CIE Programs

The Elevator Pitch Competition (EPC) is an annual Fall Quarter competition that gives you 90 seconds to pitch your innovative product, service, or startup idea—open to Cal Poly students of all majors—for a chance to win cash prizes!

Located on campus in Building 2, Room 206, The Hatchery is a student incubator providing working space and directed guidance and mentorship for students working on a startup idea at any stage.

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. Applications due March 14, 2025.  Students can win prizes of $15k, $10k, and $5k!

Cal Poly Entrepreneurs (CPE) meets every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. in 02-210 (Nash Entrepreneurship Lab). Club meetings provide the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and like-minded individuals. Speakers include CEOs and founders who share valuable business insights to help you launch your entrepreneurship journey!

Exclusively for Cal Poly students and recent alumni, the Summer Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program where students spend their summer working in SLO with $10k in funding, mentorship, and programming designed to help them start a company.

Non-business majors can get an entrepreneurship minor by taking courses in business, design thinking, and innovation-oriented electives in agricultural business, biomedical engineering, communication studies, journalism and philosophy.