Dorfman Incubator Grants

We’re now accepting applications for the 2025 Dorfman Incubator Grants (DIG). Startups can apply for $5,000 to $50,000 in non-dilutive grant funding. Ideal candidates have a connection to Cal Lutheran as a student, alum, employee or employer of Cal Lutheran students.

2024 Dorfman Incubator Grant Recipients with Steve Dorfman

From left to right: Michael Panesis, Lannie Pham, MBA (Misfit Munchies), Denice Wharton (Suma), Princesa Martinez, MBA (Misfit Munchies), Rosie Baker (Misfit Munchies), Steven Dorfman, James Werbe (Wayside Energy), Karen Rodriguez (Misfit Munchies), Zach Dunn (PlotSign), Kristin Bell, Gerhard Apfelthaler

The Dorfman Incubator Grants—funded by a generous gift from Steven Dorfman—are designed to help launch promising early-stage companies that involve Cal Lutheran students and recent alumni (as founders, employees, interns, apprentices, research assistants, etc.).

This grant program seeks to advance our understanding of early-stage startups by learning from their use of the grant. Grant recipients agree to sit for an interview about their startup experiences, and explain how the grant funding was utilized. The interviews will be used as case studies in class.

Applications are due by Friday, May 2, 2025