[lambdaelite]

I find this is generally a poor place for hardware-related startups.

Places to check (and network with)—I'd try checking in with your university's tech transfer office: they might be able and willing to clue you into recently-formed startups licensing university IP. Another would be your university's professional practice office (may go by another name), i.e., the office that sets up student internships. Another is with your department's industry relations rep (if you have one). A fourth place would be in any hacker spaces or tech villages in town. A fifth would be with the local angel investor groups.

A really great possibility is to take your senior design project seriously. It's not unheard of for those to turn into something commercially viable.