Nomination Period for the Innovator of the Year Award Open Through March 15, 2023

The UC Davis Chancellor’s Innovation Awards are designed to recognize faculty, community partners, and industry leaders for their success in developing new technologies, social platforms or other innovations based on university research or academic endeavors. These innovators play an essential role in translating university research to improve the lives of others and address the needs of our global society.

The Innovator of the Year award recognizes individual UC Davis faculty or staff members, or teams (that may include UC Davis faculty, students, and staff) whose inventive, innovative, or entrepreneurial activities have had a measurable societal impact in the last year, or those whose activities or achievements in the last year have a very strong potential to make a significant impact in the future. This award is open to all academic disciplines, including social sciences, humanities, law, business, life sciences, physical sciences, medicine, computational sciences, and other areas of research and academic study. Up to two awards will be presented and recipients will receive a cash award of up to $10,000, which can be applied to further their research or innovative activities.

Anyone at UC Davis can nominate an individual or team for the Innovator of the Year award by completing and submitting the nomination form by March 15, 2023. Please note that self-nominations will not be accepted for these awards.

New Smart Technology by UC Davis Professor May Help in Early Detection of Insects in Food and Ag Products

Post-harvest losses are common in the global food and agricultural industry. Research shows that storage grain pests can cause serious post-harvest losses, almost 9% in developed countries to 20% or more in developing countries. To address this problem, Zhongli Pan, an adjunct professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, has developed a potential solution.

Pan’s recent project uses a novel device called SmartProbe - designed by Pan and his team using wireless sensors and cameras - and leverages cloud computing to monitor and predict insect occurrences. This could help control insect pest, reduce food loss and the fumigants used in agricultural products today.

In 2022, Pan received support to advance the technology towards commercialization from the UC Davis Venture Catalyst Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR) Grant program. The grant laid the foundation for Pan to form the startup AIVision Food Inc. during the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Now Accepting Applications for the 2022-2023

UC Davis STAIR™ Grant Program

Venture Catalyst is now accepting applications for the Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR) Grant program, which provides funding and resources to translate basic UC Davis research with commercial potential by demonstrating proof-of-concept and establishing market viability.

Key features of the STAIR Grant include: 1) Targeted funding to bridge the gap between basic research and early-stage commercialization efforts, 2) Project work conducted over a 12-month period, 3) Review Committee consisting of industry representatives with corporate, investor, and entrepreneurial expertise, 4) Feedback and guidance on commercialization from members of the Review Committee and the Venture Catalyst team, and 5) Structured entrepreneurial training.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, March 16, 2023

at 11:59 pm PDT

For more information and application instructions, visit the Venture Catalyst proof-of-concept programs website or email stairgrant@ucdavis.edu.

CropX Acquires Precision Irrigation Startup, Tule

UC Davis-associated startup, Tule Technologies, was recently acquired by New Zealand based Ag analytics company, CropX. Founded in 2014, Tule (pronounced “too-lee”) combines agronomic expertise with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to provide growers with irrigation decision support.

The deal will provide CropX with additional crop data and will strengthen its own system’s predictions and recommendations engine.

Davis-Founded Infant Nutrition Startup, Infinant Health, Names Former Cargill Director Mike Johnson New CEO

UC Davis spinout, Infinant Health (formerly known as Evolve BioSystems Inc.), announced earlier this month that it named Mike Johnson its new CEO.

"Joining such an innovative, mission-oriented biotechnology company as Chief Executive Officer is beyond exciting, and I cannot wait to work alongside Infinant Health's top-notch team to carry out our strategic vision for the future," Johnson said, in a statement. "I look forward to leading Infinant Health in its quest to harness the full power of the microbiome to influence human health."

Johnson has been on the startup’s board of directors for nearly two years. Before that, he was the global managing director at Cargill Animal Health Technologies, where he led a team of 500 developing new technology in animal nutrition.

UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition

Registration Deadline is March 1, 2023!

The Big Bang! Business Competition, put on by the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, helps you to grow as an entrepreneur and as a leader. You'll find opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, learn and apply business concepts in interactive educational workshops, build your team, grow your network - and compete for cash prizes! The competition runs from March through May, and is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs. Eligible teams must have at least one founder affiliated with a California-based institution of higher education. Register today!

Join the NorCal Entrepreneur Hub!

From capital to connections and training to talent, find the resources you need to build your business in NorCal! The NorCal Entrepreneur Hub centralizes information about the local ecosystem with the mission of making information and resources more equitable to help build and sustain a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community. The Hub enables innovators, startup founders, and small business owners to find and connect with the right resources for their business, including investors, universities, mentoring programs, networking groups, training programs, and more. Create a free profile and explore today!

