Profiles and Indicators 2013 - California Innovation Hub (iHub) - Sites at USC
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
California Innovation Hub (iHub)
Profiles and Indicators 2013
Prepared by the USC Center for Economic Development on behalf of
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Project Team
Leonard Mitchell, Executive Director
Deepak Bahl, Program Director
Nicholas Busalacchi, Research Assistant
December 2013
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Louis Stewart, Deputy Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship,
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and California
iHubs who provided valuable input to this report
Profiles and
Indicators 2013
Introduction iHub Profiles and Indicators
California is a leader in innovation and knowledge We observe considerable variation among the 16
-based economies—home to successful global iHubs. Four new iHubs, namely iDEA iHub, Inland
companies with a legacy of creativity and SoCal Link iHub, CNMI iHub, and iHub San Joaquin
entrepreneurship. In the spring of 2010, the State have been formed earlier this year. Nearly all of
of California launched its new, forward-thinking the original 12 iHubs have been in existence since
Innovation Hub (iHub) program in an effort to 2010, except for iHub San Diego affiliated with
harness and enhance California’s innovative spirit. CONNECT, which has more than 25 years of track
The iHub program was conceived to leverage record assisting 3,000 companies in their formation
convergence wherever possible between and development. Most of the iHubs operate as
stakeholders, incubators, and financiers to propel 501(c) 3 organizations; however, their cluster focus
new businesses towards success and multiply varies. For instance, the newly formed California
innovative energy in specialized fields. The Network for Manufacturing Innovation (CNMI) iHub
iHubs were created to form a robust statewide, focuses on advanced manufacturing, the East Bay
innovation-based economic development support Green Corridor iHub centers on renewable energy
network to stimulate local, regional, and statewide and clean technologies, and the CalValleyTech
job creation. The goal of the iHubs is to improve iHub concentrates on water and agricultural
state, national, and global competitiveness by technologies. Seven of the 12 initial iHubs include
stimulating partnerships, economic development, an incubator/accelerator in their entrepreneurship
and job creation around specific research clusters and business development strategy.
(see table below).
Regional iHub Cluster Focus
iHub Update 2013 Innovate North Cleantech, medical technology,
In August 2013, the California State Assembly State iHub information technology, & agritechnology
passed AB250, creating the California iHub
Sacramento iHub Clean & medical technologies
Program within the Governor’s Office of Business
Sustainable resources & socially relevant
and Economic Development (GO-Biz). This North Bay iHub
technologies
enabling legislation directs California’s iHubs to
“stimulate partnerships, economic development, SF iHub Biotechnology
and job creation by leveraging assets to provide San Jose/Silicon
Clean & emerging technologies
an innovation platform for startup businesses, Valley ET iHub
economic development organizations, business iGATE iHub Clean technology & green energy
groups, and venture capitalists.” Four additional East Bay Green
Clean technology and renewable energy
iHubs have been added in 2013 bringing the total Corridor iHub
to 16 iHubs across the state. Each iHub is typically CalValleyTech iHub Water, energy, & agriculture technologies
anchored by at least one major university or CleanTech Los
Clean technology
research center which provides access to new Angeles iHub
innovations and cutting-edge thinking, as well Biomedical, information, & clean
OCTANe iHub
as a pool of business entrepreneurs. The business technology
incubators and accelerators shepherd small Coachella Valley
Entrepreneurship & clean technology
and micro-businesses from their initial innovative iHub
idea through seed capital funding, research and Convergence of mobile health, biofules,
iHub San Diego
development, market acceptance, validation solar energy & energy storage
and commercialization. Mentorship and access to iDEA iHub Defense, energy, & aerospace technology
capital and investors is also a part of the program.
InLand SoCal Link Advanced manufacturing, logistics,
Additionally, the role of the iHubs is to promote iHub exports, and international investments
regional coordination and partnerships, provide
Healthcare, sustainable construction, &
resources, and narrow the gap between research iHub San Joaquin
agribusiness
and commercial success.
CNMI iHub Advanced manufacturing
Profiles and
Indicators 2013
iHubs are a work in progress and hold strong
promise for creating direct and indirect jobs;
forming, expanding, and mentoring companies;
attracting investments; and increasing revenues in
targeted sectors. We recommend GO-Biz and its
network of iHubs pursue the following:
• Foster synergies and partnerships between
the iHubs to leverage each other’s assets,
human capital, and organizational capacity to
pursue new ideas, opportunities, funding, and
investments.
