UC Davis Scientists Awarded over $540,000 Through STAIR Program

Professor of Medicine Dr. Amir A. Zeki and team have discovered a new treatment for asthma and are optimizing the formulation of a new inhaled drug.

The University of California, Davis, is awarding $300,000 to help scientists advance compelling research and innovations toward commercial applications through the Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR™) proof-of-concept grant programs. In addition, supplemental funding was provided by the UC Davis School of Medicine, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Three side car awards totaling $150,000 were also provided by UC Davis Health, bringing the total funding for translational grants to $542,000. The recipients are targeting solutions in a range of applications including human and animal health, technology, environment and sustainability.

The program plays an important role in helping campus innovators overcome the primary hurdle of access to funding during one of the most challenging phases in new technology development.

The STAIR Grant Program, now in its 10th year, provides awards of up to $50,000 to campus innovators to enable demonstration of early proof-of-concept for technologies being developed at the university. The program is funded by the UC Davis Office of Research and managed by Venture Catalyst.

BioTech Innovation Gallery 2024 Pre-Accelerator Program

If you are a UC Davis Venture Catalyst START™ Program participant with a startup company focused on human health, we encourage you to apply for the sixth cohort of the Biotech Innovation Gallery (BIG) Pre-Accelerator program, which provides campus innovators and UC Davis-associated startups with industry mentoring engagements, business model and investor pitch coaching, and assistance with developing marketing and investor collateral.

The pre-accelerator program culminates with the Biotech Innovation Gallery (BIG) Investor Event and Startup Showcase in San Francisco, which coincides with the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the largest healthcare investment symposium in the industry.

Click here for program dates and details or email to apply.

UC Davis-associated Startup Sage Therapeutics' Pill gets FDA Approval for Postpartum Depression

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first pill for postpartum depression, a milestone considered likely to increase recognition and treatment of a debilitating condition that affects about a half-million women in the United States every year.

Clinical trial data show the pill works quickly, beginning to ease depression in as little as three days, significantly faster than general antidepressants, which can take two weeks or longer to have an effect. That — along with the fact that it is taken for just two weeks, not for months — may encourage more patients to accept treatment, maternal mental health experts said.

The pill, zuranolone, which will be marketed under the brand name Zurzuvae, was developed by Sage Therapeutics, a UC Davis-associated company, that produces it in partnership with Biogen.

UC Davis-associated Startup Oobli Releases World's First Tea Sweetened with Plant-based Protein

Can sweet tea taste as refreshing without most of its sugar? A Davis startup says yes; now customers in the college town can find out for themselves. A company called Oobli  recently rolled out cans of iced tea that get most of their sweetness from plant-based proteins.

It took seven years of experimentation for Oobli’s cans of peach, lemon and mango yuzu tea to hit shelves around Davis and Los Angeles seven weeks ago. Still, it’s a milestone for sweet tea fans who don’t want all that sugar, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Ryder said.

“While there are other companies experimenting with sweet proteins, we are the first in the world with products on the market,” said Ryder, a UC Berkeley adjunct professor and executive director of the university’s master of bioprocess engineering program.

Oobli was also a Venture Catalyst DRIVE Program participant through local incubator HM.CLAUSE.

Davis-based InnerPlant gets USDA Approval for its Traits that Fluoresce when Plants are Under Distress

Davis-based InnerPlant has gotten approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its first commercial product, InnerSoy, which is a soybean plant that signals visually when it is under attack.

When crops with traits developed by InnerPlant are in distress, they fluoresce in lighter images when viewed through a filter, whereas healthy plants remain dark. The USDA approval is “a huge step. It clears the way for us past regulatory hurdles in the U.S.,” said Sean Yokomizo, InnerPlant spokesman.

The approval means that the traits and plants are deemed to be safe to be used commercially, he said. The company is now working on demonstrating commercial viability on yield trails this year and next year.

Funding Opportunities

Berkeley SkyDeck Batch 17

Berkeley SkyDeck, one of the top global accelerators, is accepting

applications for their Batch 17 cohort. Backed by an impressive list of Silicon Valley investors, Berkeley SkyDeck is open to startups from around the world. Apply here. Deadline: August 24,2023.

NIH SBIR & STTR Grant Funding Opportunities

The NIH Small Business Program is accepting applications for SBIR & STTR funding. Apply here. Deadline: September 5, 2023

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

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.

NASE Growth Grant

You could receive up to $4,000 for your small business through the NASE Growth Grants program. Since 2006, the NASE has awarded nearly $1,000,000 to members just like you through the Growth Grants program by providing small business grants. Apply here.

OpenGrants Affiliate Program

The OpenGrants Affiliate Program is a commission-based program that rewards affiliates for referring new customers to the OpenGrants API and WordPress Plugin subscriptions. Affiliates earn a 20% commission on any subscriptions sold to referred customers in perpetuity. 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.

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

OKRs: Driving Focus, Alignment, and Engagement with Ben Lamorte

In this workshop with Ben, you will have the opportunity to learn about the foundations of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). You will learn the framework and practical application of OKRs to drive focus, alignment, and engagement in your business. Register now. Date: August 29, 2023.

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

The Mark Haney Show - UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition Winners

Looking for some inspiration? The Mark Haney Show's latest podcast features conversations with UCDavis Big Bang! winners SchedGo and Square Solutions. Watch here.

DOE Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP) Demo Day 2023

In case you missed it, UC Davis-associated startup Pheronym Inc. CEO Dr. Kaplan presented the company's tech on June 7 in Chicago. The event showcased 20+ startups from the DOE LEEP. Watch here.

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.

Startup Traction Hotline with JDM

Growth, revenue, product-market fit, pitching, traction, business models, tools, tips, techniques, and whatever else is on your mind. Get advice that’s comprehensive, useful, and immediately actionable. Join every Thursday at 10:00 AM PT on YouTube for a live discussion of whatever’s on your mind. Learn more.

Regional Events

Running Lean - How to Systematically Build a Startup Workshop

Join the Carlsen Center and Ash Maruya, author, founder, and CEO, to hear practical advice for entrepreneurs in search for better and faster ways for building successful products. Date: August 16, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT on Zoom. Register here.

2023 Backyard Awards - Nominations now Open!

If you are a founder, investor, or partner in the Sacramento entrepreneurial ecosystem, chances are that someone has inspired, supported, or impressed you. Now’s your chance to share your appreciation and spread the love! Winners will be announced during the Backyard Awards Lunch which is a part of GFX2023 on October 5. Nominate now. Nominations due by August 25.

Startup Happy Hour at Capsity Coworking

Join StartupSac and the Carlsen Center for Startup Happy Hour, a monthly get-together where Sacramento-region entrepreneurs can connect, socialize and learn from each others' stories. Register here. Date: August 29, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM PDT

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

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 

For more information or for editorial comments, please email us.