Aggie Climate action for Equity (ACE) is Now Accepting Grant Proposals! 

The Aggie Climate action for Equity (ACE): Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Climate Change Solutions program has released its Proof-of-Concept Grant request for proposals (RFP) and encourages all those who are eligible to apply. ACE Grants are dedicated for the purpose of nurturing technologies, policy interventions, and behavioral innovations that can play a tangible role in climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation, with a specific attention to end-user engagement and a focus on positively impacting California’s communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For the 1-year grant period (March 2024 - February 2025), 6 projects will be awarded to receive up to $90,000 each. 

Click here to download the RFP and visit the InfoReady link to access the grant application platform. You can also visit the ACE webpage to get more information about this opportunity or contact ace-grants@ucdavis.edu. 

2024 Biotech Innovation Gallery (BIG) Showcase at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Join us for the BIG Event & Reception showcasing exciting UC Davis biotech startups selected from 30 participants in the Venture Catalyst BIG pre-accelerator program.

Stop by the Chandran Gallery on Wednesday, January 10 2024, for coffee and the opportunity to meet with participating startups and members of the UC Davis Innovation & Technology Commercialization team. For more details, please visit the BIG webpage. Space is limited so reserve your spot now!

UC Davis-associated Startup Expert IEP Wins $1 Million Black Ambition Prize

UC Davis-associated startup Expert IEP, co-founded by School of Education PhD student Antoinette Banks, won the Pharrell Williams Black Ambition grand prize of $1 million! Expert IEP is a parent-facing app that uses predictive AI to optimize existing individualized education plans for children diagnosed with disabilities.



Banks was named a finalist and selected to pitch out of a group of over 2,000 applicants (watch a recording of the LinkedIn livestream event here).

Black Ambition is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to closing the opportunity and wealth gap by empowering Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs.

UC Davis-associated Startup AgriNerds Takes Top Prize at Spark Venture Competition

UC Davis-associated startup Agrinerds was one of two startups to win $7,500 in the recent Sacramento State entrepreneurship competition.

Co-Founder Dr. Maurice Pitesky, a professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, aims to reduce cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza by tracking ducks that are carriers and are close to poultry operations.

UC Davis CuRe Trial Awarded

$15 Million by State Stem Cell Agency

A team of UC Davis Health researchers, led by pioneering fetal surgeon Dr. Diana Farmer and bioengineer Dr. Aijun Wang, has been awarded nearly $15 million for groundbreaking work on a spina bifida treatment. The funding will allow the team to carry out phase 2 of a clinical trial that tests the first stem cell treatment for the birth defect. Spina bifida, also known as myelomeningocele, occurs when spinal tissue in a fetus fails to fuse properly during the early stages of pregnancy.

Launched in the spring of 2021, the CuRe clinical Trial (Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele) tests a one-of-a-kind treatment that uses placenta-derived stem cells to improve outcomes for children with spina bifida. The treatment, a stem cell patch, is delivered directly to the spinal opening of the fetus while still developing in the mother’s womb.

Get Your Applications In!

Opportunities for Life Sciences, FoodTech, and More

🌟Intro to Lean Startups: NSF I-Corps Method

The NSF I-Corps Method offers an immersive one-week virtual training aimed at translating academic research into a startup. You'll learn how to conduct 15 customer interviews to identify your top customer segment and value propositions, validate your commercial market, and accelerate finding product market fit. All teams who complete in the Bay Area I-Corps are also eligible for $1,000 in AWS credits! Learn more or apply here by January 5, 2024.

🌟CLSFAST Spring 2024 Cohort

California Life Sciences is now accepting applications for the Spring cohort of its bi-annual 12-week advisory program, FAST California. Early-stage startups creating disruptive technologies with high medical impact are invited to apply here by Jan 6, 2024.

🌟The Spinoff Prize

The Spinoff Prize aims to encourage and give visibility to academic entrepreneurs and their startups. Shortlisted spinoffs will pitch at the slam panels during the Curious2024 – Future Insight™ conference in Mainz, Germany and the winner will go home with a €30,000 cash prize! Learn more and apply by January 7, 2024.

🌟Technologies Feeding the Future

Present your ground-breaking solution in front of top-notch venture capital firms and corporations! This annual competition is designed to empower entrepreneurs and help them build new partnerships that will lead to future industry breakthroughs. Learn more or apply here by February 19, 2024.

🌟J.P. Morgan Asset Management Life Sciences Innovation Summit

J.P Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital and Blue Horizon Advisors are sponsoring the inaugural J.P. Morgan Asset Management: Life Sciences Innovation Summit at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in May 2024. The inaugural event seeks to attract top-caliber, early-stage entrepreneurs in life sciences to seed the growth of the emerging scientific innovation hub in Abu Dhabi. The two-day Summit will take place in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week. Learn more or apply here.

