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

Cal Poly Announces New Location, Expansion Plans for SLO HotHouse Programs

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly has leased a 15,000-square-foot space in downtown San Luis Obispo to relocate and expand its SLO HotHouse — a collaborative effort with the city and local business community aimed at supporting promising innovators, entrepreneurs and building a unique and passionate startup culture in San Luis Obispo.

The university recently signed a 10-year lease on the space along the 800 block of Higuera Street, directly above the Ross Dress for Less store.

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

Cal Poly Seeks Entries for Fifth Annual TechPitch Competition

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly, Softec and the Economic Vitality Corp. (EVC) are accepting applications from startups in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties for the fifth annual TechPitch competition.

Entrepreneurs looking to participate must apply at www.techpitch.org and submit an executive summary of their business plan by midnight Monday, Sept. 14. Selected startups will receive professional consulting, contacts and opportunities from affiliate organizations and will get help accessing capital.

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

Former Amazon Employee to Lead Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.  — Tod Nelson, entrepreneur and former Amazon employee, has been appointed the first executive director of Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Nelson, who begins his post July 1, will be responsible for representing the CIE to its supporters and alumni while building relationships with the local entrepreneurial community to bolster the program’s growth.

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

Former Amazon Employee to Lead Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.  — Tod Nelson, entrepreneur and former Amazon employee, has been appointed the first executive director of Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Nelson, who begins his post July 1, will be responsible for representing the CIE to its supporters and alumni while building relationships with the local entrepreneurial community to bolster the program’s growth.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Entrepreneurship in Food, Wine Industry the Focus of April 22 Forum at Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO — “Eat More Innovation: Food & Wine for Entrepreneurs” is the title of the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s spring forum set for 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly.

The forum will explore the dynamic world of food and wine and is designed for local business owners and young entrepreneurs exploring the food and wine industry. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with a panel of entrepreneurs who have aligned their passion for great taste with business practices, innovation and success.

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

Cal Poly Announces Startups Accepted Into Accelerator Program

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) has accepted 11 startup companies into this year’s SLO HotHouse Summer Accelerator program, an intense 13-week program aimed at helping new ventures succeed.

The program provides seed money, hands-on mentorship, and dedicated office space during the summer at SLO HotHouse’s new downtown location. Companies will also receive training through workshops and be given resources to develop skills and ideas. At the end of the program, they will have an opportunity to pitch their ideas to investors during Demo Day in September.Read More

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

Five Student Startups Split $45,000 in Innovation Quest Competition at Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO — An interdisciplinary team of two Cal Poly students and an alumnus took first place for their invention of LiftGator, a removable, full-size hitch-mounted lift gate, in the 12th annual Innovation Quest (iQ) competition.

Justin Russo, a mechanical engineering student; Matt Kloss, business  administration, and Marty Affentranger, a graduate of the mechanical engineering program, won the $15,000 Carson Chen Innovation Award. The LiftGator is designed to attach to the rear of a pickup. One person can install it in under three minutes.

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

Cal Poly Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs Program to Graduate First Class

The first cohort of 17 Cal Poly students immersed in an intensive 10-week entrepreneurship and innovation “boot camp,” will graduate from the new program this month.

The Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs: A Study-Away Entrepreneurship Immersion Program is a collaborative effort involving Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and Extended Education, and Draper University. Students from all disciplines throughout Cal Poly took part in a unique entrepreneurial experience in the world’s capital of technology innovation: Silicon Valley.

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