• Create a venture capital fund that provides the
seed money for early stage start-up companies
in technology innovation and products/services
commercialization.
• Organize an annual statewide forum
showcasing iHub successes, cross-pollinating
best practices, and socializing resources across
regions to maximize efficiencies and accelerate
learning.
The following pages profile the progress of
several regional iHubs in creating jobs, raising
investments, obtaining patents, and developing
their client portfolios. Showcase projects and top
iHubs are integral to GO-Biz’s economic companies are featured, highlighting these iHubs’
development infrastructure serving as an outreach achievements in enhancing California’s regional
arm—identifying new trends and emerging and national competitiveness.
opportunities and bringing to the forefront barriers
that impede entrepreneurship and business
formation—as evidenced through town halls and
business meetings held statewide. iHubs provide
the vital link between GO-Biz and the business
community, university partners, national labs, and
other stakeholders involved in local and regional
economic development. It is our understanding
from the meetings with staff from GO-Biz and
iHubs that the mutual relationship can be further
strengthened by the state providing the iHubs:
• sustained operational support;
• connectivity and clout to access national
thought and organizational leaders;
• a feeder system for referrals; and
• continued advocacy and marketing support
Consistent with the concerns expressed above,
we recommend GO-Biz provide operational and
advocacy support to the iHubs, in addition to the
clout the Governor’s office provides marketing
these organizations nationally and globally.
CalValleyTech
iHub Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
The CalValleyTech iHub, operating within
Jobs Investment
the Central Valley of California, is a joint Company
Created Raised
partnership between the Central Valley
Central Valley Solar Specialists 6 $0
Business Incubator and Merced County
Aqua Cents 0 $0
Department of Commerce, Aviation, &
Economic Development. Rainbird 0 Acquired in 2012
OnFarm Systems 2 $300,000
The focus of the iHub is to foster innovation, C3 0 $0
commercialize new technologies, strengthen Mendota Bioenergy 1 $5.0M
the Valley’s role in local and state economic MoAsis 3 $0
development, and create new high-paying,
EnerNoc 1 Acquired in 2011
tech-based jobs.
Global Eco Soil Solutions 0 $0
Pure Sense 5 $0
Key Figures
Showcase Projects
Companies funded: 2
Mendota Bioenergy Biorefinery
Resident companies: 6
Development
Virtual companies: 19 On February 28, 2013, the California Energy
Graduates still in business: 22 Commission awarded nearly $5 million to
Mendota Bioenergy to design, construct,
Investment raised: $5.3M and operate an advanced biorefinery
demonstration plant. Located in Mendota
Patent applications: 1 (Fresno County), this plant will be the first in the
nation to use sugar beets to create advanced
biofuel ethanol. The project is expected to
CalValleyTech iHub’s efforts will primarily create 100 long-term jobs and 160 agricultural
support initiatives in agriculture, water, solar, jobs, along with 300 construction-related jobs.
and other renewable energy technologies. The
iHub provides technical assistance for business OnFarm Systems
acceleration and expansion, access to capital
resources, and connections to key partners OnFarm launched in January 2013 after
within the region. raising $300,000 in less than a year. Its system
integrates field and cloud information for
Innovators will benefit from academic and agricultural activities into a single dashboard,
research partnerships through the University of helping farmers increase their productivity and
California-Merced and California State Univer- select the technologies that are best for their
sity-Fresno, as well as connections to markets operations.
and industry partners.
http://bit.ly/CalVTiHub
Cleantech
Los Angeles iHub Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
Cleantech LA brings together business, capital, Jobs Investment
government, and academia to commercialize Company
Created Raised
clean technologies and grow the Cleantech 350 Green 5 $6.0M
sector in Los Angeles. By supporting early stage California Lithium Battery 5 $2.0M
companies, targeted R&D, and collaboration
Hive Lighting 3 $0.5M
among the region’s key stakeholders,
360 Power Group 3 $20.0M
Cleantech LA delivers on the region’s goal of
Skyline 15 $2.5M
sustainability, livability, and job creation.
