East Ventura News

Five early-stage Ventura County-area companies were awarded Dorfman Incubator Grants through the California Lutheran University School of Management. The grants totaled $155,000 and were made possible through a significant gift by Steve Dorfman of the Steven Dorfman Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Cal Lutheran School of Management Dean’s Executive Council member.

“The Dorfman Incubator Grants are an important way for Cal Lutheran to support the local business community,” said Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler, dean of the School of Management at Cal Lutheran. “By providing economic data and analysis to area companies, we help create a strong foundation from which they can grow. Their success provides long-term economic vitality for the region.”

All applications for the second-annual grant, launched to strengthen business development and growth, were evaluated by members of the advisory council for the Dorfman Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The selection was based on educational value, opportunity, business model, evidence and traction, team, metrics, and capital among other factors. An affiliation with Cal Lutheran was not a determinant in the selection process.

The following grant recipients were announced in late 2023 and will submit a report on their progress in spring:

HortiTech: HortiTech is located in Camarillo and developing a water filter for farmers designed to remove ammonia so water can be reused in fields. Founders Andrea Brimmer and Caroline Brook met at the European Innovation Academy where they developed the idea based on a NASA patent. They formed a founding team, secured IP rights from NASA, and won a prize at Cal Lutheran’s 2023 New Venture Fair. The grant will fund prototype development.

Wayside Energy: Wayside Energy makes utility-scale battery storage chassis. The Woodland Hills-based company has participated in L.A. CleanTech Incubator, won a prize at Cal Lutheran's 2023 New Venture Fair, and completed seed funding round. The grant will fund pilot testing of its prototype and hiring of an intern.

InvoCure: Located in Calabasas, InvoCure is a repeat recipient from last year. Founder Brian Malchow has made great progress with the first grant; this one funds hiring up to four additional interns for operations and marketing.

Environmental Market Services (EMS): EMS focuses on establishing groundwater exchanges as solutions to increasing water shortages across the U.S., using market-priced exchange mechanisms. Founded by Matthew Fienup from Cal Lutheran's faculty, this grant funds sales and marketing activities.

PlotSign: PlotSign developed a system that facilitates connections between commercial property renters/buyers with brokers. Based in Westlake Village with an operational app already acquiring customers; founder Zach Dunn graduated from Cal Lutheran in 2021.

“The entrepreneurial startups that received this year’s grants impressed judges with their forward thinking,” said Steve Dorfman. “As a former executive of one of the nation’s largest companies, it’s rewarding to help these startups become established both for their sake and that of our community.”

About California Lutheran University: Founded in 1959 as Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016; home to over 2,300 undergraduates & 1,300 graduates representing diverse faiths & spirituality across 59 countries; committed faculty guide students towards leadership roles rooted in service & justice.

Learn more at CalLutheran.edu.

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