Designed to Advance Startups, Support Founders, and Strengthen Economic Opportunity Across the Bay Area

On September 4, 2025, San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) will launch Innovate Bay, a new on-campus business incubator created to connect student founders, technologists, and first-time entrepreneurs with industry resources, providing the tools, mentorship, and environment to turn bold ideas into viable ventures.

Led by Executive Director Rohan Brown, Innovate Bay will provide structured programming, hands-on experience, and access to a dynamic innovation ecosystem, all from the SFBU campus in Fremont, CA. Along with his role as Executive Director of Innovate Bay, Brown is also Chapter Leader at Startup Grind, a community for people building, working with and investing in startups, headquartered in Fremont, CA.

“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,” said Dr. Nicholas Ladany, President, San Francisco Bay University.

SFBU’s new business incubator will stand apart by rejecting the typical demo-day model, instead prioritizing real traction and customer development through workshops, founder programming, and expert mentorship. Designed to prepare founders for the earliest stages of building a startup, program topics include validating business ideas, dividing equity between founders and advisors, corporate structuring & legal 101, and fundraising 101 + pitching fundamentals. Programming will focus on ventures working in IoT (Internet of Things), Blockchain Applications, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Sustainable Logistics & CleanTech and Digital Inclusion & Access Technologies.

Local partners in SFBU’s new business incubator will include the City of Fremont, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, and Startup Grind. Through their affiliations with trailblazing companies at the forefront of AI, advanced technology and next-gen manufacturing, SFBU faculty will support the incubator as advisors and mentors.

“We’re excited to officially launch Innovate Bay on September 4^th with a kickoff party on our Fremont campus,” said Brown. “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.”

Visit SFBU Innovate Bay Launch Party for more information and to RSVP for the September 4^th launch event.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO BAY UNIVERSITY

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is a WASC/WSCUC-accredited, private nonprofit university located in the San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley. Dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality, and career-focused education, SFBU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business, computer science, and engineering. Founded on the belief that higher education should empower students to achieve personal and professional success, SFBU integrates cutting-edge technology, real-world learning experiences, and personalized support to prepare students for leadership in a rapidly changing world. Learn more at www.sfbu.edu.

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