Emily with Dr. Diana Farmer and baby Robbie.

Three babies have been born after receiving the world’s first spina bifida treatment combining surgery with stem cells. This was made possible by a landmark clinical trial at UC Davis Health. The one-of-a-kind treatment, delivered while a fetus is still developing in the mother’s womb, could improve outcomes for children with this birth defect. Launched in the spring of 2021, the clinical trial is known formally as the “CuRe Trial: Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele.” Thirty-five patients will be treated in total.

The three babies from the trial that have been born so far will be monitored by the research team until 30 months of age to fully assess the procedure’s safety and effectiveness.

The first phase of the trial is funded by a $9 million state grant from the state’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

Nobel Prize Awarded to Three Scientists for Work in

Click Chemistry

The 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for work in a field known as click chemistry, which allows molecular building blocks to be snapped together like Lego pieces to create complex molecules with huge implications for pharmaceutical development, medicine and material sciences. The prize went to two Americans, K. Barry Sharpless of Scripps Research in La Jolla, Calif., and Carolyn R. Bertozzi of Stanford University, and to Danish scientist Morten Meldal at the University of Copenhagen. Dr. Sharpless coined the phrase “click chemistry” about two decades ago, as he and Dr. Meldal experimented with how to tie together molecular building blocks quickly and efficiently. Dr. Bertozzi, who also serves as a scientific advisor to UC Davis-associated startup, Shasqi, built on those advances to develop bioorthogonal chemistry, which allows scientists to modify molecules in living organisms without disrupting processes occurring within the cells - a technique that allows the mapping of molecules within cells and is being tested for targeted cancer therapies, among other uses.

23rd Annual Big Bang! Business Competition Kicks Off

The annual Big Bang! Business Competition kicked off at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center on Tuesday, October 18th. In it’s 23rd year, the Big Bang! Business Competition, hosted by the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, provides a forum for innovators across California to collaborate, develop and test business ideas. The competition helps participants grow as entrepreneurs and leaders, in addition to providing opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, to learn and apply business concepts in interactive educational workshops, build their teams, grow their networks - and compete for cash prizes! The competition, designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, runs from January - May 2023. 

Beyond the Bean; The UC Davis Coffee Center Aims to Elevate Coffee Research and Teaching

Since the launch of The Coffee Initiative in 2014, UC Davis has been on a near decade-long effort to transform the way people think about and understand a beverage enjoyed by roughly 2.5 billion people around the world every day. As a result of that initial success, this fall the university will begin construction on the UC Davis Coffee Center, creating the world’s first academic research center focused on coffee. The building will house office and teaching space, labs, a roastery and more. “What started as a teaching exercise quickly turned into a research endeavor,” said Bill Ristenpart, who in addition to being a Venture Catalyst START™ participant, is co-director of the center alongside fellow chemical engineering professor, Tonya Kuhl.

$50M Pledged to UC Davis for Sustainability Research

Philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, have pledged the largest gift ever to the university by individual donors. The historic pledge will support the school’s longstanding commitment to address today’s most pressing challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability by establishing the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, with $10 million of the Resnick's gift to be directed toward annual competitive research grants through the Resnick Agricultural Innovation Research Fund. Their donation also supports UC Davis’ $2 billion fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World,” the university’s largest philanthropic endeavor to date.

Funding Opportunities

South Park Commons Social Impact Fellowship

Apply now for a $70k grant, SPC membership, and direct mentorship for early-stage social entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: October 30, 2022

The Activate Fellowship: Transform the World with Emerging Science

One fellowship, infinite possibilities. Apply now for the 2023 cohort and your chance at a two-year fellowship to turn your technology concept into a product! Application Deadline: October 31, 2022

UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health Innovator Fellowship - $50K!

Are you a PhD or Postdoc interested in innovation, research commercialization, startups and more? Apply now for a chance to join the next cohort! Application Deadline: November 11, 2022

Breakthrough Energy Fellowship and Explorer Grants

Working to develop, scale, and commercialize technologies with the ability to drastically reduce carbon emissions? Apply now for grants and fellowships from $250K-$3M! 

IndieBio Accelerator

Multi-stage investment to support big ideas. #1 in early stage biotech! Currently accepting applications

Open SBIR/STTR Grant Topics

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

Educational Opportunities

Little Bang! Pitch + Poster Competition

Start your entrepreneurial journey today! This is an entry-level competition; no prior business experience needed to participate. Registration open from October 18 - November 7, 2022

Carlsen Center Virtual Entrepreneurship Workshop Series

Interested in learning about building the foundation of a new enterprise? Register now for the hands-on experience to gain knowledge about proven startup tools and how to apply them to your business. Every Thursday, October 27 - November 10, 2022, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Online)

Global Diversity and Investment Summit

Join the Black Economic Empowerment conversation. Register here to attend. Date: October 28, 2022, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PDT)

UCD Pitch Event and Celebration; 2022 Blackstone LaunchPad by Startup Tree Ideas Competition

Hear early-stage ideas from students who are pushing creativity, inspiration and entrepreneurship forward. Date: October 31, 2022

Seed Central: Networking Social, Student & Postdoc Research Poster Session

With a panelist discussion on digital & AI technologies for ag and food. Register here. Date: November 10, 2022, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (PST)

University of California Climate Action Initiative Webinar 2022

Have a plan to save the world? The State of California has allocated $100 million to the University of California to fund Climate Action research projects that address critical state needs. Watch here

Regional Events

Sacramento Region Innovation Awards

Come celebrate pioneering innovations and the local talent behind new products, services, and processes. Date: November 1, 2022, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (PDT)

Beers & Geeks

If you love startups or have a startup idea, or just love beer and networking, then come mingle with like-minded people at Granite City Coworking in Folsom. Date: November 3, 2022, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM (PDT)

NorCal Make-a-Thon

A month-long celebration of invention and creativity. Located at Inventopia in Davis and powered by Bekonix. Every Saturday from November 5 - December 3, 2022, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Global Entrepreneurship Week - Sacramento

Join the celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship that takes place across the globe! Peruse the full calendar of events, activities, competitions, and networking taking place in the Sacramento area.

Date: November 14 - 18, 2022

Startup Happy Hour with Sonny Mayugba of Azra Games

Mingle with other entrepreneurs and startup founders, plus an AMA with Sonny Mayugba.

Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

1 Million Cups

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

Date: Every Wednesday

AgStart Office Hours

Expert mentors to help your business. Sign-up now. Date: Ongoing

Sacramento State Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events and Workshops

Learn More. Date: Ongoing

Small Business Development Center Workshops

Learn More. Date: Ongoing 

Silicon Valley USPTO Workshops

Check out the US Patent and Trademark Office's West Coast region events. 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 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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