Pie Fi Launches "10 in 10" Summer Program: Empowering Student Innovators in Santa Cruz

Pie Fi, a new initiative dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Santa Cruz County, recently announced the launch of its inaugural "10 in 10" summer program. This intensive 10-week sprint will guide 10 student teams through the entire product development lifecycle, culminating in a public Demo Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History on September 27th.

The "10 in 10" program is the brainchild of Sol Lipman, a prominent local entrepreneur known for his ownership of Pleasure Pizza in Downtown Santa Cruz and as Co-Founder and CEO of Drivr. Lipman, a long-standing mentor in the Santa Cruz entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the recent Santa Cruz Launchpad Pitch Competition and the Santa Cruz Accelerates Program, created Pie Fi with co-founder Neel Billimoria, and So’ls wife, Erica Cruz, to provide hands-on experience and support to the next generation of innovators during the summer.

Each participating team will tackle a unique set of challenges, navigating critical stages from idea validation and product design to go-to-market strategies and beyond. Pie Fi will provide comprehensive support, including dedicated mentorship, essential micro-funding, and structured weekly programming based in downtown Santa Cruz. This holistic approach ensures teams have the resources and guidance necessary to bring their visions to life.

The "10 in 10" Demo Day on September 27th at the Museum of Art & History will offer the public a unique opportunity to witness the culmination of the students' hard work and celebrate their entrepreneurial achievements.

Santa Cruz Works is a proud co-host of the "10 in 10" program, further underscoring the community's commitment to nurturing local talent and driving economic growth through innovation.

"We believe in the power of young minds to create impactful solutions," said Sol Lipman. "The '10 in 10' program is designed to be a real-world crucible, challenging students to not just ideate, but to build and ship actual products.” Doug Erickson also commented, “We're excited to see the ingenuity that emerges from these dedicated teams and look forward to seeing the progress that they make."

Interested in sponsorship or participating? Email piefisc@gmail.com.