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/.
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.
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 aminutes-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 easytouse. 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/
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.
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, visitcie.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 visitcie.calpoly.edu/launch/incubator.
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.
# # #
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.
The competition brought together interdisciplinary teams to build and develop startup concepts from idea to pitch in just 54 hours with $2,400 in prizes awarded
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Surface22, a team building titanium cutting boards designed to reduce microplastics in home kitchens and the culinary industry, won Cal Poly Entrepreneurs’ (CPE) annual Startup Launch Weekend.
The three-day event, held over 54 hours Nov. 14-16 at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) HotHouse in downtown San Luis Obispo, brought together students from across the university for a fast-paced experience in idea development, customer discovery and startup formation. Participants formed teams Friday evening and worked through the weekend to prepare final pitches to panel of judges on Sunday night.
“I’ve never felt my passion for entrepreneurship come alive quite like it did this weekend,” said Riley Marino, a business administration junior from San Francisco, who pitched his startup, Navify, an indoor 3-D navigation app for complex, multilevel buildings. “I had the privilege to have my idea selected for development by Cal Poly Entrepreneurs.”
Seventy-two student participants worked beside mentors, engaged in market research and refined concepts under tight deadlines. The weekend allowed students to explore entrepreneurship in a fast-paced environment while networking with founders and industry experts.
Cameryn Pina, CPE director of events who planned and executed the and Startup Launch Weekend, and founder of Twist & Toss, described the event as deeply meaningful.
“Being able to provide others the opportunity to innovate in such a collaborative space and see everyone’’s passion for entrepreneurship really come alive made me that much more appreciative of the space we’ve created for entrepreneurs at Cal Poly, and I was so proud to see all the teams succeed!”, said Pina, founder of Twist & Toss pasta startup, who competed in the 2024 event shared.
The event competition concluded with a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition before a panel of three judges: featuring Dan Weeks, a longtime CIE Entrepreneur in Residence who also teaches entrepreneurship in Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business;, Shaun Tanaka, CEO and founder of Castlelock Corp. that develops innovative, biometric-enabled firearm safety devices, primarily for AR-15 rifles; and Barry Lieberman as the judges, an Orfalea College lecturer in industrial technology, packaging, and entrepreneurship academic area.
Cash prizes were awarded to the top teams: $1,000 for first place; $750 for second; $500 for third; and $150 for the Audience Choice. Awards were determined based on each team’s business viability, profitability, market potential, customer acquisition strategy and overall readiness for investment.
Awardees included:
First place — Surface22, for its titanium cutting boards for home cooks and the wider culinary community, with the goal of reducing microplastics. It was created by materials engineering senior Ryan Krakauer of Redwood City, California; business administration senior Hyuma Morikizono of the La Jolla section of San Diego; Bodi Roy, an aerospace engineering freshman from University Place, Washington; business administration freshmen Nina Le Van of Mountain View, California; Chiara DeGirolamo of Rancho Palos Verdes, California; business administration sophomore Elena Rimini of San Diego; and graphic communications sophomore Jackson Miller of San Diego.
Second place — Serene, a startup creating Safe Buddy, a transferable charm that sends location coordinates to friends and family when wearers feel unsafe such as walking alone at night. It was created by business administration sophomores Lindsey Williams of Denver and Mahek Aggarwal of Valencia, California; industrial technology and packaging junior Hailey Haberman of Sunnyvale, California; and finance freshman Nehal Singh of Bothell, Washington.
Third place — Prodigy, a digital service marketplace to connect college athletes with clients seeking loo coaching at an affordable price. It was created by computer science senior Owen Rogers of Honeoye Falls, New York; business administration juniors Caleb King of Bellevue, Washington, Hunter Howell of Sacramento, and Mason Conrad of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; business administration junior Lily Bryan of San Diego; business administration sophomore Lily Tilden of Portland, Oregon; and industrial technology and packaging junior Peter Olsen of San Francisco.
Audience Choice — The Tendon Project, a wearable redefining how athletes understand and protect their tendons by analyzing its collagen makeup and offering real-time insight into health and recovery of this vital connective tissue. It was created by electrical engineering junior Samuel Weston of Rocklin, California; Austin Smith of Galt, California; biomedical engineering freshman Avari Brocker of Troutdale, Oregon; business administration sophomore Claire Johnson of Santa Ana, California; and business administration senior Joseph Teran of Pasadena, California.
Other highlights included Surface22 engraving personalized cutting boards to thank the judges and Twist & Toss, last year’s runner-up. catering the final pitch competition.
This year’s event was supported by the CIE, Efren’s Mexican Restaurant, SloDoCo Donuts, Woodstock’s Pizza, Sequel Tea, Yerba Madre and Vertosa.
