Assets + Resources
Cultivating the Central Coast growth ecosystem
The Central Coast’s thriving innovation ecosystem encompasses an energetic start-up scene, budding incubator programs, enterprising community colleges and the talent and resources of top-ranked universities.
Incubating start-ups
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s HotHouse launches community and student ventures from a network of spaces across San Luis Obispo County. To date, the HotHouse has launched 120+ companies creating 1000+ jobs and raising $250M+ of capital. Programs include:
- 2-year incubator program, with verticals in agtech, aerospace, cleantech and medtech
- 3-month startup accelerator
- Elevator pitch competitions
- Annual hackathon
- Community coworking
UC-Santa Barbara’s New Venture Program provides hands-on instruction and mentorship in launching a start-up. Now in its 23rd year, the Annual New Venture Competition provides an eight-month entrepreneurial experience where students work with mentors in multi-disciplinary teams to take their business ideas from concept to reality. UCSB is also home to the Wilcox New Venture Incubator, also known as “The Garage,” and the eight-week G2 Summer Launchpad program.
Santa Barbara City College’s Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers a range of support including business consulting, entrepreneurship events, and Enterprise Launch. Students can also work toward earning an A.A. degree, certificate or Skill Competency Award with an emphasis in entrepreneurship while leveraging the educational accessibility of SBCC.
Enabling Innovation
University Research and Collaboration
Two top-tier, state-funded universities provide myriad opportunities to engage in research, development and commercialization.
Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
- Existing 25,000 square foot facility just outside campus for business and nonprofit organizations engaging in research, development and product testing with faculty and students
- $12 million expansion will add another 20,000-30,000 square feet by spring 2024, with eventual plans for a 125,000-square-foot footprint (see top image)
Industry-Sponsored Research/Student Projects
- Design and delivery of research projects, product development and testing in collaboration with companies
- Paid access to advanced testing and analysis equipment in 18 various labs including aerospace, environmental, biomedical, geotechnical, sensory and rapid prototyping facilities
SBIR/STTR Assistance and Partnerships
- Facilitation of small business participation in the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Technology Transfer programs, which engage small businesses in federal R&D with the potential for commercialization, with 10 companies assisted in 2021
- Securing of industry partners to license patented and patent-pending faculty and student inventions to bring them to market.
UC-Santa Barbara
- Helps companies explore strategic partnerships with UCSB researchers and scholars through philanthropic investment opportunities
- Accelerates access to UCSB’s extensive resources, allowing businesses to: augment internal research capabilities, access world-class equipment and facilities, investigate novel technologies, recruit talented employees, and invest in the future of innovation
Technology & Industry Alliances
- Manages the intellectual property developed through UCSB research, negotiates agreements with industry partners that enables research collaboration, and supports campus startups through its own startup support program and as one of the UCSB I+E Partner Programs
- Provides staff support on research needs, a collaborative environment, wide support for non-standard materials, and a proven record with industrial prototyping and transition to various levels of production
- Grants members access to lectures and webinars, talent, ideas, networking receptions, mentorship opportunities, and student start-up competitions from a community of entrepreneurs and innovators who pool their talent, networks, and capital to support innovation
A sampling of the region's centers and institutes
Scaling small businesses
Small Business Development Centers provide high-quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance
In Santa Barbara County, SBDC services are provided through the Economic Development Collaborative, with satellite centers at Santa Barbara City College‘s Schott and Wake campuses. The EDC is also working with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to expand services in northern Santa Barbara County.
The Cal Poly CIE SBDC provides business assistance at the HotHouse in San Luis Obispo, the Sandbox in Paso Robles, and the Launch Pad in Grover Beach. The CIE also hosts the annual AngelCon pitch competition, providing a chance for startups to win $100,000+ in equity-backed funding.
Other Resources
- Women’s Economic Ventures provides business training, loans, consulting and coaching to help women achieve financial independence
- Mission Community Services dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining, with a focus on serving women, low-income individuals, minority-owned businesses and rural, underserved communities
- Score Santa Barbara local mentors help small businesses in every stage – whether starting out or wanting to grow, SCORE provides guidance in business analysis, marketing, finance, sales, and business development
- Score San Luis Obispo provides free and confidential one-on-one business counseling by phone, email, and in-person in SLO County and the Santa Maria Valley
- Chambers of Commerce work to enhance business and community well being in the region’s various cities and communities
Area Chambers of Commerce