E-Waste Systems 4 $1.0M
Gridtest Systems 8 $1.2M
Key Figures Bio-Tecture 2 $0.5M
Companies funded: 3 Chai 3 $0.25M
Resident companies: 14 Showcase Companies
Graduates still in business: 2 (out of 2) 350 Green
350 Green designs, builds, and operates a
Investment raised: $30M+
scalable, nationwide network of electric
Patent applications: 25+ vehicle charging stations. Current projects are
underway in 20 major markets nationwide. In
Patents issued: 20+ December 2011, the company became the
largest owner-operator of public charging
infrastructure nationwide. 350 Green was the
The LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI) serves as a first LACI portfolio company and will be the first
high-impact, public-private commercialization to exit: the company was recently acquired by
engine for early state Cleantech companies, Car Charging Group.
offering unique programs, expertise, coaching,
eductation, plug & play space, and access California Lithium Battery
to a broad network of business, capital,
CalBattery is commercializing a breakthrough
government, and academic partners.
lithium ion battery in joint development with
Partners include the LA Mayor’s Office, LA Argonne National Laboratory. In independent
Department of Water & Power, UCLA, USC, lab tests, these batteries triple LIB capacity and
Caltech, JPL, CSUN, LAEDC, LA Chamber, effectively cut in half the cost of consumer
LABC, LA County, Port of LA, Metropolitan electronics, electric vehicle, and energy
Water District, SoCal Gas, SCE, and more. storage lithium ion batteries.
http://bit.ly/CTLAiHub
East Bay Green
Corridor iHub Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile Sun Synchrony
The East Bay Green Corridor’s mission is to In May 2013, the California Energy Commission
create a thriving region of green awarded Sun Synchrony $475,000 to install high
technology innovation, commercialization, concentration photovoltaic systems on the
and local economic development in a manner Peralta Community College District’s Laney
that creates high-quality jobs and meets campus and begin a pilot demonstration of
environmental and social goals. a “first generation, high-efficiency system.”
The East Bay Green Corridor facilitated this
team effort between Sun Syncrony, the Peralta
The Green Corridor has created a business Community College District, Sandia National-
climate where Cleantech startups like Suntulit
Laboratory, Berkeley-based PV Evolution Labs,
have the best chance for success. Whether
it’s meeting potential customers, working with and Hayward-based Plastikon Industries.
the Berkeley National Lab, or understanding
PT-EGen
the policies that drive our business, the Green
Corridor has been key to Suntulit’s growth in local PT-EGen has developed technology that
markets. Our future success will be attributable to harnesses the energy generated by moving
the Green Corridor and any Cleantech startup
vehicles. This energy is converted to electricity
would be fortunate to work with them.
— Vinesh Mehta, Suntulit
that can be sotred in batteries or uploaded to
the electric grid. The Green Corridor mentored
the PT-EGen team in the annual UC-Berkeley
Big Ideas@Berkeley competition, where the
The Green Corridor supports CleanTech
team won first prize in the Clean & Sustainable
startups and businesses in the East Bay’s
Energy Alternatives category. The $5,000
innovation ecosystem by offering a beta test
award will be used to build the team’s first
program, site location assistance, business
prototype.
incentives and promotion, public/private
partnerships, and regional policy initiatives.
2013 Portfolio
The Green Corridor is boosting the market Jobs Investment
for renewable energy by developing a Company
Created Raised
standardized solar energy permitting process
Lucid Technologies 25 $1.5M (series A)
that will expedite the deployment of solar
Sungevity 250 $160.0M
energy in the region.
