15,000 on April 25, 2026.

PNOIA, a suffix from the Ancient Greek verb pnein, meaning “to breathe,” received the top prize at the event, which took place April 25 on campus, with awards presented later at Rod and Hammer Rock.  

“Building PNOIA 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.”  

PNOIA 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.” 

### 

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/  

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.

###

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.

# # #

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Four student startup teams split $40,000 at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) annual Innovation Quest (iQ), a high-stakes competition where Cal Poly students pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges to garner funding for their startups, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. 

“I’m so excited to be here tonight. This is the 20th anniversary of Innovation Quest,” said Cal Poly president Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “This has been helping students be successful for so many years. It was started by Laura Pickering, Rich Boberg and Carson Chen, and they’re still here today moving this along. I heard some of the pitches this morning and they were amazing. I’m so glad I didn’t have to pick the winner of this amazing event.” 

Mechanical engineering senior Alex Rosenbaum of Seattle, Washington, received the top prize of $15,000 for his solo-startup NeuroCom at the event, which took place in April on campus, with awards presented later at a local venue. 

“Winning iQ is going to allow us to start working on this full time and help us continue boot-strapping towards our first customers,” said Rosenbaum. “I feel very excited. This is life changing.” 

NeuroCom is developing a wearable tactile device that uses haptic feedback to enhance communication and situational awareness for military, law enforcement and first responders when visual or auditory cues fall short.

The Rich and Jackie Boberg Innovation Award of $10,000 went to GreenSight Technologies, an AI-powered platform to help refurbishers and resellers identify, evaluate and resell or dispose of electronic devices, including used computers, cellphones and tablets, more efficiently, keeping electronics out of landfills and making technology more accessible to all. GreenSight Technologies was created by: Jake Daniels (Engineering, ’24) of Palo Alto, California; master’s of electrical engineering student Diego Curiel of Santa Barbara, California; and Mackenzie Kettwig (Computer Engineering, ’24) of Colfax, California.

“Finishing second at iQ is an incredible feeling,” Curiel said. I’m grateful to everyone who contributes to making an event like this possible. I do want to mention that last year we participated and we did not place, so if you didn’t place this year, don’t let it discourage you from continuing to chase whatever it is you’re passionate about.” 

Agricultural business students Alexandra Malone of Los Gatos, California and business administration student Wian Roothman of Johannesburg, South Africa, received the Bakir Begovic Innovation Award of $5,000 for their startup Better Being Kefir. Their fermented-milk kefir is a probiotic-rich frozen dessert made with kefir, designed to replace the need for supplements by providing a flavorful way to boost gut health and immunity while making healthy living more enjoyable and accessible.

“Taking third at iQ was such an incredible achievement,” said Malone. Being surrounded by so many inspirational people and young entrepreneurs was inspiring.” 

The $5,000 Biotech Innovation Award sponsored by Leslie and Brett Eldridge, went to Preserva Biosciences, a startup revolutionizing diabetes management, safety and cost savings for millions by developing the first-ever at-home insulin testing device for people dependent on insulin.

The startup was developed by: business administration senior Oliver Haas of Seattle, Washington; computer engineering student Isaac Lake of Thousand Oaks, California; UC San Diego biotechnology student Micaela Moreira; computer engineering major Brian Slonim of San Diego California; Luke Trill (Business Administration, ’24) of San Jose, California; and Ethan Vosburg (Computer Engineering, ’23) of Rocklin, California.

“It feels amazing to win this award,” Haas said. The ability to work on this project and make life easier for insulin-dependent people is a dream come true.” 

Eleven finalists from more than 50 applicants pitched their innovative ideas in Cal Poly’s Nash Family Entrepreneurship Lab. The event’s banquet and awards ceremony were held at Rod and Hammer Rock later that evening. 

Alumna Haley Pavone (Business Administration, ’18), CEO and founder of Pashion Footwear, was among the 18 past participants who returned as judges to celebrate 20 years of iQ. Pashion Footwear is an innovative fashiontech startup that has created the world’s first fully convertible heels and received first place at the 2017 iQ. 

