Riverside County Innovation Month is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity held every April. Throughout the month, organizations across the county host various events to showcase the region’s innovators. Innovation Month aims to inspire the community to participate in the local innovation economy and engage entrepreneurs, innovators, students, educators, makers, investors, and owners.

The initiative behind Riverside County Innovation Month

The initiative behind Riverside County Innovation Month is spearheaded by the Riverside County Economic Development Agency (EDA) and aligned with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Innovation Month. The EDA leads economic development activities for Riverside County and its 28 cities, aiming to create jobs, improve life quality, and stimulate economic activity through innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization throughout Riverside County.

Events for 2023 The month will feature events highlighting areas of innovation within Riverside County. This year’s events will focus on Manufacturing & Logistics, Clean Technology & Energy, Healthcare & Bioscience, Agriculture & Food, Arts & Culture, Education & Workforce Development, and Technology & Entrepreneurship.

Participation in Innovation Month Anyone with an immense love for supporting entrepreneurship is welcome to participate in Riverside County’s Innovation Month, whether you are a city, organization, or tribal government.

The County provides ideas for businesses that want to showcase their innovations. Participants can host virtual networking events and open houses or give students a virtual tour of their work to help them prepare. Entrepreneurs with innovation to show can fill out a form on the website.

2023 Innovation Events

The 2023 Coachella Valley Fast Pitch

The 2023 Coachella Valley Fast Pitch, an official Innovation Month Pitch Competition, will take place on April 6. The competition is open to residents of the Coachella Valley, who will pitch their new businesses to a panel of expert judges, receive direct feedback on their concept or product, gain visibility within the communities, and compete to win cash prizes.

The top competitor from the Coachella Valley Fast Pitch will proceed to the Riverside County Fast Pitch competition, with the chance to win thousands. The prize pool is $1000, and the competition is sponsored by CSUSB School of Entrepreneurship, Hunter | Johnsen, Massage Envy, and UCR Palm Desert Center.

The Southwest Riverside Regional Quick Pitch

The Southwest Riverside Regional Quick Pitch, hosted by the cities of Menifee, Wildomar, Temecula, and Murrieta, will take place on April 12. Startups and entrepreneurs from all industries are invited to join and show off their innovative projects, products, and ideas in a quick five-minute pitch to a panel of local judges.

The Riverside City Fast Pitch Competition

The Riverside City Fast Pitch Competition, taking place on April 21, offers participants a chance to pitch their startup for a chance to win up to $2,500 and the opportunity to compete in the Riverside County Innovation Month Fast Pitch Finale.

2023 Riverside County Innovation Month Fast Pitch Finale

The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors will kick off on April 21, with Riverside County Innovation Month’s Fast Pitch Finale following April 27. The finalists will present their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists and angel investors for cash prizes.

Takeaway Innovation Month provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators in Riverside County to showcase their projects and ideas, network with potential investors, partners, and customers, and learn about new tips and tools for success. Innovation Month encourages participation in the local innovation economy by celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization throughout Riverside County and inspires the community to support entrepreneurship.