There’s renewed effort to encourage innovators and entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in a particular area on the Central Coast.
Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship runs the SLO HotHouse, a collaborative effort with the county, city and local business community aimed at building a startup culture in San Luis Obispo County.
For six years, it has helped students start their own businesses. Now, with its new 15,000-square-foot location in downtown San Luis Obispo, the SLO HotHouse will also be a place for members of the community to grow their startups.
“Bring economic development value to San Luis Obispo by creating more jobs, by keeping students and companies here locally instead of having them go to LA or San Francisco,” Cal Poly's Candice Conti said.
It offers mentorship, networking opportunities and workspace in an effort to transform businesses from startup to sustainable.