$100,000+ to grow your startup!
Your startup must:
1) Demonstrate a completed proof of concept with an MVP and/or early revenue.
2) Have potential for scalability and high growth.
3) Have a team with the ability to execute.
4) Be based in Central CA or affiliated with the Cal Poly ClE Incubator or SBDC program.
*The application is an initial look into your business for investors to understand what you do. Please keep the media section centered around showcasing your business.
*DO NOT SUBMIT: Documents like a pitch deck and term sheet. These will come up later in the process, should your application be chosen to move forward in the top 12.
Email questions to angelconference@gmail.com
Welcome to the submission site for Cal Poly's Innovation Quest competition. We are so excited to once again be hosting this fantastic competition which highlights student innovators from across campus. Submissions are due Friday March 15th by 11:59pm.
Read and respond to each question carefully. There are word limits so be thorough but you'll need to be concise. You are able to start, save, and return to your application at any time so we encourage you to start early, save your application and come back to it to make revisions. When you are finished remember to submit the application as "in-process" applications will not be judged even if there are words for each question.
This application will be used to determine our finalists (~12 Teams). Finalists will be announced approximately two weeks after final submissions are received. More details on preparation for the finals will be provided after the finalists are announced. The finalist presentations will be on Saturday April 27th and the awards banquet will be that evening.
All future correspondence about the competition will go only to the e-mail address that is listed for the team lead. That individual is responsible for notifying the rest of the team about information regarding the submission, deadlines, instructions, etc.
Questions can be directed to Tom Katona (tkatona@calpoly.edu).
Good luck everyone!
CIE Builder Bootcamp 2026
From project to prototype in 48 hours
Join fellow student innovators from across campus for an intensive weekend to transform your project into a real-world prototype.
Event Date: Friday, Feb. 6th 5pm - Sunday, Feb. 8th 4pm
Location: CIE HotHouse Downtown SLO (872 Higuera St.)
Applications Due: Friday, Jan 23rd
Why apply?
- Up to $150 dollars to spend on expenses for your prototype
- Early feedback and coaching for Innovation Quest & the Summer Accelerator
- Access to exclusive networking with past founders
- Free meals throughout the weekend
What to expect?
- Validate Your Ideas: Transform concepts into testable digital or physical prototypes
- Rapid Prototyping: Learn frameworks and tools to build functional MVPs (minimum viable product)
- Network & Collaborate: Connect with like-minded student entrepreneurs and industry mentors
- Expenses Covered: Each team will receive up to $150 to spend on developing their prototype
Who should apply?
- Innovators: Students with startup ideas ready to take the next step
- Developers: Engineers who want to build products that matter
- Designers: Creatives passionate about user experience and innovation
- Business Minds: Strategic thinkers focused on market validation and growth