Funding Opportunities

Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator

Give your startup a boost by joining one of the leading global accelerators! Between 20 and 25 selected cohort teams receive a $200K investment from Berkeley SkyDeck Fund! Applications from companies in all industries welcome as long as you have UC affiliation. Deadline: Feb. 17, 2023

CalSEED's Concept Award

CalSEED supports early-stage entrepreneurs in delivering projects that respond to clean energy, efficiency, or storage needs while considering equity of access and benefit. Apply now to win awards between $150K-$450K! Deadline: Mar. 5, 2023

NSF Partnerships for Innovation

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program assists researchers and innovators from academia, nonprofit, and public organizations in accelerating the development of breakthrough technologies. Researchers can now receive up to $1 million for translational research, technology scale-up, and demonstration. The first proposal deadline is May 2, 2023.

O'Shaughnessy Fellowship

The O'Shaughnessy Fellowship is a one year program that provides $100K, equity-free, for innovative creators to work on whatever they choose. Applications are selected throughout the year on a rolling basis, so apply now! Currently accepting applications.

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.



Tech Coast Angels

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

Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health

We are interested in ideas that address any of these four areas of focus: Future of Evidence; Future of Social Interaction; Future of Food; Future of Work. Additionally, we welcome ideas that might fall outside of these four focus areas, but which offer unique approaches to advancing health equity and our progress toward a Culture of Health. Currently accepting applications

Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity

Evidence for Action prioritizes research to evaluate specific interventions (e.g., policies, programs, practices) that have the potential to counteract the harms of structural and systemic racism and improve health, well-being, and equity outcomes. Currently accepting applications

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

UC Davis Student Startup Center: Startup Speaker Series

Come join the SSC as Sam King, founder of Bouncer, discusses how his company is a people first fraud solution. Free admission/no registration required. Date: Feb. 17, 2023, 1:10 PM (PST), 1122 Bainer Hall at UC Davis.

2023 Bizwomen Mentoring Monday

Meet Your Mentor! Make connections and gain valuable industry knowledge from local businesswomen at Mentoring Monday. Register here. Date: Feb. 27, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM (PST)

Ideas into Action: Show Me the Money! Projecting and Presenting Financials

What do potential investors want to see? Jim Kelly, assistant dean for finance and administration at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, will show you how to forecast and present your financials in a way that effectively demonstrates your understanding of the market and the value of your venture. RSVP here. Date: Mar. 1, 2023, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (PST)

UC Davis Wine Executive Program: From Grape to Table

In its 23rd year, the UC Davis Wine Executive Program is uniquely designed to teach the fundamentals of winemaking and management skills necessary to be profitable in today’s challenging and dynamic wine industry. Sessions are tailored to help industry leaders grow their businesses by expanding on such topics as building one’s financial acumen and expanding a company’s current marketing and branding strategies. Sign up now. Dates: Mar. 26-30, 2023

Investigator Clinical Research Implementation Program

The Investigator Clinical Research Implementation Course is a step-by-step examination of the process of logistical implementation of a clinical research protocol at an academic medical center. Must be a resident physician, institutional/NIH scholar, or early career clinical faculty member developing their own clinical trial or beginning their own research project. Apply now. Class dates: Mar. 30 - Jun. 15, 2023

Blackstone Summer 2023 LaunchPad Fellowship

The Blackstone Summer 2023 LaunchPad Fellowship offers eight weeks of workshops, networking and a $5,000 prize to all Fellows who complete the program! This selective program will accept up to 50 founders, so hurry and apply now! Application Deadline: Apr. 2, 2023.

EQUIP Spring 2023

EQUIP - Entrepreneurship Quest: Undergraduate Internship Program - is open to students in all majors and disciplines, from the humanities to the social sciences to STEM. Designed especially for undergraduates, EQUIP provides training in innovation, leadership and design thinking, and prepares students for successful internships in startups and other leading-edge companies.

Application Deadline: Apr. 7, 2023, 12:00 PM (PDT). Cohort dates: Apr. 13 - Jun. 1, 2023 (weekly)

Regional Events

Startup Happy Hour

Come hang out with fellow founders, entrepreneurs and others in our startup community for an evening of fun at Flatstick Pub in Sacramento. RSVP here. Date: Feb. 28, 2023, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (PST)



2023 ADMAN Conference

Registration is open for this annual program put on by the Administrative Management Group, or ADMAN, for UC Davis staff at all levels. This year’s conference will be in person with the theme “The Power Within You!” Register now. Date: Mar. 21, 2023

Sacramento State Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Startup Challenge

The Startup Challenge is a weekend-long experiential learning event and program focused on providing founders and early-stage teams with a dedicated space for experimenting and making traction. Register now. Date: Mar. 31 - Apr. 2, 2023

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 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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