Solar City 235 (regional) $1.7B
Showcase Companies Halus Power 10 n/a
OSI Soft 117 n/a
ergSol Bright Source Energy 300 (global) $610.0M
ergSol is a developer and manufacturer Makani Power 24 $26.0M
of high-efficiency, high-temperature solar Siemens
5,050
n/a
water heating systems. In March 2013, ergSol (California)
received the highest performance rating of PVEL 15 $1.3M
any solar collector in the U.S. market by the Alphabet Energy 30 $30.0M
Solar Ratings and Certification Corporation. Sun, Light, & Power 80 $2.2M
The Green Corridor facilitated introductions
between ergSol and potential early customers
and demonstration sites. http://bit.ly/EBGCiHubCoachella
Valley iHub Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
The Coachella Valley iHub located in Palm Jobs Investment
Springs focuses on renewable energy and Company
Created Raised
clean technology development. Its programs Indy Power Systems 4 $1.6M
and services include: Mobile Farming 4 $850,000
• Training, workshops, and networking EV Enterprises 4 $50,000
opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-up PSTalent 3 $35,000
companies
• Connections to national laboratories, Key Achievements
universities and community colleges, and • Helped three companies crowd-fund
other business development agencies prototype development using royalty
• Access to low-to-no cost incubator space streams on future product sales, raising
and connection to resources, including between $10,000 to $35,000 in investment
industry experts, angel and venture capital • Three iHub companies presented at The
partners, workforce training, accountants, World’s Best Technology Showcase
attorneys, and the Small Business • Forged relationship for regional businesses
Administration with the National Renewable Energy
• Access to the City of Palm Springs Laboratory
Accelerator Campus’ 41,000 square feet • Secured access to land and buildings to
of industrial and medical innovation space develop an Accelerator Campus for
for graduating companies from the iHub graduating companies
that choose to pursue research, operations,
or manufacturing as part of their business
models
Key Figures
Companies funded: 4
Resident companies: 8
Number of virtual companies: 6
Investment raised: $850,000
Patent applications: 3
Patents issued: 3
http://www.cvihub.com/iHub San Diego
Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
The San Diego iHub is made up of 33 Jobs Investment
signatories and includes the leading Company
Created Raised
academic, research, government agencies Biomatrica 24 $13.0M
and professional associations in the region. It’s Bump Network 11 $4.5M
focused on the expansion of five innovation
Dermtech 9 $19.5M
sectors:
EcoATM 120 $31.0M
• Wireless health PT Motion Works (ElliptiGO) 14 $4.4M
• Biofuels Independa 10 $5.2M
• Solar energy Inhibrix 12 $16.5M
Micropower Technologies 20 $8.7M
• Energy storage
PureForge 12 $7.0M
• Advanced manufacturing
The mission of the San Diego iHub is to develop Get Coached to Get Capital
new technology clusters, create high-quality CONNECT’s Get Coached to Get Capital
employment opportunities, attract funding Competition provides innovators in Southern
for new innovative technologies, and support California with:
start-up formation.
• Industry feedback
Key Figures • Coaching through CONNECT’s world-
Companies funded: 120 renowned Springboard Program
• Connections with potential strategic
Resident companies: 6,100 partners and investors
• Discounts to training clinics
Graduates still in business: 226 (70%
• Access to collaborative workspace
survival)
• Community exposure
Investment raised: $1.2B
Winners of the competition—the CONNECT
Patent applications: 6,800 Portfolio Companies—have the opportunity to
present to VCs, angel investors, high net worth
Patents issued: 5,400 individuals and corporate partners who are
interested in sourcing, funding, and fostering
CONNECT, San Diego iHub coordinator, is a deals.
25-year old non-profit organization dedicated
to propelling creative ideas and emerging Among iHub companies mentored between
technologies to the marketplace and focuses 2005 and 2012:
on research institution support, business
creation and development, entrepreneurial • 70% are still in business
learning, access to capital, and public policy. • 55% have raised money ($530M in capital)
• Over 900 jobs have been created
http://bit.ly/SDiHubNorth Bay iHub
Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
North Bay iHub’s function is to assist technology Jobs Investment
entrepreneurs and start-up companies in Company
Created Raised
achieving success by providing an affordable Dominican Renewables 3 n/a
physical infrastructure, an intellectual and en-
Aspen Air 3 $3.1M
trepreneurial environment, a supportive service
General Vision 4 $0
network, and one-on-one-mentoring.
EcoLunchbox 5 n/a
Key Figures
Bluebird Interactive 7 $45,000
Non Profit Easy 7 $550,000
Companies funded: 49 Food&Beverage World 9 $100,000
PI Mobility 12 n/a
Resident companies: 412 NextPhase Solar 13 n/a
Graduates still in business: 12 West Coast Solar Energy 18 $0
Investment raised: $37.9M Showcase Projects
Patent applications: 42 North Bay Investor Summit (NBIS)
(Cars, Cabernet & Cash)
Patents issued: 13
NBIS is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain
experience pitching to investors and a venue
North Bay iHub brings together the resources
for investors to discover the next big idea.
of several regional organizations to stimulate
Companies have raised more than $25M after
enterprise development and entrepreneurship.
presenting at past summits.
These organizations include:
• SoCal Nexus (innovative emerging growth Business Plan Competition and
companies) Innovation Expo
• Venture Greenhouse (accelerator for SoCal Nexus’s (formerly SMBC) Business
early-stage green technology companies) Plan Competition offers a chance for local
• Share Exchange/Local Economy Institute entrepreneurs to create a business plan and
(economic localization) investor pitch based on training and feedback
• Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project (new & from mentors and judges.
existing business support in West Sonoma
County) Green Tech Investment Showcase
• Web & Interactive Media Professionals Venture Greenhouse featured seven
(trade organization of designers, early-stage green technology companies, who
developers, and marketers) presented to more than 80 members of the
• Napa Valley College Small Business North Bay angel investment and economic
Development Center development community.
