Sunstone Innovation Challenge

Take the Sunstone Innovation Challenge

The Sunstone Innovation Challenge at CSULB is coming back for 2023-2024. The Sunstone Innovation Challenge is an annual campus-wide business plan competition. We are looking for diverse teams to develop, promote and launch sustainable, entrepreneurial and innovative business ideas through the presentation of a well-crafted business plan that address the core concepts of Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility. The winning team receives support for their business, including $15,000 in seed funding, and space, marketing, legal and accounting services totaling up to $35,000. 

If you are interested in joining a team, click HERE.

2022-2023 Schedule

  • Letter-of-intent submission (submit to innovate@csulb.edu) – soft deadline December 7, 2022 *Mentor Assignment will be in order of LOI submission
  • Business Plan Submission – Friday, March 17, 2023
  • Four Finalists Announced – Friday, April 7, 2023 
  • Finalist Pitch Event – Thursday, April 20, 2023 at The Pointe in The Walter Pyramid

*subject to change​

In-kind services provided by

Legal Services: Keesal, Young & Logan, Fulwider Patton LLP

Marketing Strategy: Commune Communication

Coworking Space: BlankSpaces

Accounting Services: Windes

 

Congratulations to Past Winning Teams

2021-2022: Proto-Lin Violins landed first place with The NIL Collective as runner up in the 2022 Sunstone Innovation Challenge. Read more HERE.

person holding up violin prototype as he speaks into mic

2020-2021: Two startups, Vitalink and Unwind (pictured, below) landed first and second place in the 2021 Sunstone Innovation Challenge. Read more HERE. 

Sunstone Innovation Challenge 20-21 winners pictured here in

2019-2020: Two startups, PeriDeals (pictured, below) and White Rabbit, beat out over 40 teams to land first and second place in the 2020 Sunstone Innovation Challenge. Read about other winning teams.

PeriDeals founders