The 2023 psu cleantech challenge is kicking off and this year’s competition features an amazing group of innovative and creative student entrepreneurs! Let’s get to know the group of finalists who will be bringing their projects to the stage on march 31st.
Every year, Portland State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship hosts the Cleantech Challenge. A campus-wide competition that pushes students to think outside the box and build a cleantech solution that aims to solve real-world problems. This year we have CB Bone from Dicot taking on the challenge.
CB Bone is currently pursuing a master’s of science in Anthropology. Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, CB’s entrepreneurial journey began after they moved to Portland in 2013. At the time, CB was one of the first hundred licensees to operate in the recreational cannabis market in Portland, Oregon. Their passion for this emerging market for cannabis and healthcare kept them peripherally interested.
“I’d say at the end of the day, food is probably the most passionate interest of mine. So it was only a matter of time until I would find a product and an opportunity and a way of expressing those life experiences,” says CB. This ultimately led to the creation of Dicot.
Dicot is a hemp sciences company revolutionizing plant-based food choices through its hemp-seed-based products. Dicot is globally interested in changing the way we eat basic foods. “To start small, products like hemp microgreens, which we call milli greens, are ways of reintroducing the cannabis plant,” adds CB.
For CB, the Cleantech Challenge resonated with them as an opportunity to bring about change. “Germinating change is a big part of our philosophy, and Cleantech really resonates with that,” says CB. “The idea of creating technologies and solutions to long-term problems.” However, aiming to have such a large impact doesn’t come without any challenges.
“Practically speaking, this is, figuring out where to source hemp seeds, figuring out who to work with to create these genetics that are going to provide better nutrients and better ratios of starches and proteins that we need in order to degenerate hemp greens and grains,” adds CB.
Looking forward, CB shares Dicot’s unique aspect within the Cleantech Challenge. “Change through hemp, I think stands us apart. The firsthand experience that we have working with hemp and working through the steps of problem-solving for social impact, not just financial impact is something that will always be true of our company,” states CB.
Similar to CB and Dicot, many teams in the past who took on the Cleantech Challenge have brought a distinctive approach on biological innovation to solve real-world problems. For instance, Fungivores, a team developing materials from mycelium that focuses on the product lifecycle. The biodegradable bricks create a clean environment for Mason bee habitats by improving the air and soil health of pollen sources and strengthening their immune system.
Looking ahead, CB shares what they expect to see from other student innovators, “I think the social impacts that are being focused on are super diverse and reflect individual experiences of people who I’m excited to continue getting to know.” They added by saying, “I’m hopeful that I can continue integrating those experiences, visions, and passions into my own business development.”
To learn more about Dicot, CB, and their goals for the future, check out our recent interview: https://youtu.be/zJby9GehQQo
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