1. September 2015 Executive Board Members:
Barbara Barcon, Chair, Consultant and Vice President and CFO (retired)
Dr. Christiane Beyer, College of Engineering (COE)
Dr. Larry Pate, College of Business Administration (CBA)
Wesley Woelfel, College of the Arts (COTA)

2. What is the Innovation Challenge?
A learning environment and annual competition for CSULB students
Teams develop, promote and launch entrepreneurial business ideas
Students learn how to create business plans
Reward the best team/plan (annually) with up to $50,000 worth of business-related services and seed funding

3. CSULB Innovation Challenge
Build a team!
You have an idea!
Review with mentors and support team
Present to Investors and Judges
(Final 4 teams)
Winning team receives start-up resources and seed funding
Develop your business plan

4. What Do Students Get Out of It?
An environment to develop business ideas
Learn to form and work on a multi-disciplinary team
Advice and networking with a business professional who is a mentor to the team
An opportunity to learn how to be an entrepreneur
Develop experience and knowledge in starting a business, intellectual property, financial plans, etc.
Resources and financial support ($K)

5. Final Competition and Awards
The Final Four teams present to a panel of judges in a public forum. All receive gift cards and certificates.
The winning team receives business support resources such as: office and/or lab space on campus, professional services e.g. legal, accounting, tax, intellectual property, on-going advisory support and $10,000 in seed funding to help launch their business.
Past Winners (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Medical Diagnostics “InFluids”
Sliding Doors “Gyde Tech”
3D Printer “Lux Nova”
Electric Bike “Phasor Cycles”
Textbook Exchange “TextbookHouse”

6. Example Past Innovation Challenge Business Ideas
Improved medical testing device
Specialized garments
Electric bike
Bicycle security components
Sliding Doors
Water Management System
Automated beverage service
Tea-based beverages
Automated geo-information
Textbook exchange
Etc.

7. Participate! Get the message out to students, friends, classmates …
Mention/promote in classes, labs, club meetings, etc.
Could be part of a senior-level class project
Teams come from all colleges and majors
Attend the final competition/awards event on April 7, 2016

8. Past Sponsors and In-Kind Service Providers
Individual Sponsors
Barbara Barcon
Dr. Deborah Ferber
Eric Schwartz

9. How do Students get Started?

10. CSULB Innovation Challenge Schedule (2015 - 2016)
September 8, 2015 – November 6, 2015
Attend information sessions (5 available)
October 12, 2015 – December 8, 2015
Letters of Intent accepted,
Match teams with mentors
December 8, 2015
Last day to submit Letter of Intent (LOI)
February 26, 2016
Business plans due by 5 pm
March 14-18, 2016
Notification of finalists & runner-up
April 7, 2016
Finalists’ presentations and business plan judging, and presentation of awards.

11. How do Students get Started?
Form a team and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) (due by 12/8/15). The sooner students submit an LOI, the sooner a mentor is assigned to the team.
Submit business plan by February 26, 2016
Visit the website to learn more:

12. See the Representatives of the colleges
Office Hours:
Larry Pate (CBA), CBA 343
MW 11am-12:30pm and TW 6:30-7:00pm
Christiane Beyer (COE), ECS 631
TTH 3:30-5pm
Wesley Woelfel (COTA), DESN 112B
MW 8:30-9:30am and 7-7:30pm
F 8:30-9:30am
Or by appt.

13. Questions?

14. Back-Up

15. Student Participation By College
2014 increase in CBA, CotA, and other colleges participation
Need to promote additional participation from across CSULB
LOI’s = Letters of Intent

16. Innovation Challenge Video