Accelerate
The Sullivan Center offers an array of opportunities – often in collaboration with campusand community partners — to help you take an idea for a venture and begin building it into something more.
Learn more about the different systems in place to help you accelerate your entrepreneurial journey below.
Venture Fellows
The Center offers interdisciplinary teams of Student Venture Fellows the opportunity to work directly with founders and faculty to support deep market analysis, the development of business plans, the assessment of commercialization pathways for novel research, and to generate pro-forma financials. Projects are guided by an experienced mentor and may include academic credit for Student Fellows.
Students interested in gaining real-world experience with new ventures and early commercialization analysis should contact us at sullivanentrepreneurship@ucsd.edu.
Early-stage companies or faculty interested in the support of graduate level expertise may also contact the Sullivan Center at sullivanentrepreneurship@ucsd.edu. Please note that we can accommodate a limited number of projects per quarter.
More about Venture FellowsStartR Accelerators
StartR Accelerators provide students, alumni, and researchers with robust training, mentorship, and an ecosystem of resources to advance entrepreneurial ideas from concept to impact. StartR was founded in 2012 and has yielded over 100 companies that have raised more than $100M in the last ten years.
FUNDING: All StartR Teams are eligible to apply for Catalyst Funding to support their venture. Applications open at the end of each StartR program.
More advanced Teams may want to consider StartR Stage 2.
StartR Rady
StartR Rady is a multi-session accelerator that supports students with novel, impactful, and inclusive venture concepts. Teams should include members with business acumen, and preferably with a Rady graduate student. All accelerators are free of charge.
Apply for StartR Rady : Opens in January
Important Dates:
- Info sessions/networking – TBD
- Applications due – TBD
- Program Start – TBD
Who can participate?
StartR is open to any UC San Diego student, staff or faculty or UC San Diego alum.
How do I apply?
Applications will open in January
Questions?
Email Diana at sullivanentrepreneurship@rady.ucsd.edu
StartR Inclusion-Impact
StartR Inclusion + Impact is a multi-session accelerator that supports novel ventures with an emphasis on those that consider improving social and/or environmental conditions. The accelerator also focuses on creating an inclusive team. It is preferred that teams include a member from an underrepresented population in entrepreneurship.
Important Dates:
- Info sessions/networking – TBD
- Applications due – TBD
- Program Start – TBD
Who can participate?
StartR is open to any UC San Diego student, staff or faculty or UC San Diego alum.
How do I apply?
Applications will open in January
Questions?
Email Diana at sullivanentrepreneurship@rady.ucsd.edu
A sample of Rady StartR Teams
StartBlue Accelerator
StartBlue is an accelerator from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Rady School of Management that supports the formation of advanced science and engineering startups tackling ocean-focused challenges and solutions integrated into science, industry, investment, and government networks. For more information visit the startBlue webpage.
Triton Innovation Challenge
The Triton Innovation Challenge focuses on fostering creativity and bringing to the spotlight commercially promising, environmentally focused technologies generated by the finest minds at UC San Diego. Supported through the generosity of The William and Kathryn Scripps Family Foundation Inc., the program is presented through a partnership of the Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Jacobs School of Engineering, and is open to the entire campus.
Apply by January 10, 2021
Important Dates:
- Info sessions/networking - November 29, 2023 at noon RSVP Here
- Applications due – January 10, 2024
- Applicants notified of status – January 18, 2024
- I-Corps Programming – January 25-February 15, 2024
- Semifinals – February 28, 2024
- Finals – April 11, 2024
Eligibility:
The Triton Innovation Challenge is open to current students, faculty and staff from across UC San Diego. Previous applicants who were non-winners are welcome to reapply.
Semifinalists:
Semifinalists will be encouraged to participate in NSF I-Corps™ programming to prepare for their presentation. Those selected to move on to the finals will receive additional mentorship to help in their preparation.
Questions?
Contact SullivanEntrepreneurship@rady.ucsd.edu
Catalyst Funds
The Catalyst Fund provides financial support to help students or student teams advance new venture opportunities. Students must apply for support, and include:
- Market opportunity
- Value proposition
- Barriers and competition
- General business model
- Project milestones
Awardees are required to submit milestone-based reports and a final report that includes how funds were used, what progress was made, and an outline of next steps needed to continue advancing the venture.
INFO FOR
