Contact: Stephanie Zombek
805-668-3955; [email protected]

SAN LUIS OBISPO  — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will showcase eight startups at its annual Demo Day in-person at Rod & Hammer Rock and online via YouTube Live on Friday, Sept. 6.

The event, held from 4-6 p.m., culminates the CIE’s 2024 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 will pitch their business ideas and present what they’ve accomplished over the summer with the help of dedicated CIE mentors and staff.

“This year’s cohort is really exceptional in that they are showcasing such a diverse range of innovative solutions that reflect their understanding of market needs and entrepreneurial resilience,” explained CIE Academic Programs Director Dr. Thomas Katona.

When asked why people should attend Demo Day, Katona encouraged the community to “witness firsthand the next wave of talented entrepreneurs who are driven by a passion to make a real impact on the world.”

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 will give 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 alumnus Diego Curiel (Computer Engineering, ’24).

“My experience so far with the Summer Accelerator can be summarized with the word ‘fun,’ ” Curiel said. “It’s a lot of work and it’s tiring, but it’s really exciting. We are creating something that is meaningful and valuable. Being able to wake up every day and know that I’m going to spend my time putting energy into something that will bring good into the world makes me really happy.”

Demo Day Participants

The cohort includes many recent Cal Poly graduates who represent a variety of industries and disciplines, from medical devices to gaming software. The startups include:

• Everest Medical, which is creating a surgical device aimed to create a safer alternative treatment method for mothers and their infants during shoulder dystocia complications from vaginal births. The startup was created by biomedical engineering graduates Jenna Eissmann of Reno, Nevada; Maddie Mumford of Snoqualmie, Washington; and Rachel Rowe of Bellevue, Washington.
• GreenSight Tech, which aims to revolutionize electronic resellers’ workflow by creating a solution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The startup was created by computer engineering senior Diego Curiel of Santa Barbara, California; general engineering graduate Jake Daniels of Lake Oswego, Oregon; computer science senior Chris Lawson of Atascadero, California; and computer engineering graduate Mackenzie Kettwig of Colfax, California.
• MindSprout, a mobile app aimed at replacing a person’s gambling addiction with healthy habits through a gamified approach. The startup was created by business entrepreneurship graduate Austin Hatfield of San Clemente, California; and business entrepreneurship/computer science graduate Diana Koralski of Redmond, Washington.
• NeuroCom, which is creating a wearable device to reduce friendly fire and enhance situational awareness on the battlefield by enhancing human sensory perception with technology. The startup was created by mechanical engineering senior Alex Rosenbaum of Seattle, Washington.
• ODIN Diagnostics, which is creating a portable headset to quickly and accurately diagnose concussions through the use of ocular tracking technology. The startup was created by economics graduate Connor Heffler of San Diego; biomedical engineering senior Josh Gottschalk of Branford, Connecticut; computer science graduate Noah Cain of Bolingbrook, Illinois; biomedical engineering graduate Marina Zellers of Lompoc, California; computer science graduate Sarah Duncan of Santa Barbara, California; and electrical engineering senior Seth Saxena of Manalapan, New Jersey.
• ONGAWA, a rhythm gaming software offering a unique fusion of music and role-playing elements and supports indie musicians by showcasing and monetizing their work. This startup was created by computer science masters graduate Lucas Li of Morgan Hills, California; computer science graduate Brett Hickman of Mission Viejo, California; business administration senior Pedro Fernandez of Philo, California; and business administration senior Jeremy Tai of Los Angeles, California.
• SafePlate Technologies, a startup dedicated to revolutionizing food safety in America, creating a safer world for individuals with food allergies and intolerances. By leveraging synthesized DNA biosensors to detect protein structure within samples, they simplify the allergen testing process for food manufacturers. The startup was created by mechanical engineering senior Nahal Sadgehian of Folsom, California; mechanical engineering graduate Mitchell Dann of Torrance, California; computer engineering graduate Avery Taylor of Orangeville, California; and business administration graduate Josh Chao of Seattle, Washington.
• Skymark Systems, which aims to create a handheld detection technology for warfighters, which would allow them to instantly identify whether any small drone in the sky is friend or foe. This startup was created by computer science junior Oleksandr Gorpynich of San Jose, California; Matan Kedar of San Jose, California; and computer science junior Vasanth Pugalenthi of San Ramon, California.

Demo Day general admission tickets to Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Place, San Luis Obispo, are $10. In-person seating is limited. The event will be live streamed to those who register for virtual tickets. Register for tickets at https://ciedemoday24.eventbrite.com/?aff=PressRelease.

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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.

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Top photo: Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s 2024 Summer Accelerator cohort are developing a wide array of business opportunities. Representatives of the eight startups will showcase their ideas at CIE’s annual Demo Day in-person at Rod & Hammer Rock and online via YouTube Live on Friday, Sept. 6.

Photo by Ruby Wallau