Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition
Pre-qualified student entrepreneur teams from all 23 CSU campuses are invited to come
together on May 5, 2023 at the Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition at San José State University, hosted
by the SJSU SpartUp Program.
The competition offers student entrepreneurs and teams the opportunity to pitch their startup in competition for the largest prize pool specifically for collegiate founded ventures among California State University (CSU) campuses and beyond. The 2023 competition builds on the 2022 pilot event at which teams from six Southern California CSUs competed, and it will demonstrate that the diverse pool of talent necessary for economic growth and innovation exists across all of the CSU campuses.
Participation
Each CSU campus may send up to two teams to compete at the Diaz Compean Student Union on the San José State University (SJSU) campus on May 5, 2023. The competition will feature five tracks (currently planned as two product tracks,two services tracks, and one social entrepreneurship track).
Each campus must email a written commitment to participate to Spartupincubator@sjsu.edu no later than January 20.
Submission of the two teams selected to represent each campus will be made in April by the respective Chief Research Officer.
Prizes
Lead sponsor Sunstone Management has committed $200,000 in prize money. This will provide first, second and third prize awards in each track of $25k, $10k and $5k, respectively.
Contribution
Each participating CSU campus will contribute $7,500. The Chancellor's Office will also contribute funding to support the event. The competition will host a group dinner on the evening of May 4 and breakfast and lunch on the event day May 5. All travel and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the participants and/or their respective campus.
Sponsorship
In addition to the title sponsor, Sunstone Management, SJSU will pursue additional sponsorships for each of the five competition tracks. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Jacob Manaloor, Director of Development for Research and Innovation.
Questions?
For more information, email csustartupcomp@sjsu.edu .