“It feels so full circle to now be back this year as a judge,” said Pavone, who formed Pashion Footwear in 2016 after her bare foot was impaled on the dance floor by another woman’s stiletto heel. “iQ is really what put us on the map and gave us the funding that we needed to make our first prototype that made the last eight years possible. It’s so cool to be a part of giving that opportunity back to the students of today.”

iQ was founded in 2004 by Cal Poly electrical engineering graduates and business leaders Chen, Boberg and Pickering. Since its launch in 2004, iQ participants have received over $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 great to see such a diverse group of students from all over our campus, particularly on an anniversary year,” said Dr. Thomas Katona, CIE academic director. “They really represents the full range of students who have been impacted by this program—and they brought it. They brought it hard.” 

In addition to the winners, seven finalists were chosen: 

• Aurela aims to develop aesthetic jewelry that is embedded with drug detection technology to empower women to feel safe and confident while enjoying social experiences. Aurela was created by: business administration students Addie Bounds of Jupiter, Florida; Lindsey Williams of Denver, Colorado; and Kiara Robichaud, a biomedical engineering student from Redding, Connecticut. 
• Devscribe aims to simplify application programming interface, or API, documentation by allowing companies to generate, edit, test and host beautiful API docs in one place with themes that match their company’s branding. API software allows two applications to talk to each other. Devscribe was created by: industrial engineering seniors Tyler Kim of Los Altos, California; Shivam Shrivastav of San Ramon, California; computer science senior Samuel Solano of Huntington Beach, California; and Gianni Hart, a business administration senior from Nipomo, California.
  
• Ecoplasticity aims to redefine and replace plastic with their biodegradable coating derived from an invasive species of seaweed that is completely compostable and anaerobically digestible. Ecoplasticity was created by Mayela Fernandez Cantu, a graduate business administration student from Monterrey, Mexico, and material engineering senior Michelle Cullen of Redondo Beach, California.
• Moove Hydration aims to develop a dairy-based hydration beverage that upcycles milk permeate, the liquid remaining after proteins and fat are removed, from California dairies, reducing waste while delivering naturally occurring electrolytes for superior hydration without the taste and texture of milk. The startup was created by agricultural business senior Marielle Thomas of Sacramento, California, and alumnus Nathan Smidt (Agricultural Business, ’24) of Bakersfield, California.
  
• Mr. Turtle Laundry aims to tackle the single-use plastic packaging problem through their innovative laundry detergent refill stations. Mr. Turtle Laundry was created by: computer science junior Seth Johnson of Seattle, Washington; two alumni, Michael Hennessy (Business Administration, ’25) of Huntington Beach, California, and Benjamin Arts (Business Administration, ’24) of San Jose, California; and Colin Brown (Economics, ’23) of Bend, Oregon.
  
• Simpill aims to help people maintain independence and peace of mind through flawless management of their medication. The startup was created by: manufacturing engineering students Ben Tratt of Seattle, Washington, and Ben Lipper of San Luis Obispo, California; computer engineering senior Victoria Asencio-Clemens of Santa Cruz, California; and business administration senior Eli Lazar of Issaquah, Washington. 
• The Portal aims to provide a comforting escape for patients on their healing journey through immersive projections that will fill hospital rooms with the love and connection of the outside world. The Portal was created by: business administration students Avalon Poncin of Newcastle, California, Emerson Widmer of Hamilton, Montana, and Thomas Benjamin of San Diego; biochemistry major Charlie Palmer of Danville, California; experience industry management student Lily Simmons of Kansas City, Kansas; and Ryan Banavitch, a computer science student, from Mavern, Pennsylvania.
  

###

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/.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students won $1,000 at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) 15th annual Elevator Pitch Competition, a fast-paced, high-energy competition for student entrepreneurs, held on Nov. 14 at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. 

Ten finalists, selected from dozens of applicants, had 90 seconds each to pitch their innovative products, services and startup ideas. They were evaluated by a panel of judges on four criteria: how well was the problem or opportunity explained; was the idea innovative; was the direction clear; and was the pitch persuasive.  

