NuCicer has developed chickpeas with 75% more protein than conventional varieties.

NuCicer, a UC Davis-associated agri-food technology startup pioneering ultra-high protein chickpeas by harnessing the rich biodiversity of wild chickpea relatives, recently announced the closure of an additional $7 million seed investment round. The funding, led by Leaps by Bayer - the impact investing arm of the German chemical and agricultural giant Bayer AG, will allow NuCicer to expand work with downstream partners and customers, and scale production for commercial launch in 2023. “We are truly making a difference in the food system,” said co-founder Kathryn Cook. “Expanding affordable, scalable plant protein beyond currently available soy ingredients is a critical and urgent need for our food system."

2022 Nordic Food Summit Hosted by UC Davis

On Nov. 2, UC Davis hosted the Nordic Food Summit, a platform to bridge startups, investors, and industry leaders from the Nordics and Silicon Valley devoted to building a sustainable food system. The annual summit is a collaboration between UC Davis, Business Sweden, UC Berkeley, Sweetfarm, SACC-SF/SV, and Björn Öste, founder of Oatly.

As the market for sustainable food and ag solutions continues to grow, investors are actively seeking to fund startups with sustainable missions. The Nordic Food Summit was specifically created to help facilitate transatlantic investor connections, as well as connections to the wider foodtech and agtech ecosystems with the goal of highlighting the latest food innovations coming out of the Nordics.

UC Davis and Barnstorm Announce Partnership to Tackle Health and Sustainability

The Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis, and the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health will partner with Barnstorm Foundry, a food and heath startup foundry, to discover new markets for novel food ingredients and products that are nutritious, sustainable and accessible. The new partnership will engage the Graduate School of Management’s MBA students to evaluate food tech opportunities and publish publicly available reports on their market potential. “Bold innovation is needed to tackle the health and sustainability challenges facing our food system today,” Barnstorm Foundry Managing Partner Aryeh Ganz said. “UC Davis is at the center of a world-class food tech ecosystem, and this new partnership will identify exciting new markets for food technologies that can have an impact.”

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kicks Off at the Carlsen Center at Sacramento State

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a week-long celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship that takes place in ecosystems around the globe. The Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Sacramento, has teamed up with several regional Sacramento businesses and academic institutions to offer a full-week of events, activities, competitions, and networking focused on innovation & entrepreneurship, such as the UC Davis Little Bang! Pitch + Poster Competition hosted by the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UC Davis.

UC Davis Awarded $6.2 Million Grant to Further Strawberry Breeding

The federal government is awarding $6.2 million to the University of California, Davis, to study how to use breeding and genetic information to protect strawberry crops from future diseases and pests. The four-year grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) centers on addressing expanding and emerging threats to strawberries, a popular fruit packed with Vitamin C and key to the diets of many Americans. As the strawberry industry has lagged behind crops like tomato and wheat when it comes to genetic and technical innovation, the grant signifies that “now they want the foot on the accelerator," according to Steve Knapp, director of the Strawberry Breeding Center and a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Sciences.

UC Davis Research Celebration and Exploration

This year UC Davis reached a major milestone, surpassing $1 billion in research funding, a goal achieved by fewer than 20 public universities across the nation. This accomplishment is the result of our exceptional research community and reflects a commitment to think beyond what is expected.

To celebrate, the Office of Research hosted a special event where some of our most visionary researchers and innovators shared their most audacious ideas untethered to expectations and intended to stimulate new thoughts, research, innovation and collaborations. Topics included health, technology, environment, spaceflight and more.

Funding Opportunities

ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund

The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund is designed to target a raise of $20 million in philanthropic funding to scale high-impact solutions to food waste. Deadline: Nov. 30, 2022

Grants for Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Call for proposals for grants to promote multidisciplinary collaborations focused on one or more of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Deadline: Jan. 9, 2023

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.



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

Write to Win: Your Executive Summary

Join Ken Andersen, a continuing lecturer in the University Writing Program and assistant director for business writing, and learn how to define your business in a concise and well-written executive summary. Date: Nov. 16, 2022, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (PST)

GHVINO Forum of America

The Ghvino Forum aims to advance the understanding of the origin of vine and wine culture, exploring the intersection of wine, society, and business. Date: Nov. 16, 2022, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (PST)

PLASMA - UC Davis Student Startup Center Accelerator Virtual Q&A

Are you a UC Davis undergrad with the next big idea? Come join a Q&A session and checkout PLASMA! The early-stage cohort accelerator for UC Davis undergraduate entrepreneurs. Date: Nov. 17, 2022, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (PST)

Startup Grind with Mark Haney of Growth Factory

Grab a slice of pizza and be part of a fireside chat with the Growth Factory co-founder Mark Haney during your lunch hour. RSVP here. Date: Nov. 18, 2022, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (PST)

Joint Seed Central and CRTI Event

Focus on new genetic technologies and their potential application to processing tomato: scientific, regulatory and commercial considerations. Register here to attend. Date: Dec. 1, 2022

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

Featuring special guest speaker Imtiyaz Khanday, director of research at the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis. Register here to attend. Date: Dec. 8, 2022

Sacramento Entrepreneurial Academy

Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy (SEA) is a real-world business program designed to fast track you on the journey to entrepreneurship. Start your entrepreneurial journey today! Application Deadline: Dec. 10, 2022

Regional Events

Global Entrepreneurship Week - Sacramento Area

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a massive campaign to celebrate and empower entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world with activities and workshops! Dates: Nov. 14-17, 2022

Kwanzaa Workshop and Gala Celebration

Everybody is invited to discover a deeper understanding our "California Grown" Pan African "First Fruits of the Harvest" global celebration. Register now. Date: Dec. 26, 2022, 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM (PST)

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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