###
About Cal Poly Entrepreneurs:
CPE is a Cal Poly student entrepreneurial club bringing together creative thinkers and doers to develop world-changing ideas. A place where entrepreneurship and education coexist, CPE is a community where entrepreneurial thinking is more than a skill but a mindset that manifests itself across all majors and programs at Cal Poly. To learn more, visit calpolyentrepreneurs.com.
Carter Lim won the 2025 Elevator Pitch competition for Communicare, an AI communication coach that helps people practice their speaking skills. Ten startups made pitches about their startups in 90 seconds, the approximate time it would take to describe their proposal while riding in an elevator, as each vied for the $1,000 top cash prize. The 16th annual competition was held at the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly on Nov. 6.
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship 16th annual competition featured 90-second pitches from colleges across campus
SAN LUIS OBISPO, California — A Cal Poly computer science freshman took home the $1,000 first-place prize for Communicare at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) 16th annual Elevator Pitch Competition.
“I’m happy. Leading up to this, I was very stressed, but I want to give a shout-out to my communications Professor Jon Kawashima, who gave me the confidence to do this,” said Carter Lim, of Bellingham, Washington. His AI-powered tool is designed to make communication coaching affordable and accessible, helping users practice their speaking skills in just minutes a day.
“What’s the difference between a $60,000 a year job and a $120,000 a year job?” he asked the audience. “Ninety seconds of good communication.”
“Now, here is the harsh reality: How you communicate determines how people perceive your competence. If you have the technical skills of a 10, but you communicate like a four, people think you are a four. Nowadays, communication courses are expensive costing hundreds per hour and corporate trainings costing thousands per employee.”
Communicare harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to teach public speaking skills by turning practice into a daily game, he said.
Electrical engineering junior Samuel Weston, of Rocklin, California, earned the $500 Audience Choice Award for Tendon Project, a wearable device redefining how athletes understand and protect their tendons. By analyzing the collagen makeup of the tendon, his device offers real-time insight into tendon health and recovery.
Samuel Weston received the $500 Audience Choice Award for Tendon Project, a wearable device redefining how athletes understand and protect their tendons at the Elevator Pitch Competition. Photo by Katy Clark
Weston was excited to share his idea with the community. “It feels great, a lot of hard work went into this, and I’m glad people like my idea,” the rugby athlete said.
The Elevator Pitch was held Nov. 6 in the Pavillion Room of the Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly campus. The 90-minute judged competition featured a Battle of the Colleges, with finalists from across the university competing head-to-head for cash prizes in presentations limited to just 90 seconds or the time it takes to ride an elevator.
“The energy at this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition was fantastic,” said Stephanie Zombek, senior marketing and communications manager for the CIE. “The variety of ideas on stage reflected the diversity of disciplines across campus, and that’s what makes this event so fun and impactful. This competition pushes students to think fast, communicate clearly and with confidence and own their ideas — valuable skills across every major and career path.”
The CIE is Cal Poly’s hub for innovation, supporting entrepreneurs at every stage with resources, mentorship and a collaborative startup ecosystem. The annual pitch competition is open to students from all majors, to explore new ideas and practice their pitching skills.
Zombek said participants learn how to communicate under pressure, a key skill in many aspects of the professional world.
“Our hope is that they leave with more confidence, clearer messaging, and a stronger sense of how to connect their ideas to a broader audience,” she said.
Judges included: Jim Dantona, former president and CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce; Jasna Jovanovic, assistant professor of psychology and child development and director of Cal Poly’s University Honors Program; and Lucy McGowan, assistant professor of agribusiness and a CIE faculty fellow. Participants were evaluated on how clearly a problem was explained, creativity and innovation, effectiveness of communication, persuasive potential and entertainment value.
This year’s competition included a variety of ideas, from jujitsu-inspired gym wear to a local news app:
Drink Tox, a health drink designed to help users recover from hangovers by restoring essential nutrients and aiding liver detoxification; pitched by biochemistry senior Charlie Palmer of Danville, California, representing the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics.
Gym Wear Made Fun, a women’s athletic apparel brand blending bold fashion with jiu-jitsu and streetwear-inspired functionality, pitched by business entrepreneurship senior Alara Wiefling of Houston, representing the Orfalea College of Business.
Learning Curb’s CAP, a customizable academic planner that helps neurodivergent students manage time and stay on track with classes, tests and extracurriculars; pitched by biomedical engineering freshman Avari Brocker of Troutdale, Oregon, representing the College of Engineering.
News Curation App, a digital platform that combats disinformation by curating local and global news stories with context and source transparency, pitched by journalism and political science senior Jeremy Garza, a fellow with the CalMatters College Journalism Network, representing the College of Liberal Arts.
