While there are some big tech firms like Google, Toyota, and Facebook building new tech hubs, startup and business incubators are a major part of innovation economy of the Inland Empire. Here’s a list of ten plus business incubators in the Inland Empire.

1. 4th Sector Innovations – Ontario

Popularly known as ‘4th SI’ in the local startup ecosystem, the 4th Sector Innovations is a startup incubator that offers a large range of innovation and entrepreneurship services. From business support and community events to Commerce and Logistics Startup Program, the incubator was founded by Kevin Meredith to help local startups with their acceleration needs,

2. EPIC SBDC

The EPIC SBDC program by UC Riverside provides “individualized support to early stage tech entrepreneurs and companies in the Inland Empire to grow their businesses at no cost”.

It helps by providing consulting, trainings, funding, loans and grants, and commercialization support. It supports startups throughout the early stages of R&D, MVP, establishing sales channel, strategic partnerships, and regulatory affairs.

To become an EPIC SBDC client, you should contact Scott Brovsky, an angel investor, startup mentor and the Associate Director of Regional Engagement and EPIC SBDC at UC Riverside.

3. ExCITE

ExCITE was setup by collaboration between business leaders, the City and County of Riverside, and the University of California Riverside. It aims to successfully accelerate startup companies engaged in entrepreneurial research and development of advanced technologies.

4. . Blackstone Launchpad

The Blackstone launchpad provides entrepreneurship training to help startup founders to build thriving companies and careers. 

From annual conference and pitch competition to fellowship and demo day presentations, it is actively engaged in building successful startups.

5. Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center

The Youth Innovation Center (YIC) is City of Riverside’s newest community center. It offers free and fee based services to startups in the fields of computer science, robotics, engineering, arts, electronics, and technology.

6. Palm Springs Innovation Hub (iHub)

The Palm Springs Innovation Hub (iHub) provides startup support to early-stage businesses in the fields of renewable energy, health and medicine, and digital technology. It is managed by the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (or CVEP), and is a state-designed business incubator funded by the city of Palm Springs and Wells Fargo. Until now it has accelerated four resident and 11 virtual companies.

7. The Innovation Lab – City of Riverside

The initiative by the City of Riverside aims to promote innovation by commercial launch of project-based controlled solutions. The idea is to promote innovation across government services.

8. The Life Science Incubator – UCR

The Life Sciences Incubator by UC Riverside got $2.5 million from Economic Development Administration, or EDA to setup the entrepreneurial life sciences incubator.

9. The Inland SoCal Link iHub – Riverside County

The iHubs leverage research parks, technology incubators, and universities to help startups. The Innovation Hub (iHub) program is an effort to harness and enhance California’s startup ecosystem. It helps new companies by providing an innovation platform for startup companies.

10. Murrieta Genomics

It is an incubator, offering dedicated bench space to startups at zero cost, helping them to define their business model and validate their science. The incubator becomes an investor once the companies “graduate” from the incubator. It is located in the Murrieta Innovation Center in Southern California.

11. Other Startup Incubators

• Office of Research and Economic Development at UC Riverside (OASIS)
• Mind and Mill Startup Accelerator

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