FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Stephanie Zombek 

805-756-5171; szombek@calpoly.edu

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. 

To rewatch the YouTube live stream, head to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAUFA3izzYw. 

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About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

The CIE opens a world of entrepreneurial opportunity to Cal Poly students, faculty and community members and promotes entrepreneurial activity and dialogue across the university and throughout San Luis Obispo County. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.