Throughout the year opportunities arise for entrepreneurially-minded students to participate in programs and competitions across the greater UC San Diego campus and into the community. Please check back frequently as we strive to bring you the most up to date information.
Business Plan/Pitch Competitions/Funding Opportunities
Program: Caltech Rocket Fund 2019
Applications due: May 1, 2019
Description: The Rocket Fund program, founded by California’s six major utilities, the Moxie Foundation and Caltech's Resnick Sustainability Institute, and supported by a membership consortium of industry experts, provides non-equity grants for building commercial prototypes and testing with customers. Awards range from $25,000 - $75,000 and there are opportunities for matching grants.
Eligibility: Incorporated or in process; validated lab technology; raised no more than $750,000 equity investment; students, new graduates as well as garage entrepreneurs welcomed.
More information: http://flow.caltech.edu/rocket-fund
Apply: https://platform.younoodle.com/competition/caltech_rocket_fund_2019
Program: VentureWell E-Team Grant
Applications due: May 8, 2019
Description: Receive an E-Team grant and get training through VentureWell's early-stage innovator training program. The program provides peer networking, expert coaching, national recognition, and hands-on workshops to move your innovation forward. Their offerings advance you through the pathway you’re likely to take as an innovator and entrepreneur.
Eligibility: VentureWell defines an E-Team as a multidisciplinary group of students, working with a faculty mentor, to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. There must be a minimum of two active undergraduate or graduate students on an E-Team; these students should have a role in decision making and leading venture development.
More information: https://venturewell.org/student-grants/
Apply: https://community.venturewell.org/VWCommunitiesLogin?target=proposal
Incubator and Accelerator Programs
Program: StartR Rady
Applications due: April 14, 2019
Description: Exclusively for MBA students and alums, at least one member of each team must be a current Rady School of Management student or alumni and be willing to act as a team leader. Teams at various stages of business development are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility: Applicant(s) must be a Rady MBA student are alum; additional team members from outside of Rady are welcome.
More information: https://rady.ucsd.edu/centers/ciid/startr/accelerators/rady/
Apply: https://www.f6s.com/startrradyspring2019
Program: Berkeley SkyDeck
Applications due: April 30, 2019
Description: Apply to Berkeley SkyDeck, UC Berkeley’s global startup accelerator! Backed by top Silicon Valley investors, the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund invests $100,000 into each company, helping accelerate top startups from around the world *into* UC Berkeley and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. If you’re looking to build a global business in Silicon Valley and pitch to 600+ VCs on Demo Day, this Seed program might be for you.
Eligibility: SkyDeck is open to founders with a connection to ANY of the ten UC campuses: alumni, students, professors, and researchers.
More information: http://skydeck.berkeley.edu
Apply: https://skydeck.berkeley.edu/about/apply/
Program: ThinkTank Innovation
Applications due: April 30, 2019
Description: ThinkTank Innovation's startup incubator applications are now open for the June 2019 class. No cost office space, mentorship and many perks including $120,000 of cloud services from IBM are available to high-growth potential tech businesses around the world. Up to $1.5 million in funding for qualified companies. See why San Diego is a great place to start and scale your tech business! Eligibility: Applicants must have an incorporated or registered business entity and be working full-time to develop the concept into a viable and scalable enterprise with at least 2 founders/partners.
More information: http://incubator.thinktanksd.org
Apply: https://incubator.thinktanksd.org/apply-now/
Ecosystem Events
Program: San Diego Startup Week
Date: May 28 - June 2, 2019
Time: Varies
Location: San Diego Convention Center
Description: Once a year, Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs to share progress, exchange resources, and celebrate the thriving innovation community. We’re putting all our efforts into bringing together the community to showcase exciting local innovation, share resources and knowledge, and strengthen connections.
More information: https://sandiegostartupweek.com/
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-diego-startup-week-2019-tickets-55447363557?aff=erelexpmlt
Cost: $45 - $85
Workshops & Presentations
Program: Research Expo
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2019
Time: 8:00 - 10:30 AM
Location: Duane J Roth Auditorium - Sanford Consortium
Description: Research Expo showcases outstanding student research from the Jacobs School of Engineering's M.S. and Ph.D. students in all six of our engineering departments. In addition to the 200+ graduate student posters, this afternoon event features TED-style talks by faculty highlighting research from our agile research centers and a networking reception with faculty, students, industry partners and alumni.
More information and registration: https://research-expo.eventbrite.com/
Cost: Free
Program: Better Brew for a Better World: A Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: University of San Diego, KIPJ Theater
Description: Join USD's 3rd "Better Business for a Better World": A Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, featuring 4 guest speakers, sharing on how they have cultivated successful social enterprises in the San Diego community and abroad through their beverage businesses!
More information and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/better-brew-for-a-better-world-a-conference-on-social-entrepreneurship-tickets-60107479088
Cost: Free