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Elevator Pitch judges from left to right: Dan Weeks, Melissa James, Matt Pontes and Benjamin Arts. Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE

This year’s judges included CIE Alum Benjamin Arts (business administration, ‘24); CIE Entrepreneur in Residence, Dan Weeks; County Administrative Officer of SLO County, Matt Pontes; and President and CEO of REACH Central Coast, Melissa James. 

Electrical engineering sophomore David Rock of Irvine, California, received the $1,000 first-place prize with his pitch for Drone Line. 

Drone Line is a modified inspection drone that can continuously charge through inducted wireless charging. 

“Winning the Elevator Pitch Competition is just more proof that this is a good idea and I should pursue it for years to come,” Rock said.

Sebastian Ugarte-Capel of Aliso Viejo, California, a business administration freshman, received the $500 audience choice award. 

His pitch for Revitalized Ramen, a combination of caffeine and instant ramen for extra fuel and nourishment, impressed the crowd. 

“It felt great to win the audience choice award and I’m happy people liked my jokes. It’s a simple product but I think it’s something a lot of people could actually use,” Ugarte-Capel said. 

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Elevator Pitch audience choice winner Sebastian Ugarte-Capel (left) and overall winner David Rock (right). Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE

Other Elevator Pitch Competition finalists included: 

— BlockTerra, a startup that is utilizing blockchain technology to democratize farmland ownership in the United States so that anyone, regardless of their income, can own a piece, pitched by economics senior William Stevens of Los Angeles, California.

— Collaps-a-Box, a drawstring-controlled corrugated cardboard box that can shrink to fit its contents without any complicated machines or custom box sizing algorithms, pitched by aerospace engineering sophomore Drew Stannard-Stockton of San Francisco, California. 

— DoubleDesk, a lightweight, collapsible desk extension that snaps onto your lecture hall desk to extend your workspace, pitched by business administration sophomore Heidi Judson of Turlock, California. 

— Ecoplasticity, a biodegradable coating made of seaweed that will replace plastic lining found on to-go containers, single-use coffee cups and more, pitched by business administration master’s student Mayela Fernandez of Monterrey, Mexico. 

— NoseFlow, a chemical-free and eco-friendly pocket-size misting spray that cools your nasal cavities to alleviate nose bleeds, pitched by business administration freshman Solomon Perera of Snohomish, Washington. 

— NourishSnacks, a brand reimagining snacking by providing healthier alternatives to favorites such as PopTarts, using fewer ingredients, no harmful dyes and superfoods for added nutrition, pitched by business administration freshman Sienna Jones of Encinitas, California. 

— Staxx, the world’s only smart poker chip linked to a mobile app that tracks your stats and provides immediate feedback, monitoring your decisions, calculating probabilities and analyzing strategies, pitched by computer engineering sophomore Benjamin Klein Pastor of San Diego, California. 

— Twist and Toss Pasta Co., a food service that uses a unique build-your-own meal style for pasta lovers, offering a personalized experience, pitched by business administration sophomore Cameryn Pina of Morgan Hill, California. 

To watch this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition pitches, visit the CIE YouTube channel here. 

### 

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. For more information, visit https://cie.calpoly.edu/.  

SAN LUIS OBISPO  — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will showcase eight startups at its annual Demo Day in-person at Rod & Hammer Rock and online via YouTube Live on Friday, Sept. 6.

The event, held from 4-6 p.m., culminates the CIE’s 2024 Summer Accelerator program, an intensive 12-week program that helps Cal Poly students and recent graduates develop their startup ideas into scalable businesses. Representatives from each startup will pitch their business ideas and present what they’ve accomplished over the summer with the help of dedicated CIE mentors and staff.

“This year’s cohort is really exceptional in that they are showcasing such a diverse range of innovative solutions that reflect their understanding of market needs and entrepreneurial resilience,” explained CIE Academic Programs Director Dr. Thomas Katona.

When asked why people should attend Demo Day, Katona encouraged the community to “witness firsthand the next wave of talented entrepreneurs who are driven by a passion to make a real impact on the world.”

