Two Cal State San Bernardino student teams representing the university’s School of Entrepreneurship took first place in their respective categories at the Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition, held May 4-5 at San Jose State University.

The competition, hosted by the SJSU SpartUp Program, featured 18 California State University campuses that competed for a total of $200,000 in prizes provided by sponsor Sunstone Management.

The event featured five separate competition tracks: two product tracks, two services tracks and one social entrepreneurship track. Each team delivered an 8-minute pitch presentation, followed by a 5-minute Q&A from the judges.

CSUSB’s two teams – AxoTech and Solubrin – competed in both of the product tracks  where they each took first place, winning $25,000 each.

“The incredible performance of our student startup teams is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the students and our experienced entrepreneurship faculty,” said Mike Stull, School of Entrepreneurship director. “This further reinforces why CSUSB’s entrepreneurship programs are recognized as among the best in the world for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.”

The teams were coached by the School of Entrepreneurship faculty, led by associate professor Anna Long, assistant professor Ezekiel Bonillas, assistant professor Peiyi Jia and entrepreneur-in-residence and lecturer Steve Abbott.

The student teams:

AxoTech LLC, an innovative handheld chemical sensor company that specializes in the development and deployment of advanced AI and machine learning technologies to address the growing concerns around hazardous substances, particularly fentanyl. The company’s primary focus is on combating the opioid crisis by providing reliable fentanyl detection solutions to law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals and emergency responders. The company is the result of a unique partnership between CSUSB and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona, Calif.

The team members: Lizette Velazquez, Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI) and MBA cybersecurity; Gustavo Cruz, MBA entrepreneurship (alumni); Oscar Flores Gonzalez, BA entrepreneurship; and Jorge Alberto Cervantes, BA entrepreneurship.

Solubrin, a company focusing on care point-focused biotechnology, employing groundbreaking alternative methods to revolutionize the early detection and management of blood clot-related disorders. With the integration of advanced AI algorithms and machine learning techniques, Solubrin is dedicated to creating state-of-the-art, real-time blood clot testing solutions. By doing so, the company aspires to significantly transform the healthcare landscape, enhance patient outcomes and alleviate the strain on healthcare systems. The company is a result of collaboration between researchers at Loma Linda University Health and students from CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship.

The team members: Edward Timmons, MSEI program; Miranda Lee, MSEI program; Alyah Martinez, BA entrepreneurship; Suki Pierson, MBA management; and Olivia Gutierrez, BA entrepreneurship.

Along with CSUSB, the other participating CSU campuses were: Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Fresno, Fullerton, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos and Sonoma.

The CSUSB School of Entrepreneurship is housed in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration and works collaboratively with the university’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship, which provides experiential learning programs and startup support for students on campus.

Learn more at the Sunstone CSU Startup Launch Competition website.