• North Bay Angels (angel investing of
innovative, emerging growth companies)
• Building Economic Success Together (BEST)
http://bit.ly/NBiHubSan Jose/Silicon Valley
Emerging Technology
iHub Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
The San Jose/Silicon Valley Emerging Jobs Investment
Technology iHub is located in the center of Company
Created Raised
Silicon Valley. The San Jose/Silicon Valley Enki Technology 11 $7.1M
iHub focuses on commercializing emerging
Varantec 30 $22.9M
technologies across a ranges of industries
Wrightspeed 35 $11.8M
including cleantech, biomedical, and semi-
Intermolecular 204 $122.8M
conductors. The iHub partners include a
national laboratory, universities, professional
associations, and incubators and accelerators. Showcase Project
The iHub provides a range of services Launch of ProspectSV in Spring 2014
including, but not limited to: PROSPECT Silicon Valley will occupy 22,500
square feet at the LEED-certified San Jose
• Facilities to demonstrate product Environmental Innovation Center, and will
• Access to training provide opportunities to test, exhibit and
• Access to capital for start up formation view emerging technology in a commercial
environment in Silicon Valley that will include:
Key Figures • 17,000SF of high bay, configurable space
Companies funded: 550 suitable for technology demonstrations,
prototype development, and testing
Resident companies: 2,250 • Hydraulic lift and other measurement and
analytics technology equipment
Investment raised: $6.3B
• Dedicated workbench lab space
Patents issued: 27,638 • Custom battery and chemistry labs
• 3,000 SF of shared open office space
www.sanjoseca.gov/iHubBioSF iHub
Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Portfolio
BioSF iHub focuses on and supports the Jobs Investment
continuing growth and succes of the biotech Company
Created Raised
industry in San Francisco and Mission Bay. Refactored Materials 13 $5.5M
The San Franciso Center for Economic
Omniox 11 $1.0M
Development serves as the iHub coordinator,
uBiome 5 $350,000
in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of
Fluxion Bioscience 22 $2.0M
Economic Development, the University of Cali-
Gemmus Pharma 5 $1.5M
fornia-San Francisco, the California Institute for
Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), and the Small 3Scan 8 $540,000
Business Development Center. Allakos n/a $32.0M
ZoneOne Pharma 2 n/a
Key Figures Redwood Bioscience
Siluria Technologies
n/a
30
$400,000
$62.9M
Companies funded: 43
Showcase Projects
Resident companies: 62
QB3@953
Virtual companies: 73
In February 2013, QB3 began reconstructing a
Graduates still in business: 24 24,000SF warehouse near UCSF’s Mission Bay
Campus to house QB3@953—a state-of-the-art
Investment raised: $134.8M laboratory for biotech startups. QB3@953 will
provide resources and space to 24 companies,
and reduce the time and money these
There are an estimated 30 new biotechnology entrepreneurs need to prove their technology,
companies formed each year in the Bay build a team, find experts, and attract capital.
Area, attracted by the region’s nexus of When QB3@953 reaches full capacity, it will
business, academia, financing, and public bring an estimated $50 million per year into the
policy. Employee training programs at nearby community.
colleges and universities, a plethora of venture
capital and angel investment firms, and vibrant QB3 Startup in a Box
cultural, recreational, and entertainment The Startup in a Box is a one-stop solution to
options, make San Francisco highly attractive address hurdles unique to biotech startups.
to the next generation of biotech leaders. The program consists of three parts: 1) free
Additionally, the QB3 incubator network—a legal servces for incorporation; 2) three small
vital BioSF iHub partner—provides a strong business innovation research (SBIR) workshops
platform for early-stage biotech companies, to help startups pursue NIH and NSF grants;
helping more startups move from idea to and 3) executive summary and pitch deck
prototype. preparation for fundraising from angel or
venture investors.
