UC Davis Venture Catalyst
Overview
UC Davis Venture Catalyst helps researchers and founders turn UC Davis research and technology into startups and real-world applications. Part of UC Davis's Office of Innovation and Economic Development, it supports UC Davis-affiliated founders through its START program, funds proof-of-concept work through STAIR grants, and links early-stage startups with incubator space through the DRIVE network. STEM innovators from UC Davis and across the Central Valley and Sierra can apply to its NSF I-Corps customer-discovery training, which includes an agtech cohort. Eligibility differs by program, so founders and researchers can contact Venture Catalyst to find the right fit.
What they do
Research commercialization
Helps UC Davis researchers and affiliated founders move inventions, including food and agriculture technologies, toward licensing or a startup with proof-of-concept grants, mentoring, pitch coaching, legal connections, and entrepreneur-in-residence advice.
Customer-discovery training
Runs a regional customer-discovery course, including agtech cohorts, in which technology startup teams from Northern and Central California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska interview potential customers to test business models.
Incubator network
Links early-stage UC Davis-affiliated startups with a network of themed incubators near campus that offer shared office and lab space.
Programs and services
Locations
- Host office address Innovation and Economic Development Office, 300 Aggie Square, Suite 3121, 4480 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States