SAN LUIS OBISPO — Seven innovative startups have officially completed their two-year journey in the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) Incubator program. 

Since its inception in 2010, the CIE Incubator has promoted regional economic development by supporting tech and innovation startups with scalable potential. The program has helped startups create more than 447 jobs, raise over $102 million in angel and venture funding, $5.3M in grant funding, and earn $12.6M in revenue. Out of 47 companies that have graduated, 33 have continued to operate and 5 have been acquired, resulting in an 80% success rate.

In the past two years, the seven companies completing the program have collectively created 38 jobs, benefited from 2,880 hours of business advising and secured $24.7 million in capital funding, grants and awards.

“The CIE Incubator program is all about helping early-stage startups get the guidance and tools they need to build strong, successful companies,” said Donica Forensich, economic development director for the CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC). “Seeing these teams build from the ground up and land some of their first investments has been incredible, and we’re thrilled to watch their journeys continue.”

The companies graduating from the CIE Incubator program include:

• AMS Therapeutics is dedicated to finding novel treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Abstract Security creates advanced solutions to protect businesses and organizations from cyber threats.
• Cove (formerly Mense) provides labs and researchers with the first research-backed, patient-friendly solution for at-home menstrual fluid collection.
• Castlelock Corporation is bringing firearm safety into the 21st century with its innovative firearm safety device integrated with high-speed biometric technology.
• Dopa (formerly Horizen Tech) is gamifying self improvement to help young adults replace unhealthy habits with better ones.
• Nexstera Tech combines waste stream detection with direct-from-home battery collection to stop fires, recover valuable materials, and close the loop on lithium-ion waste.
• ODIN Diagnostics is revolutionizing concussion diagnostics with an objective and reliable eye-tracking solution, reducing the risk of successive concussions and enhancing athlete safety.

“The Incubator is the next step of growth for companies that are moving from just an idea and a product to incorporating and taking on investment,” says McCall Brinskele, founder of Cove. 

The CIE recently added three new startups to the Incubator, making a total of eight startups currently in the program.

• AwareNet transforms security by turning communities into real-time safety networks and integrates people with smart devices, AI-driven threat detection and neighborhood alerts to keep families and homes protected.
• Ecoplasticity is creating a seaweed based coating made from an invasive species of algae that replaces the plastic lining found in paperboard take-out containers making them fully compostable and recyclable.
• Everest Medical Solutions, Inc.’s shoulder dystocia treatment device ensures peace of mind for both obstetricians and new families during a shoulder dystocia emergency by providing a safe and standardized solution that blends midwifery practices with traditional obstetric care.

About the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The CIE provides Cal Poly students, faculty and community members with the tools, mentorship and resources to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses, fostering entrepreneurship and regional economic development. By providing quality coaching, professional consulting and connections with industry professionals, the CIE creates an environment in which new businesses can develop and thrive. For more information, visit cie.calpoly.edu.

The CIE Incubator program is open to the broader business community, and Cal Poly affiliation is not required. Enrollment is open year-round. Startups interested in applying for the Incubator can visit cie.calpoly.edu/launch/incubator.

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