StartR Stage 2 is intended for more advanced teams. The objective is for teams to deepen their customer discovery, to refine their business model, positioning and value proposition, to enhance their pitch, and to develop go-to-market strategies.

Eligibility:

• Founders: UC San Diego undergraduate students, graduate students, PhD, Postdoc, alumni, and faculty with commercially promising ventures.
• A team of at least two members is highly encouraged. Solo applications will be considered.
• Ventures that are technology or science-based are preferred, but all business models will be considered.
• Founders must consider the social and environmental impact and the inclusive nature of their venture.
• At least one active member of the team must be a UC San Diego student, faculty member, or alum.

Now accepting applications to StartR Stage 2 Fall 2025 cohort. To be considered, please submit your application by October 15, 2025:

Who can participate?
StartR is open to any UC San Diego student, staff or faculty or UC San Diego alum. 

Apply now

Questions? Email sullivanentrepreneurship@rady.ucsd.edu

Rady and the Sullivan Center help pilot the incubation of nascent startups by awarding space on the fifth floor of Wells Fargo Hall. Workstations and other modest resources are awarded to early-stage companies that have demonstrated exceptional progress with their venture.

These startups are immersed in the “heart of business” at UC San Diego and will have access to the Sullivan Center Team, mentors, service providers, and are surrounded by more than 1,000 Rady graduate students — many of whom are eager to assist startups in their growth and development.

The Rady Venture Fund, supported through the philanthropy of alumni and local business leaders, provides funding to multiple startups each year.

The Rady Venture Fund simultaneously provides equity investments in UC San Diego startups while training students as investors through the Rady Venture Capital Management courses (496 A&B).

Past companies that have received funding include:

• AnaBios provides products and services for every stage of drug discovery. Through proprietary technology based on the use of human donor organs and tissues, it studies ex vivo human responses to drugs and further investigates the molecular and functional basis of relevant human physiology.
  
  
• Chronus Health is a portable platform that enables doctors to provide real-time treatment based on actual lab results; it was founded by Anand Parikh (MBA '16).
  
  
• Cloudbeds offers a cloud-based hospitality management platform that enables hotels to grow revenue, streamline operations, and deliver memorable guest experiences.
  
  
• GroundMetrics is a geophysical survey company founded by George Eiskamp '03.
  
  
• MANTA Instruments has commercialized the scientific instrument ViewSizer-3000 that uses breakthrough technology to characterize nanoparticles much more effectively than existing products. This instrument is now available from HORIBA Instruments, Inc.
  
  
• Savara is an orphan lung disease company that developed an inhaled antibiotic for MRSA infection in cystic fibrosis.
  
  
• Swapsy is an online marketplace where individuals with foreign currency demands can have a fee-free, peer-to-peer currency exchange. The company was founded by Jimmy Wu (MBA '17) and Ying Sun (MBA '17).
  
  
• Visicell offers cell labeling solutions to allow scientists to trace the precise sites of CAR-T and stem cell treatment products. The company was founded by Mya Thu (MBA '16).