Proposals to reduce food waste, innovative nutritional products and apps developed by aspiring entrepreneurs were among the prize-winning ideas offering solutions to food security presented at San Diego State University’s annual Social Venture Challenge.
Supported by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, ZIP Launchpad, and the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, the March 21 event drew eight teams, from SDSU and four other Southern California colleges and universities, to pitch sustainable solutions to improve nutrition and food accessibility.
Open the image full screen.The $15,000 grand prize went to Grown-Home from San Diego Miramar College, presented by Eddie Zaldivar with his young daughter Marie. Zaldivar and three partners developed an app to connect MEHKO (microenterprise home kitchen operations) owners, backyard growers and other small entrepreneurs with consumers.
The award was among over $35,000 in prizes and support from Sprouts as well as SDSU’s Fowler College of Business and Division of Research and Innovation. Awardees also received mentorship to turn ideas into scalable ventures.
Iana Castro, SDSU Fowler College of Business marketing professor, Zahn Professor of Creativity and Innovation, and founder of BrightSide Produce, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the barriers to food security.
“Some of the biggest issues that we’re facing, both nationally and globally, are issues that require interdisciplinary solutions,” Castro said, highlighting how she has worked closely with faculty to integrate the theme of food security in their courses. She said one of her goals in discussing food security with students is to encourage them to find solutions from all perspectives, bridging the gap between academic learning and innovative real-world application.
Growing the Teams: Educating, preparing and presenting
Throughout the challenge, teams gained valuable insights into the complexities of food security. From researching root causes to developing business models, participants deepened their understanding of food security challenges in their communities.
Open the image full screen.“Food security affects almost half of Californians,” said Jesse Baker, a founder of SDSU’s Vital Tidal team. “It’s an issue of how much you’re eating, how often you’re eating, and the types of food you’re eating.”
Bringing ideas to life required extensive research, ideation, and refinement. Teams spent weeks developing business models, conducting market research, and integrating feedback from ZIP and Lavin mentors. The Second Course team’s Gavin Bartow, an MBA student in the Fowler College of Business, credited Castro, ZIP Launchpad Program Director Erica Charlonis, and pitching coach Shan Cureton for sharpening their pitch and presentation.
Full story: SDSU Social Venture Challenge 2025 awards $35,000 to food security innovators | News | SDSU
