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Startup Challenge Monterey Bay

The premiere Monterey Bay new venture competition

Live feed courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium

Years Running
0
Companies
0
Awarded
$ 0 k
Raised
$ 0 m

Why Compete?

Visibility

Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is open to participants based in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. By participating in this new venture competition, your visibility will go beyond our local region. Make your business known and pave the way for your startup in your industry.

Connections

Startup Challenge teaches, coaches, mentors, and connects entrepreneurs to people and resources needed to launch your business. The process of starting up is complex and there are resources to help you through it.

Funding

It is no secret that when it comes to building a company, funding is necessary. Whether you are looking to fund your business’s marketing campaign, product development, or manufacturing, Startup Challenge and help get you there!

Choose your division

Venture

Open to businesses intended to scale and provide venture investor-level returns.

Social Venture

Open to for-profit and not-for-profit businesses with a significant social mission.

Main Street

Open to small businesses and sole proprietorships.

Student

Open to all students in middle school through graduate schools.

Apply

The first step in taking the Startup Challenge is by applying. Now is the time to build your business! Give your business the opportunity to gain exposure in the region, get expert feedback, and receive the funds to move your business forward!

Attend

Entrepreneurship is a community activity. During the final stages of the Startup Challenge, our community is invited to attend the Venture Showcase of finalists, Otter Tank business presentations, and the closing awards ceremony.

Sponsor

Sponsor Monterey Bay’s premier new venture business competition. As a sponsor of the event, your organization will gain exposure in the region’s entrepreneurial, educational, and business communities.  Your contributions directly help local businesses


Apply

The first step in taking the Startup Challenge is by applying. Now is the time to build your business! Give your business the opportunity to gain exposure in the region, get expert feedback, and receive the funds to move your business forward!

Attend

Entrepreneurship is a community activity. During the final stages of the Startup Challenge, our community is invited to attend the Venture Showcase of finalists, Otter Tank business presentations, and the closing awards ceremony.

Sponsor

Sponsor Monterey Bay’s premier new venture business competition. As a sponsor of the event, your organization will gain exposure in the region’s entrepreneurial, educational, and business communities.  Your contributions directly help local businesses.

2020 Venture
Runner-Up

Parallel Flight Technologies is building drones that fly longer and carry more payload than any other technology available. They will transform how we fight wildfires and respond to disasters!
Visit Parallel Flight

2018 Venture Winner

Cruz Foam’s team combines a diverse set of expertise ranging from bioplastics, manufacturing, engineering, and design. They create a biodegradable packaging replacement for single-use plastics.
Visit Cruz Foam

2020 Venture Winner

infiniRel protects the ROI for renewable energy investors by reducing operational risks and extending the life of critical assets with our patented solar inverter health scanning technology.
Visit infinirel

2016 Main Street Winner

Carmel Honey Company grew out of a passion for bees and good grades. This Company began as a student “real world” homework assignment in 5th grade. My retail store located in Carmel By-the-Sea and speaking engagements take up most of my time.
Visit Carmel Honey

2019 Venture Winner

Musician’s BASS is an early-stage startup positioned to transform the way independent artists manage their careers and income. Their philosophy is that all talented and hard-working musicians deserve to succeed.
Visit Musician's Bass

2020 Social venture runner-up


Levered is closing the achievement gap in elementary math with a next-level blended learning system. Levered currently serves 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade math with an individually-paced, competency-based online core curriculum.
Visit levered

Featured Startup Challenge Alumni

FRIENDLY ROBOTS COMPANY

Visit

Little Feet Packaging

Visit

2018 Venture Winner

Visit

Bubbly Hill Wines

Visit

2020 Venture
Runner-Up

Visit

2016 Main Street Winner

Visit

Chezza Jewelry

Visit

2020 Venture Winner

Visit

2020 Social venture runner-up

Visit

Art Abilities

Visit

2019 Venture Winner

Visit

Lavender creek co

Visit

Who We Are

Hosted By

Educators

We are committed to educating entrepreneurs and creating rich career opportunities for students and alumni of local educational institutions as well as entrepreneurs in the regional community.

Mentors

We have an extensive network of entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, and service providers that assist entrepreneurs in obtaining funding, access to resources, and sustainably developing their businesses.

Entrepreneurs

We are a community of entrepreneurs support our fellow entrepreneurs through their journey. Entrepreneurship is a team sport and a community endeavor; we encourage you to get involved and stay connected.

Building the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Monterey Region

Who We Are

Hosted By

Educators



We are committed to educating entrepreneurs and creating rich career opportunities for students and alumni of local educational institutions as well as entrepreneurs in the regional community.

Mentors



We have an extensive network of entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, and service providers that assist entrepreneurs in obtaining funding, access to resources, and sustainably developing their businesses.

Entrepr eneurs

We are a community of entrepreneurs support our fellow entrepreneurs through their journey. Entrepreneurship is a team sport and a community endeavor; we encourage you to get involved and stay connected.

Building the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Monterey Region