BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster

BlueTechValley Initiative

The purpose of the  BlueTechValley Initiative(opens in new window) is to spur growth and help turn entrepreneurial visions into real-world solutions for managing our finite resources: water and energy.

The BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster

The BlueTechValley: Central Valley Regional Innovation Cluster represents an expansion and interconnection of multiple incubators and/or entrepreneurship programs with services located at each of seven designated BlueTechValley Cluster Hubs, collectively serving 39 counties covering two-thirds of California’s geographic area. 

The designated Hubs for the BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster are Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, Chico State, Cal Poly Humboldt, CSU Monterey Bay, and Sacramento State.

Technology Innovation Evaluation

The Technology Innovation Evaluation (TIE) program provides evaluations that include a confidential, independent review of the technology, an assessment of the ratepayer benefits, commercial feasibility of the technology, and proposed follow-up actions for validation and commercialization. The selection criteria include entrepreneurs with technology innovations that are beneficial to investor-owned utility rate payers, stage of technology development, team, and market potential. Contact bluetechvalley@csuchico.edu to learn more.

Valley Ventures Accelerator

The Valley Ventures Accelerator(opens in new window) is dedicated to the advancement of water, energy, and agricultural technology ventures seeking to commercialize technologies and to develop businesses in California and beyond. Throughout the program, companies will receive close engagement with entrepreneurs and industry leaders in the agriculture, water, and energy technology space. Our mentors and speakers come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from successful founders who have built and sold companies, to experienced investors well versed in the agricultural tech space, to seasoned executives who run or even own some of the largest agriculture-related firms in the nation.

Through these relationships, we prepare companies to access investment opportunities, generate revenue, and establish a solid understanding of the industry.

CalSEED

The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development Initiative ( CalSEED(opens in new window)) is a funding and professional development program for innovators and entrepreneurs working to bring early-stage clean energy concepts to market. CalSEED is a funding initiative of the California Energy Commission.