Why CSUF Startup Incubator?

The CSUF Startup Incubator has a history of helping all kinds of entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Whether you are a student working on launching your first startup or a seasoned veteran looking to launch a business that caters to college students, the CSUF Startup Incubator can develop a custom plan to help you go from concept to launch.

At the Incubator, we have 1000+ mentors we can bring in on any project and thanks to our connections in the startup and business communities we have access to thousands more experts. We only accept intelligent, innovative, collaborative, and coachable founders into our program. Being accepted into the CSUF Startup Incubator means that you become a member of a community of entrepreneurs and professionals who have had many successes in their lives.

In what ways does the CSUF Startup Incubator provide value to its residents?

1. One-on-one coaching every week from an experienced and successful coach (value probably goes something like this: $500 per hour of coaching, 25 weekly coaching sessions over a six month period of time, $12,500 in total value)
2. Monthly check in meetings with incubator staff and coach
3. VIP access to event speakers
4. Introductions to investors where appropriate (note, one of the things that we work on with residents is helping them set up their business so that they will have better odds at getting funded sometime down the road, it's not that we can immediately get everyone connected to investors right away. It's a process)
5. Student consulting project included (value of $2,500) - Senior business students work on semester long project for incubator resident
6. Connections to the incubator's community of 1,000+ experts and entrepreneurs
7. Office space (can't use the office space right now because of the pandemic)
8. Tailored workshops and professional training

Who does the CSUF Startup Incubator help?

The CSUF Startup Incubator helps entrepreneurs in all industries. Over the last five years we have worked with companies in tech, finance, education, mental health, fitness, and many other industries. And the founders we have worked with range from students working on their first startup to experienced serial entrepreneurs. 

What all of these founders have in common is that they see the value of working with our extensive community of entrepreneurs and professionals and applying the lessons that they learn at the CSUF Startup Incubator to launching their business the right way.

How does the CSUF Startup Incubator help?

For a period of six months, we provide one-on-one coaching from startup experts custom tailored to each resident's needs. We start by creating an initial scope of work and drive the process using a Lean Startup, new venture methodology. Lean Startup is a method for developing startups which shortens product development cycles by adopting a combination of business-hypothesis-driven experimentation, iterative product releases, and validated learning. We assign a mentor to help guide the process and provide candid feedback along the way. If needed, we also can utilize student consulting teams to help accelerate the research process.

How do you help people learn to be entrepreneurs?

At the CSUF Startup Incubator we utilize the lean startup methodology with our residents. From theleanstartup.com , “The lean startup provides a scientific approach to creating and managing startups and get a desired product to customers’ hands faster. The lean startup method teaches you how to drive a startup - how to steer, when to turn, and when to persevere - and grow a business with maximum acceleration. It is a principled approach to new product development.” 

How is the CSUF Startup Incubator different from other incubators?

• CSUF Startup Incubator is university-based, which means an access to a large network of faculties, alumni, students, and business experts through the reputation of the CSU system.
• CSUF Startup Incubator does not take equity from any startup we help.
• CSUF Startup Incubator offers customized framework to support every startup’s path of success 
• CSUF Startup Incubator creates a highly engaged ecosystem that connects Residents, alumni, mentors, and corporate partners.

Who are the mentors?

We have a community of over 1,000 entrepreneurs and professionals that can be called on to help our residents start their businesses. This is a strong, vibrant community that covers almost every imaginable industry.

What is CSUF Consulting?

Under the direction of seasoned faculty, student teams of four to six students who are seniors engage with the startup to assist with tasks such as industry research, marketing analysis, customer interviews, customer development, and strategic planning

What happens at the CSUF Startup Incubator?

Most of our startups come in the later afternoon or early evenings to work independently or share ideas. We frequently have guest speakers who talk on a variety of subjects such as IP, business plan development, legal entities, etc.

Where is the CSUF Startup Incubator?

There are two physical locations for the CSUF Startup Incubator:

1 Banting, Irvine, CA 92618

120 S Bradford Ave, Placentia, CA 92870

[Please note that due to the pandemic both physical locations are temporarily shut down in accordance with California State University, Fullerton policy. Please contact us at csufentrepreneurship@fullerton.edu for more information.]

It is located at 120 South Bradford in downtown Placentia next to the Placentia fire station.

Does the CSUF Startup Incubator offer coworking space?

Residents of the CSUF Startup Incubator have access to office space at our Irvine and Placentia locations. Both locations provide residents with hi speed internet access, office space, meeting space including the use of a projector, and other amenities. 

[As of March 2020 both of these locations have temporarily shut down due to the pandemic. Please contact us at csufentrepreneurship@fullerton.edu for more information.]

How much does the CSUF Startup Incubator cost?

There are many different business models for incubators. At our incubator we charge a fee. Please contact us at csufentrepreneurship@fullerton.edu to discuss.

Why only 6 months?

Depending on your perspective, six months may sound like a short or long amount of time. For us, six months is ideal because it gives us enough time to work with an entrepreneur and get them ready to not only launch their business but to grow it in a sustainable way once they graduate from the CSUF Startup Incubator.

How many startups are at the CSUF Startup Incubator?

As of August 2020, the CSUF Startup Incubator has worked with 70 startups since its inception in 2015. On average, we are working with approximately six startups at a time. While there is no limit on the capacity of the program, we do not incubate startups by using a cookie cutter approach. Each startup at the CSUF Startup Incubator receives personalized service that targets specific needs at every stage of development. 

When you add in our extended community, which includes students, alumni, professors, staff, and mentors our community swells into the thousands. Our community of entrepreneurs and business professionals is one of our main strengths and is of great benefit to our startups.

Contact us at csufentrepreneurship@fullerton.edu for more information about how our community can help you start your business.