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Prepare / Innovation Quest (iQ)

2020 – 2021 Schedule

Online Submissions Due

Sunday, March 7

Finalists Announced

Friday, March 19

Finalist Prepare First Pitch Slides

Spring Break

Finalists Record Final Video Pitches

Saturday, April 17

Presentation Available to Finalist Judges

Monday, April 19

Judges Finish Viewing Pitches & Submit Questions 

Friday, April 23

Zoom Q&A between Judges & Finalist Teams

Saturday, April 24 (AM)

Live Stream Finalist Pitches & Announce Prizes

Saturday, April 24 (PM)

iQ FAQ

Innovation Quest FAQ Question: Do I have to be working on a technology company to compete? Answer: No. You have to be working on something innovative that has market potential. Students regularly work on technical, business models, and new product innovations. Question: I’m not that far along on my project yet, is it too early…

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Past Winners

2019 Winners 1st Place Innovation Award: Buteo -technology uses autonomous fixed-wing drones that will help vineyard managers and berry farmers protect their crops from birds and gain data feedback on the health of their vines. 2nd Place Rich and Jackie Boberg Innovation Award: Santronics - provides an automated, adaptable and caregiver-oriented hand hygiene compliance monitoring…

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2020 - 2021 Schedule

Online Submissions Due Sunday, March 7 Finalists Announced Friday, March 19 Finalist Prepare First Pitch Slides Spring Break Finalists Record Final Video Pitches Saturday, April 17 Presentation Available to Finalist Judges Monday, April 19 Judges Finish Viewing Pitches & Submit Questions  Friday, April 23 Zoom Q&A between Judges & Finalist Teams Saturday, April 24 (AM)…

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Prepare

The center prepares students to become emerging leaders and career ready entrepreneurs who generate innovative solutions to real-world problems, research promising technologies and develop viable business plans.

Elevator Pitch Competition

You know that idea you’ve always had? The one you think could make you millions? Well, this is your chance to share that idea with the world and possibly win $1,000. The Elevator Pitch Competition gives students 90 seconds to pitch their best idea to a panel of entrepreneurs and compete for cash prizes.

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Startup Marathon

Starting a business usually requires months (or even years) of preparation. At Startup Weekend, though, we give you only 54 hours to build a business with a team of strangers. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to find out what it takes to produce a viable startup in the modern world.

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The Hatchery

At the CIE, we understand that your best ideas can arrive before your diploma. In fact, the startups that change the world often begin in dorm rooms and classrooms. We designed the Hatchery to shape and grow student-led startups, enabling students to develop the proper tools for building a business from scratch.

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Innovation Quest

A great startup requires more than just a great idea; it needs support from the market, clients and investors. Innovation Quest (iQ) serves as the support system that provides the fuel for great ideas. With a $15,000 grand prize and over $10,000 in additional prize money, iQ can transform your idea into a financially-backed endeavor.

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Camp PolyHacks

Cal Poly is home to some of the most creative programmers and designers in the world, so we created a student-run, multidisciplinary hackathon dedicated to social entrepreneurship and human-centered design.

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