Funding Opportunities

NHLBI Catalyze Funding Opportunities

Facilitates the transition of basic science discoveries into viable diagnostic and therapeutic candidates cleared for human testing. Offers heart, lung, blood and sleep investigators funding, technical services, training, and mentorship. Develops the translational research workforce by helping investigators build their product development and entrepreneurial skills. Supports and funds product definition, preclinical research research, and development of technologies and transformative platforms. Apply here. Deadline: December 21, 2023

Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Deployment

Federal funding is available for eligible entities to deploy, operate, document, and showcase integrated, advanced roadway deployments featuring applications enabled by interoperable wireless connectivity (among vehicles, mobile devices, and smart infrastructure). Apply here. Deadline: January 17, 2024

NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize

The NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize is part of a national engagement strategy under the Early Stage Innovations and Partnerships (ESIP) Research & Development portfolio as part of a commitment to enhance outreach efforts and attract high-quality proposals from a diverse pool of innovators competing for NASA space technology R&D awards. Apply here. Deadline: February 8, 2024

SBIR Grants for Women

By awarding $200+ million in research and development (R&D) funding to about 400 startups each year, in three phases, through 11 federal bodies. Grantify helps you apply for funding from one such body, the National Science Foundation (NSF). Learn more.

Growth Factory - Accelerating Venture-Backable Startups

The goal of this local startup accelerator is to help founders of pre-seed to seed stage venture backable companies located in the Greater Sacramento Region rapidly achieve product-market fit, positioning them to raise funds and achieve revenue of $1M in ARR within 18 months. Applications are open on a rolling admissions basis. Apply here.

AgFunder

AgFunder is a new kind of venture capital firm built on proprietary technology and a global ecosystem of over 85,000 subscribers. We invest in exceptional and bold founders who are committed to building the next generation of agrifood technology companies that will transform our food system. We are one of the most active agrifood tech investors in the world. Apply here.



Tech Coast Angels

If your company has a strong team with a great defensible idea, early traction, and is set to grow, TCA is ready to invest up to several million dollars individually or with our syndicate partners. TCA looks at investments in the United States and Canada. Currently accepting applications.

Open SBIR/STTR Grant Topics

Federal Research/Research & Development with the potential for commercialization. Learn More.

UC Davis Office of Research - Links to Funding Sources

Browse the listings of funding announcements provided by sponsoring agencies and other pertinent information about obtaining critical research funding. View the complete list here.

Educational Opportunities

Lab to Market Commercialization of Climate Technologies Webinar

Learn about the important role lab technology can play in addressing climate change, the opportunity this current moment in time presents, and how people can engage in the process! Register here. Date: December 13, 2023

CleanStart CEO Crash Course

Want to learn how to operate your business as a real CEO? Have a good idea for a business but unsure of what you need to do? Join the CEO Crash Course brought to you by BlueTechValley and CleanStart! Apply here. Date: December 24, 2023

Elev X!

Elev X! is a venture studio program that provides funding, mentorship from industry leaders, and competitive technology and human resources for researchers with entrepreneurial spirits. Apply here. Deadline: December 29, 2023

2024 Economic Forecast

Is Sacramento ready for a recession? How well prepared are we as a region and a business community? What does it mean to you, your industry, and your company? Start your year with the information you need to succeed at the 2023 Economic Forecast. Register here. Date: January 16, 2024

Startup Pitch Workshop - Monthly

Three startups present their pitch for advice and feedback from a panel of experts. Organized by StartupSac, Startup Folsom and NCID. Apply here. Date: 4th Wednesday of every month.

On-Demand Virtual Entrepreneurship Toolkit Series

The new On-Demand Toolkit Series is a resource of past recordings as well as slides and tools taught throughout the 5-week series. After a short application, you will have access to five recordings and subsequent resource tools. Apply now.

Regional Events

Startup Holiday Party

Startup Grind Sacramento in partnership with StartupSac and Startup Folsom is hosting a Startup Holiday Party! The party is free - bring an unwrapped toy that will benefit the Sacramento Children's Home or just donate $10. All net proceeds will go to the Sacramento Children's Home. RSVP here. Date: December 14, 2023

CBCC Business Mixer

Network and grow your business at the upcoming CBCC Business Mixer on the first Friday of every month! Get the chance to win a generous Visa Card, a week's worth of radio spots to promote your business, and more! Learn more here.

1 Million Cups

Present your early-stage company to your peers. Or just grab a coffee and listen.

Date: Every Wednesday

Business Casual: Get Your Creative Biz Together

Every fourth Saturday of the month, Atrium’s mentorship team will be hosting a free business basics discussion group. Growing your creative business can seem like a daunting task. Atrium is here to help take your ideas from the drawing board to the boardroom with free “get started right” business workshops for creative startups. Come with a laptop and a ready-to-grow mentality. Register now. Date: Ongoing

Sacramento State Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events and Workshops

Learn More. Date: Ongoing

California Life Sciences Institute FAST Advisory Program

Get the coaching you need to perfect your business model. Apply now. Date: Ongoing

Bay Area NSF Innovation Corps Immersive Short Course

Join the weeklong immersive course for university researchers and early-stage startup founders. Apply now. Date: Ongoing

About Venture Catalyst 

UC Davis Venture Catalyst supports the development of new UC Davis-associated ventures fueled by university research and technology. Venture Catalyst offers several innovative programs that bridge the gap between early-stage research and commercialization and provide entrepreneurs the resources, support, and connections needed to successfully form and grow technology-based startups. With a focus on accelerating technology-led economic development in the Davis-Sacramento region, Venture Catalyst also works closely with partners in the regional innovation and economic development ecosystems. 

Contact Venture Catalyst 

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