Two years ago, Cal Poly 2008 graduates Nicole Chamberlain and Andrew Macaluso traveled the state to test-market and sell their senior project invention — SanTasti, a palate-cleansing beverage.

It won first prize and $15,000 in Cal Poly’s 2008 Innovation Quest contest.

Since then, their company has produced 100,000 12-ounce bottles in two flavors — SanTasti Classic and Cucumber. While small for an average beverage company, Chamberlain said, that’s partly because the first year was a test-market.

Chamberlain declined to disclose annual revenues or profits but noted that the company has doubled sales every six months since 2009 and has more than 70 accounts, from winery tasting rooms to coffee shops. It also has hired a full-time intern and a sales and distribution coordinator in Napa, both Cal Poly graduates. Chamberlain, Macaluso and the intern work in San Luis Obispo. The corporate headquarters is in Encinitas.

The students didn’t start out in Cal Poly’s wine and viticulture program; rather Chamberlain was a biology major, and Macaluso was pursuing chemistry until they switched majors after two years. Read the rest of this entry »