San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) announced the launch of Innovate Bay, a new on-campus business incubator designed to support student founders, technologists, and first-time entrepreneurs in transforming bold ideas into viable ventures. The initiative aims to provide hands-on experience, structured programming, and direct access to a thriving innovation ecosystem from SFBU’s Fremont campus.
Led by Executive Director Rohan Brown, Innovate Bay will offer a practical alternative to traditional startup accelerators by focusing on real traction and customer development rather than demo-day theatrics. Brown, who also serves as Chapter Leader at Startup Grind Fremont, brings deep community ties and startup expertise to the role.
Innovate Bay’s curriculum is tailored to the earliest stages of company building, with workshops covering business validation, equity structuring, legal fundamentals, and fundraising strategy. The incubator will prioritize ventures in high-impact sectors, including IoT, Blockchain Applications, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Sustainable Logistics & CleanTech, and Digital Inclusion Technologies.
The incubator is backed by a coalition of local partners, including the City of Fremont, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, and Startup Grind. SFBU faculty, many of whom are affiliated with leading companies in AI, advanced tech, and next-gen manufacturing, will serve as mentors and advisors.
Innovate Bay is set to become a cornerstone of SFBU’s commitment to entrepreneurship and applied innovation—bridging academic insight with industry execution to prepare the next generation of founders.
KEY QUOTES:
“Innovate Bay is one of many exciting developments that SFBU is in the process of instituting to best position our students and faculty to leverage the latest in technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, to their advantage.”
Dr. Nicholas Ladany, President, San Francisco Bay University
“We’re excited to officially launch Innovate Bay on September 4th with a kickoff party on our Fremont campus. But this moment represents more than just the opening of a physical space — it’s the beginning of a new chapter for innovation. We’re here to connect founders, students, and community partners to real opportunities; to help startups secure their first customers and not just investor meetings.”
Rohan Brown
