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.

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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

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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.

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PeriDeals founders