Nibble, a mobile app that encourages people to explore local food spots by providing surprise dining recommendations and sharing user-created “food trails”; pitched by agricultural business senior Josh Van Tassel of Los Altos, California, representing the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
PureRise, a clean, functional beverage designed with adaptogenic mushrooms and other plant-based ingredients to support stress reduction and focus; pitched by agribusiness sophomore Brea Rossiter of San Marcos, California, representing the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
Rooted Nutrition, a startup offering clean, plant-based endurance fuel made without dyes or preservatives to support gut health during long-distance activities; pitched by business administration sophomore Morgan Edwards of Pismo Beach, California, representing the Orfalea College of Business.
SURFACE22, a cutting board designed to improve kitchen hygiene by using swappable and color-coded surfaces for different food types, pitched by materials engineering senior Ryan Krakauer of Redwood City, California, representing the College of Engineering.
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 cie.calpoly.edu.
09/05/25 - SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA: Startup teams from Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Summer Accelerator program pitch during Demo Day 2025 at Rod & Hammer Rock on Sept. 05, 2025 in San Luis Obispo, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) showcased seven startups at its annual Demo Day in-person at Rod & Hammer Rock and online via YouTube Live on Friday, Sept. 5.
The event culminated the CIE’s 2025 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 pitched their business ideas and presented what they accomplished over the summer with the help of dedicated CIE mentors and staff.
“This cohort was an especially unique group—a mature team of entrepreneurs tackling hard problems with the potential to create huge positive impacts on both people and the environment,” said CIE Academic Programs Director and Cal Poly professor of entrepreneurship Dr. Thomas Katona.
“Demo Day was not only a fun and engaging evening, but also a chance to connect, hear directly from these young entrepreneurs and walk away with a renewed sense of optimism for the future,” said Katona.
09/05/25 – SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA: Kiara Robichaud of Elora from Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Summer Accelerator program pitch during Demo Day 2025 at Rod & Hammer Rock on Sept. 05, 2025 in San Luis Obispo, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for CIE
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 gave 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 alumna Addison Bounds (Business Administration, ’25).
“The CIE, and specifically the Summer Accelerator, has made me a better entrepreneur by surrounding me with like-minded people in a competitive, growth-oriented environment,” Bounds said. “Being part of this cohort has given me the chance to bounce ideas off peers, learn from industry experts and gain insights from people who are generous with their time and experience.”
The cohort included many recent Cal Poly graduates who represent a variety of industries and disciplines, from environmental sustainability to medical technology. The startups include:
— Ecoplasticity is developing a biodegradable coating derived from an invasive species of seaweed that replaces the plastic lining found on paper takeout containers, making them compostable and anaerobically digestible. The startup was created by business administration masters student Mayela Fernandez of Monterrey, Mexico, and polymers and coating masters student Michelle Cullen of Redondo Beach, California.
— Elora is creating aesthetic jewelry with built-in drug detection technology—blending style with safety to empower women to enjoy their social experiences with confidence. The startup was created by business administration graduate Addison Bounds of Jupiter, Florida, and biomedical engineering masters student Kiara Robichaud of Redding, Connecticut.
— Devscribe is an AI-powered platform that automates API documentation, generating clear, brand-tailored docs that update with code changes, saving developers time and improving efficiency. The startup was created by business administration graduates Gianni Hart of Nipomo, California, and Samuel Solano of Huntington Beach, California.
— NeuRelief Medical is on a mission to help those suffering from insomnia fall asleep faster, get deeper sleep and minimize mid-night awakenings with their non-invasive device designed to safely and gently stimulate the vagus nerve. The startup was created by biomedical engineering masters students Red Walker of Bethesda, Maryland, and Jeremy Laufer of Palo Alto, California.
— Preserva Biotech is developing the first at-home device to test insulin effectiveness, preventing complications from degraded insulin and improving outcomes for people managing diabetes. The startup was created by computer engineering graduate Ethan Vosburg of Roseville, California, business administration graduate Oliver Haas of Seattle, Washington, and bioengineering graduate from the University of California, San Diego, Micaela Moreira of Lima, Peru.
— One Fountain Health simplifies medication management with an automated pill dispenser, eliminating weekly pill sorting and helping people maintain independence and peace of mind. The startup was created by business administration graduate Eli Lazar of Issaquah, Washington, and computer engineering graduate Victoria Asencio-Clemens of Santa Cruz, California.
— Vandra is making a probiotic-rich frozen dessert made with dairy-based kefir, providing a fun, flavorful way to boost gut health and immunity, while making healthy living more enjoyable and accessible. The startup was created by agricultural business senior Alex Malone of Los Gatos, California, and business administration junior Wian Roothman of Johannesburg, South Africa.
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.
