SLO HotHouse moving into new location 

Members of the SLO Hothouse Incubator Program.

Local telecom business donates 200Mbps data connection

–Norcast Telecom Networks, a local phone and Internet service provider, is providing SLO HotHouse with a high-speed Internet connection at their new downtown location. The new location will be a hub for the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s, or CIE, students and recent graduates who want to launch their own startup businesses.

SLO HotHouse has moved into their new space, which is double the size of their old location on Morro Street. SLO HotHouse is a community space created from collaborative efforts between Cal Poly, the SLO Community, and the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They apply Cal Poly’s “learn by doing” philosophy into real-world business experience by providing the space, equipment, training and mentorship needed to help students launch their own ventures. At SLO HotHouse, local business owners and Cal Poly CIE staff help young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into realities.

“Not only does the SLO HotHouse provide a place for ideas to percolate, but it is a breeding ground for more jobs and new businesses to the SLO area,” President of Norcast Jeff Buckingham, said. “Supporting these students is our number one economic development priority.”

Through the partnership with Norcast and the SLO HotHouse, students and future entrepreneurs will have access to high speed Internet, specifically 200 Mbps download by 80 Mbps upload. In common terms, enough speed to stream up to 100 movies at one time. This type of high speed Internet will provide these students and recent graduates with the tools they need to launch their own startup businesses.

“With the help of businesses like Norcast, the SLO HotHouse has become a key player in the economic development of our county,” Executive Director of CIE Tod Nelson, said. “Together, we are creating opportunities for the Central Coast to become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurial activities.”

About the author: News Staff

News staff of the A-Town Daily News wrote and edited this article from local contributors and press releases. Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog. He can be reached at [email protected].