binarypublishA pitch competition featured Inland Southern California startups competing for grants and mentorship organised by the UC Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships. More than 180 people attended the event and six startups vied for $100,000 in grants and expert mentorship from the UCR EPIC Small Business Development Center. The pitch competition forms part of the SoCal OASIS initiative which promotes entrepreneurial education, mentorship, access to capital, and incubator space. The initiative is led by UC Riverside and is designed to foster inclusive economic development in Inland Southern California.
- The pitch competition was sponsored by The James Irvine Foundation and US Bank
- It was part of the SoCal OASIS (Opportunities to Advance Sustainability, Social Inclusion, and Innovation) initiative
- Prizes were awarded to From the Land, Indrio Technologies, and Laundry to Landscaping
The winning startups are focused on key issue areas. From the Land aims to increase food security through a sustainable circular food production system that uses both modern and ancient technologies. Indrio Technologies proposes to use modern laser-based spectroscopy for widespread applications in the mass market. Laundry to Landscaping is dedicated to addressing the challenges of water scarcity.
The university’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives are structured around four key areas of support: entrepreneurship education, dedicated mentorship provided by experienced entrepreneurs in residence, access to capital, and access to incubator space. The audience at the competition also participated in voting to select one of the startups to receive an additional $5,000 award. The initiative aims to foster the expansion of inclusive economic development in Inland Southern California.
SoCal OASIS strives to provide resources, mentorship, and opportunities for startups and innovators in southern California, contributing to the growth and development of the local economy. The event allows startups a platform to receive funding, mentorship and exposure, fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem within the region.
