For industry partners
Spend a few hours. Change how someone sees their own career.
AI Innovators connects Long Beach business and technology professionals with students who are building real ventures. The program now runs as two one-semester tracks, each ending in its own judged pitch event — so there are two moments a year to get involved, and none of them require a budget.
Three ways in
Pick the one that fits your calendar.
Commitment: half a day
Judge a pitch event
Score student pitches against a provided rubric, give teams direct feedback, and stay for networking. Two events a year: the Fall Pitch Event the week of December 7, 2026, and the Spring Capstone in May 2027.
We provide the rubric and a briefing beforehand. You don't need to prepare anything.
Commitment: 60–90 minutes
Speak to a track
Talk to students about AI in real business practice — what you actually use it for, what you don't trust it with, and how you got where you are. In person or remote.
Commitment: a few conversations
Coach a team
Join one or more of the four touchpoint sessions in a track and work with student teams on their actual projects. Poke holes in their assumptions. Tell them what a customer would really say.
Working with the SBDC. Advisors from Long Beach City College's Small Business Development Center coach student teams during the Fall track touchpoints and serve on the December judging panel. If you're part of that network, this is the easiest way to plug in.
The two panels
Different events, different expertise.
Week of Dec 7, 2026
Fall Pitch Event
Students present the venture they built — problem, market case, business model, and financials. We're looking for judges with small business, entrepreneurship, and startup experience. SBDC advisors, founders, and operators.
May 2027
Spring Capstone
Students present the go-to-market case — positioning, pricing, channels, and campaign. We're looking for judges from marketing: brand, growth, agency, and communications professionals.
Why bother
What you get out of it.
- Early sight of students entering the regional workforce with applied AI and business skills.
- A direct line into LBCC's Business and Computer Information Systems programs and their advisory work.
- Recognition in event materials and program communications.
- An honest look at how the next generation is actually using these tools — which is usually not what you'd expect.
Get involved
Tell us how you'd like to help.
One short form. A project lead follows up personally within a week.
Prefer email? Write to Yolanda Villacreses or Vincent Calip.