http://tiny.cc/SFiHubOCTANe iHub
Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile VC in the OC Investment Conference, May
Based in Orange County, OCTANe is creating 2012
a cohesive network of companies, universities, The VC in the OC is OCTANe’s largest
entrepreneurs, associations, venture capital investment conference with more than 800
firms and strategic services partners all working people in attendance. The conference
together to create a more robust innovation highlights industry trends relevant to the
environment and stimulate job growth. entrepreneurial economy in Southern
OCTANe’s goal is to combine people and California, presents keynote speakers, and
ideas with capital and resources to build the showcases innovative new companies.
high technology ecosystem. The iHub works OCTANe’s Medical Device and Investor
with existing companies in and outside of Forum, November 2012
Orange County helping senior executives
access intelligence, new technologies, The Medical Device and Investor Forum is
and talent. OCTANe is creating a forum for Orange County’s largest Life Science-
technology company leaders to have a lasting focused industry trade show and investment
impact on the future of Orange County and conference. The conference highlights industry
the State of California. trends relevant to the life science economy in
Southern California, presents keynote speakers,
Key Figures and showcases innovative new medical
device and pharma companies.
Companies funded: 27
2013 Portfolio
Virtual companies: 125
Jobs
Graduates still in business: 350 Company
Created
Investment raised: $134.8M Enevate Corporation 27
Mavenlink Inc 22
Nanospectra 20
Showcase Projects DxTerity Diagnostics 20
LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator Program Claremont BioSolutions 17
Branded Online 12
The LaunchPad small business development
OncoSec Medial Incorporated 11.5
center is a jointly funded program between
Epinex Diagnostics Inc. 11.5
OCTANe and the CA SBDC that uses a system
2C Tech Corporation 10.5
of predictive analytics to understand the
strengths and weaknesses of companies Corvida Medical 9
and subsequently builds a mentoring and
fundraising plan specific to the analytics. In
2012, 125 companies entered the process, and
27 companies ultimately raised a total of $77
million. These companies, in turn, created 1,000
new jobs in California and more than $5 million
in incremental tax revenues.
http://tiny.cc/OCiHubSacramento
iHub (SARTA) Profiles and Indicators 2013
Profile 2013 Accomplishments
For ten years, SARTA has supported the growth Technology Flagships: convened gatherings of
and success of technology companies in flagship company CEOs
the Sacramento region across the full range
of technology sectors. As the lead for the Leadership Series: hosted 10 seminars with 300+
Sacramento iHub, SARTA works with its partner attendees
organizations to support the clean technology
CleanStart: hosted 7th annual CleanStart
and medical technology sectors specifically.
Showcase and identified 96 clean technology
The iHub has 300 active members, up 30
companies
percent since year-end 2012.
MedStart: hosted fourth annual MedTech
SARTA’s programs and services share three
Showcase and identified 126 med tech
common goals:
companies
• link entrepreneurs and technology
AgStart: won $1M US EDA grant, with UC Davis,
executives to the resources they need to
to launch AgStart; launched Pitch Fest; and
be successful
sponsored the Ag Innovation Showcase in St.
• raise the profile of the technology sector in Louis)—the first AgStart Showcase
the Sacramento region
• provide learning and training opportunities VentureStart: hosted first-ever Meet the Mentors
to technology industry executives. during Sacramento Techweek
SARTA’s programs include peer-led CEO Community-building: continued Beer & Geeks
Forums, the MedTech and CleanTech (12, 780 attendees); hosted four TechLink
Showcases, the Venture Lab Incubator Facility Members’ Mixers; two Women in Tech dinners;
and VentureStart that provide guidance and two Women+Tech+Coffee Trifecta events
and mentoring, and the annual Tech Index
Startup Weekend and Sacramento Techweek:
Celebration of the top fifty technology
partnered to organize both events and hosted
companies in the region, among others.
six events during Techweek
Showcase Project Next Economy: developed final action plan
AgStart partnership with UC Davis identifying the need for a strong innovation
environment as the top priority for the region’s
In 2013, SARTA launched a partnership with economic development strategy
UC Davis focued on ag innovation and ag
technology companies. Operating as AgStart, Cap-to-Cap: led the inaugural innovation
the program completed an initial assessment team for Cap-to-Cap to build consensus in
of the reion’s ag innovation sector; organized Washington for important regional priorities
a launch event and Pitch Fest competition;
sent a delegation to the Ag Innovation
Showcase in St. Louis; organized the first
AgStart Showcase in Sacramento; and worked
with UC Davis to provide seed grant funds to
university researchers to advance the commer-
cialization of their technologies.
http://www.sarta.org/You can also read
