Startup Challenge

Startup Challenge Monterey Bay was an entrepreneurship competition that supported students, local founders, and community members in developing, refining, and pitching innovative business ideas. Through mentorship, workshops, networking, and cash prizes, the program helped participants turn early-stage concepts into ventures that could strengthen the regional economy.

For questions regarding the Startup Challenge, please contact Executive Director Jenny Kuan at jkuan@csumb.edu

Startup Challenge: Winners & Runners-Up

Honoring the entrepreneurs and small businesses recognized through the Monterey Bay Regional Startup Challenge from 2010–2024.

2024

Venture

• WINNER  |  Life Stages  |  Freedom, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  BikeGarage  |  Marina, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Eivie  |  Watsonville, Santa Cruz County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Rooted Wonder  |  Salinas, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Fog's End Distillery  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  The Yard  |  Sand City, Monterey County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  Motivando Corazones Consulting  |  Castroville, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  STEAM and Robotics for All in the 831  |  Pebble Beach, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Here For You  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  Tallyrus  |  Fremont, Alameda County

2023

Venture

• WINNER  |  Friendly Robots  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  RedRider  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Sweet Prairie Haskap  |  Pebble Beach, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Chezza Jewelry  |  Salinas, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Locally Lit  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  PassoDoble  |  Aptos, Santa Cruz County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  Art Abilities  |  Pacific Grove, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Get Up and Move  |  Carmel Valley, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Play Brightly Youth Charitable Foundation  |  Gilroy, Santa Clara County

Student

• WINNER  |  Bubbly Hill Wines  |  Soledad, Monterey County

2022

Venture

• WINNER  |  Little Feet Packaging  |  Sand City, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Lavender Creek Co. LLC  |  Carmel Valley, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  PanelTekADU  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Miss Lippe's  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Pizzauce  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Oceanic Expeditions  |  Moss Landing, Monterey County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  WorkArk (Student)  |  Chowchilla, Madera County
• RUNNER-UP  |  A Treasured Tree  |  Carmel Valley, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Set Free Monterey Bay  |  Spreckles, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  BAASH Collective  |  Aptos, Santa Cruz County

2021

Venture

• WINNER  |  AgXactly Crop Insights  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• PEOPLE'S CHOICE  |  Urbanic Farm  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Urbanic Farm  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  SE Light the Way (Student)  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Social Monterey  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• PEOPLE'S CHOICE  |  The Saucy Otter Brewing Co.  |  Pacific Grove, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  The Saucy Otter Brewing Co.  |  Pacific Grove, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Red Engine Rides  |  Pacific Grove, Monterey County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  Seeds for STEM  |  Salinas, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Connections (Student)  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Rework  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  Ironwood Makerspace  |  Salinas, Monterey County

Women-Owned Business

• WINNER  |  Xterminatrix  |  Monterey County

2020

Venture

• WINNER  |  infiniRel Transform Energy  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Parallel Flight Technologies  |  Watsonville, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Ex-Vivo Automation  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Nece's Gluten Free Baked Goods  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Monterey Bay Moves  |  Marina, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Hexbox Fitness  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  We Hike Inc.  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  JMM All Abilities Dance Co.  |  Hollister, San Benito County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Levered Learning  |  Soquel, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  Howe Neat Inc.  |  Benicia, Solano County

2019

Venture

• WINNER  |  Musician's BASS  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Foundry  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Standby Health  |  Carmel, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Monterey Bay Food Tours  |  Monterey, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Seaquoia  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  White Glove Movers  |  Pacific Grove, Monterey County

Social Venture

• WINNER  |  New Wave Programs  |  Soledad, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Abilities Cafe  |  Seaside, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Vanly  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  Charge City  |  Monterey, Monterey County

2018

Venture

• WINNER  |  CruzFoam  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Audible Rx  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Levianthan  |  Carmel, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  That Garlic Stuff  |  Hollister, San Benito County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Arti-Culture  |  Hollister, San Benito County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Splendid Blended  |  Aptos, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  BOHO Marketplace  |  Monterey, Monterey County

2017

Venture

• WINNER  |  Aether, Inc.  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Archer Components, Inc.  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  IonDx, Inc.  |  Monterey, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  The Lab Pros  |  Carmel, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Ohana Shaved Ice  |  Hollister, San Benito County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Credo Studio  |  San Juan Bautista, San Benito County

Student

• WINNER  |  CruzFoam  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

2016

Venture

• WINNER  |  HeavyConnect  |  Salinas, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Scoot Science  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Valent Power  |  Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Carmel Honey Company  |  Carmel, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Greenwise Water & Landscape  |  Monterey, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  Tinkr

2015

Venture

• WINNER  |  UpperStack  |  out of state
• RUNNER-UP  |  HeavyConnect  |  Salinas, Monterey County
• RUNNER-UP  |  Saludos  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Eagle Eye Technologies  |  Salinas, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  CridderRidder

2014

Venture

• WINNER  |  WaterCity  |  Monterey, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Katie's Coldpress  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  Construction Connection

2013

Venture

• WINNER  |  Simple Track LLC/Tablet Command  |  Pebble Beach, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Open Ground Studios  |  Seaside, Monterey County

Student

• WINNER  |  ShowerPonic Produce  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

2012

Venture

• WINNER  |  YoDerm  |  Carmel Valley, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Cedar Street Brewing  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  Epi Go-Guard

2011

Venture

• WINNER  |  People Towels  |  Monterey, Monterey County

Main Street

• WINNER  |  Megan's Living Well  |  Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Student

• WINNER  |  SocialAppetite

2010

Overall

• WINNER  |  Larell Dentistry  |  Carmel Valley, Monterey County