The Summer Accelerator provides $10,000 in seed funding to grow each startup, as well as mentorship from industry experts and workshops that teach the various components of building a business. Demo Day will give these emerging entrepreneurs the opportunity to demonstrate how hard work and collaboration are helping propel their startups to the next level.

These include people like recent Cal Poly alumnus Diego Curiel (Computer Engineering, ’24).

“My experience so far with the Summer Accelerator can be summarized with the word ‘fun,’ ” Curiel said. “It’s a lot of work and it’s tiring, but it’s really exciting. We are creating something that is meaningful and valuable. Being able to wake up every day and know that I’m going to spend my time putting energy into something that will bring good into the world makes me really happy.”

Demo Day Participants

The cohort includes many recent Cal Poly graduates who represent a variety of industries and disciplines, from medical devices to gaming software. The startups include:

• Everest Medical, which is creating a surgical device aimed to create a safer alternative treatment method for mothers and their infants during shoulder dystocia complications from vaginal births. The startup was created by biomedical engineering graduates Jenna Eissmann of Reno, Nevada; Maddie Mumford of Snoqualmie, Washington; and Rachel Rowe of Bellevue, Washington.

• GreenSight Tech, which aims to revolutionize electronic resellers’ workflow by creating a solution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The startup was created by computer engineering senior Diego Curiel of Santa Barbara, California; general engineering graduate Jake Daniels of Lake Oswego, Oregon; computer science senior Chris Lawson of Atascadero, California; and computer engineering graduate Mackenzie Kettwig of Colfax, California.

• MindSprout, a mobile app aimed at replacing a person’s gambling addiction with healthy habits through a gamified approach. The startup was created by business entrepreneurship graduate Austin Hatfield of San Clemente, California; and business entrepreneurship/computer science graduate Diana Koralski of Redmond, Washington.

• NeuroCom, which is creating a wearable device to reduce friendly fire and enhance situational awareness on the battlefield by enhancing human sensory perception with technology. The startup was created by mechanical engineering senior Alex Rosenbaum of Seattle, Washington.

• ODIN Diagnostics, which is creating a portable headset to quickly and accurately diagnose concussions through the use of ocular tracking technology. The startup was created by economics graduate Connor Heffler of San Diego; biomedical engineering senior Josh Gottschalk of Branford, Connecticut; computer science graduate Noah Cain of Bolingbrook, Illinois; biomedical engineering graduate Marina Zellers of Lompoc, California; computer science graduate Sarah Duncan of Santa Barbara, California; and electrical engineering senior Seth Saxena of Manalapan, New Jersey.

• ONGAWA, a rhythm gaming software offering a unique fusion of music and role-playing elements and supports indie musicians by showcasing and monetizing their work. This startup was created by computer science masters graduate Lucas Li of Morgan Hills, California; computer science graduate Brett Hickman of Mission Viejo, California; business administration senior Pedro Fernandez of Philo, California; and business administration senior Jeremy Tai of Los Angeles, California.

• SafePlate Technologies, a startup dedicated to revolutionizing food safety in America, creating a safer world for individuals with food allergies and intolerances. By leveraging synthesized DNA biosensors to detect protein structure within samples, they simplify the allergen testing process for food manufacturers. The startup was created by mechanical engineering senior Nahal Sadgehian of Folsom, California; mechanical engineering graduate Mitchell Dann of Torrance, California; computer engineering graduate Avery Taylor of Orangeville, California; and business administration graduate Josh Chao of Seattle, Washington.

• Skymark Systems, which aims to create a handheld detection technology for warfighters, which would allow them to instantly identify whether any small drone in the sky is friend or foe. This startup was created by computer science junior Oleksandr Gorpynich of San Jose, California; Matan Kedar of San Jose, California; and computer science junior Vasanth Pugalenthi of San Ramon, California.

Demo Day general admission tickets to Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Place, San Luis Obispo, are $10. In-person seating is limited. The event will be live streamed to those who register for virtual tickets. Register for tickets at https://ciedemoday24.eventbrite.com/?aff=PressRelease.

