I just read your great report on tech and the start-up sector in Santa Barbara. One resource you missed is the Santa Barbara City College Makerspace. Created a year an a half ago, it has been helping students bring ideas to reality and start their own path to success.
The SBCC Makerspace works closely with students enrolled in the Enterprise Launch class and also in the Product Design I and II classes, so that they can develop their prototypes. It has been a space of synergy and innovation since it started.
A.M. Arias del Cid is chair of Drafting, CAD Interior Design Department at SBCC and also director of SBCC Makerspace.