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ZIP Launchpad

 

H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab

ZIP Launchpad Teams 

ZIP Launchpad Teams: The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab can help develop your demo in 1-2 weeks. Technical student interns are available to assit with early stage product development and company identity. 

Prerequisities for accessing H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab services: 

  1. Approval from your ZIP Advisor
  2. E-Track Findings 
  3. Lab Intake Form

Prototyping Support for Fowler College of Business Entrepreneurship Students: 

To begin, please submit a lab intake form by November 8th for Fall 2024

*If you are unable to submit a lab intake form by these dates,  we cannot proceed with your prototype

For MGT 358 Students: 

At the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab we have engineers and designers on staff to support your enetrprenerial and product development efforts. If you attended the ZIP Launchpad Rapid Prototyping Workshop, then you are eligible to receive a free hardware or software prototype in the form of a 3D render. Please follow these steps to access the service:

  1.  Intake Form: Use the link below to show what your project is and share details as what your expectations for your deliverables are. Please complete this before your scheduled design meeting. The information you input will be discussed in the design meeting.

  2. Design Meeting: Meet with the Lab Manager to agree on a final deliverable and to learn the approach we will take. There will be a variety of options available to you such as:
    • 3D printed prototypes
    • We allow 1 revision after completion if necessary. The more detail you provide, the lower the likelihood you will need a revision 
  3. Delivery: You will receive your prototype via email or if a 3D Print you will be asked to pick it up at the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab at EIS-101 from 10AM-4PM Monday-Friday.       

See Lab Intake Form on this page

charging cube render

 hand sanitizer render

app mockups
 

For MGT 420 Students:

  • Submit a lab intake form for in-depth video creation with Powtoon
  • After submitting a lab intake form, a ZIP Launchapd graphic design intern will contact you to arrange a meeting
  • After meeting with a ZIP Launchpad graphic design intern, you will be allowed 1 revision after completion if necessary. The more detail you provide, the lower the likelihood you will need a revision.

Where San Diego Business Starts

The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab provides a range of machines and resources that students use to build, test, and iterate their products. 

Technical student interns are trained in the latest rapid prototyping technologies available in the lab, and use the tools to quickly prototype and test their ideas. These resources help teams deliver an effective solution to customers in the shortest time possible. 

We provide value to teams in the ZIP Launchpad via two ways: 

  1. H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab Services 
  2. Prototyping tools and workspace

H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab History

The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab is an addition to the San Diego State University ZIP Launchpad. The Idea Lab will help students bring their ideas to life at no cost to our teams. Envisioned at the start was a lab with diverse tools and machines to help our teams with ideas from all seven Colleges. The lab contains 3D printers, a laser cutter, CNC mills, CNC routers, and many other tools. Engineering alumni will help the non-tech savvy each step of the way.

Hype Audio, a student team with only business students, is building a music device to listen while surfing. Their vision is great, however, they need support from an engineering perspective to make it possible. The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab provides this to Hype Audio. They are introduced to the limitations of different technologies, the costs associated with each, and planning practices to go from idea to prototype.

CNC Mills and 3D printers are not readily available to anyone and they can be a major hurdle for most start-ups. Vena is a ZIP Launchpad team building a power-free water condenser that can provide water for people living in extremely arid conditions. The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab offered the tools and resources that made it possible for Vena’s team to start building their product on campus. Vena is now successfully producing proofs of concepts that will be the foundation of more sophisticated prototypes. 

Thank you H.G. Fenton Company for your amazing support in making the lab a reality!

 

H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab Services

Technical student interns representing a variety of disciplines are available to assist in early-stage development of your business idea. See our services and portfolio below: 

ZIP Launchpad teams can commission a free basic logo with an average 1 week turnaround from the designer on staff with the lab. 

  • Simple Logo Development
  • Typography and Branding
logo example logo example
logo example logo example

 

Computer Science and design interns are available to design clickable software prototypes which showcase the features of your app or website. 

  • UI / UX Mockups 
  • Clickable Prototypes 
  • Software Design Feedback 

 

Mechanical Engineering students can help you design and render a photo-realistic model of your product idea, often used as an extremely effective communication tool between inventors and customers. 

  • CAD / 3D Modelling 
  • Photorealistic Renders 
  • 3D Printing
  • Hardware Design Feedback 
render example render example
render example photorealistic render example
photorealistic render example  

The H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab can help launch teams build and host a basic website for feature testing, intent to purchase, and early adopter acquisition. All you need to provide is a domain! 

  • Landing Page w/ Features Overview
  • Product Page w/ Intent to Purchase
  • Analytics

With professional video editing software, the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab staff can take your demo or prototype and build a demonstration video that can be used for customer feedback, promotion, channel testing, or fundraising. 

Example: 

Prototyping Tools and Machinery

Physical lab space is currently closed due to Covid-19, please refer to this page for opening status. Lab Services are available virtually. 

  • Roughly 1000 sq ft of space
  • Workbenches and additional folding tables available
  • Dual monitor workstations with a variety of design software available
  • Materials storage available
  • Ultimaker 3
  • Formlabs Form 2
  • Robo R2
  • XYZ DaVinci - RepRap Mod
  • Stratasys Mojo
  • Universal Systems VLS350 50W laser engraver / cutter
  • Levil 400
  • ShopBot 
  • Roland mdx-40a
  • Manual 3-axis mill
25/25-400 Plastic – Levil Technology  ShopBot Buddy Modela MDX-40A 3D Milling Machine | Roland DGA

 

 
  • Screwdrivers, files, measuring tape, calipers, handsaw, knife, and other basic hand tools
  • Hand Drill and Drill Press
  • Table Saw
  • Band Saw
  • Miter Saw / Chop Saw
  • Router / Router Table
  • Scroll Saw
  • Sewing Machine
  • Jig Saw / Circular Saw
  • Heat Gun
  • DC Power Supply
  • Oscilliscope
  • Solder Station w/ fan
  • Supply of basic capacitors, resistors, transistors, and other components

lab layout

Intake Form

Use the link below to show what your project is and share details as what your expectations for your deliverables are. 

Spring 2024 Lab Intake Form