California State University,
Monterey Bay
CSUMB
California State University, Monterey Bay provides students an extraordinary opportunity to learn on a residential campus just one mile from the shores of the beautiful Monterey Bay. Students are drawn here by our outstanding academic programs, many of which are closely tied to regional needs and the unique geography of the Monterey Bay region. Our campus is adjacent to one of the world’s most productive agriculture regions and some of its most attractive tourist destinations. The Pacific Ocean at our back door provides abundant recreational opportunities, as well as a site for innovative research that reflects our campus’s focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED)
The iiED was established to promote entrepreneurship in the Monterey Bay region, comprising Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties in coastal Central California. Since it was established in 2012, iiED has developed relationships, partnerships, events, and programming to accomplish its mission to support entrepreneurship and innovation in the Monterey Bay region. The iiED has evolved an annual series of entrepreneurship events and a new virtual incubator. These entrepreneurship programs are open to both students and community members under the Startup Monterey Bay brand
Startup Monterey Bay
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Startup Monterey Bay is a project of iiED and was launched with funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support entrepreneurs, innovators and the startup community in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties by providing information about local resources, training, workshops, events, competitions, and opportunities to connect and network. Major programs offered through the Startup Monterey Bay include:
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Startup Challenge Monterey Bay – The region’s premier new business competition.
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Startup Investment and Community Capital Expo - Connecting new companies to investors and alternate sources of funding.
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Startup Launchpad – Supporting the founding, funding and growth of regional startups.
Learn more at
Hub Contact

Mary Jo Zenk, Project Coordinator
Institute for Innovation & Economic Development
California State University, Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
831.582.3230
info @ startupmontereybay.com
Other Regional Resources
Cal Coastal Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes the development, growth and success of small businesses in Monterey and San Benito Counties.
El Pajaro Community Development Corporation (CDC) promotes equal access to economic opportunity and to transform people’s lives through entrepreneurship.
Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes the development, growth and success of small businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Works is the umbrella organizations for the Santa Cruz County tech ecosystem
Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology is an incubator for technology companies and startups that are important to the future viability of the fresh produce industry.