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CoSide Venture Studio reports cohort progress; Flox Robotics demo draws local interest
Summary
CoSide Venture Studio—run by American Energy Society—reported start-up recruitment and cohort activity, highlighted a successful Flox Robotics demonstration, and outlined recruitment priorities for AgTech, WaterTech and built-environment startups.
The city heard an update about CoSide Venture Studio, an incubator and accelerator operated by the American Energy Society, which staff said grew out of the CoSide Recovery Initiative and aims to attract market-ready start-ups that align with local industries.
Eric Vettel, founder and president of American Energy Society, told the council the venture studio’s first year “has been going according to plan.” Vettel described a recent demo day for Flox Robotics, an AI-enabled drone/wildlife-coexistence technology, and said the company’s CEO told the audience Flox is based locally and would hire if it raises a $5,000,000 Series A round. Vettel and staff emphasized the incubator’s focus on four verticals: AgTech, WaterTech, built environment and the local start-up ecosystem.
Vettel provided examples of startups the studio is recruiting—natural fertilizer/bio-stimulant firms for AgTech; a natural material for coastline protection for the built environment; an enzyme-based plastic-breakdown company for WaterTech; microgrid/utility-scale electrical solutions to reduce outages; and firms that convert eucalyptus biomass into useful materials. He described ongoing coaching for cohort 1 and recruitment for cohort 2, and listed near-term activity including a private biomass-conversion summit and a boot camp for Swedish start-ups considering West Coast expansion.
Why it matters: City staff framed the studio as a locally grounded economic-development effort intended to create jobs and diversify the local economy by leveraging Half Moon Bay’s airport, fisheries, agriculture and harbor. Vettel stressed a values-aligned approach—“people, planet and profit”—when selecting partners. Councilmembers and staff expressed enthusiasm and asked to be kept informed about upcoming events and potential local hiring.
No formal action was taken; staff requested continued council support as the venture studio recruits and supports future cohorts.