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.

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has accepted eight startup teams into its Summer Accelerator, an intensive 12-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 and access to expert mentorship, entrepreneurial workshops and a dedicated workspace in the HotHouse, the CIE’s office in downtown San Luis Obispo.

“This Summer Accelerator cohort is unique because several teams used Innovation Quest as a springboard to advance into this program, which demonstrates the relative maturity of business development for those entering the Accelerator this year,” said Dr. Thomas Katona, CIE academic programs director. “I think this group is going to be a source of excitement and pride for our alumni and local community.”

Six 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 2024 Summer Accelerator teams represent a variety of ideas, from military technology with Neurocom and Skymark to combating medical issues with The Infantry.

“It’s interesting to see how several of these students have been involved in our entrepreneurship programs in the past. Even if they were working on different ideas then, they’re sticking with their entrepreneurship journey, which brought them to the Accelerator,” said Oliver Haas, CIE student programs coordinator.

This year’s cohort includes:

GamRewired: A mobile app designed to replace a person’s gambling addiction with healthy habits. It was created by business administration graduate Austin Hatfield of San Clemente, California and computer science and business administration senior Diana Koralski of Redmond, Washington. GamRewired received the second-place prize of $10,000 prize at iQ 2024.

Greensight AI: Aiming to revolutionize electronic resellers’ workflow by creating an Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven solution. Created by general engineering senior Jake Daniels of Palo Alto, California, computer engineering senior Diego Curiel of Santa Barbara, California and computer engineering senior Chris Lawson of Atascadero, California. Greensight AI was a participant in iQ 2024.

Neurocom: Increasing situational awareness on the battlefield with a new type of human-machine interface headset that lets soldiers access geospatial data. Created by mechanical engineering junior Alex Rosenbaum of Seattle, Washington. Neurocom was a participant in iQ 2024.

ODIN: A portable headset designed to quickly and accurately diagnose concussions through the use of ocular-tracking technology. It was created by: economics major Connor Heffler and biomedical engineering student Trace Bell, both seniors of San Diego, California;  biomedical engineering junior Josh Gottschalk of Branford, Connecticut; computer science senior Noah Cain of Bolingbrook, Illinois; mechanical engineering senior Graham Edelman of San Jose, California; and biomedical engineering graduate student Marina Zellers of Lompoc, California. ODIN received the top prize of $15,000 at iQ 2024.

SafePlate Technologies: Creating a safe and worry-free food experience for Americans with allergies and intolerances by enabling food manufacturers to provide customers with accurately tested products through infrared technology. SafePlate was created by: mechanical engineering seniors Nahal Sadeghian of Folsom, California, and Mitchell Dann; computer engineering senior Avery Taylor of Orangeville, California; and business administration senior Josh Chao of Seattle. The startup was a participant in iQ 2024.

Skymark: Enabling warfighters to identify if a drone is a friend or foe through detection technology. It was created by computer science junior Oleksandr Gorpynich of San Jose, California, computer science sophomores Vasanth Pugalenthi of San Ramon, California, Brian Mai of San Lorenzo, California and Shynn Lawrence of Fremont, California and computer engineering sophomore Matan Kedar of San Jose, California.

The Infantry: A single-use device creating a safer alternative for mothers and their infants during shoulder dystocia complications from vaginal births. The startup was created by: biomedical engineering seniors Rachel Rowe of Bellevue and Madeline Mumford of Snoqualmie, both in Washington state; and Jenna Eissmann of Reno, Nevada. The Infantry received the third-place $5,000 award at iQ 2024.

Virtuosos: A rhythm gaming software designed to auto-generate levels based on music that participants and musicians upload. It was created by computer science graduate student Lucas Li of Morgan Hills, California; alumnus Brett Hickman (Computer Science, ’23) of Mission Viejo, California, business administration junior Pedro Talavera Fernandez of Philo, California and business administration senior Jeremy Tai of Los Angeles, California.

“I look forward to working with such a special group that is tackling very challenging global problems,” said Katona.

###

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 cie.calpoly.edu.