UC Davis Student Startup Center

With finals closing in, students have still been busy attending the SSC’s workshops! At Tuesday’s #StartupSchool, groups practiced developing pitches using successful startups like Robinhood, Squarespace, and Masterclass. Take a quick study break and join us for our final events this week: #HackNight: tonight, 6-9PM #Hacking4TheNeighborhood with Meghan Phillips (Honey): tomorrow, 11AM #SpeakerSeries with Jon and Sarah Coss (Plum Identity): tomorrow, 1:10PM Best of luck with exams, and stay tuned for our exciting new speakers and events this spring!

At the Student Startup Center, we believe that addressing the next generation of global challenges begins with empowering the communities and innovators who understand them firsthand. Through our Cultural Connections initiatives—#BuildBlack, #ElevateHer, #AccessibleStartups, and #InnovAmigis— student managers have pioneered unique events designed to bridge the opportunity gap for underserved groups in entrepreneurship. By offering specialized tools, resources, and mentorship, Cultural Connections equips students with the skills and support they need to launch their careers as founders. Thank you to the UC Davis College of Engineering for showcasing Cultural Connections and its incredible events, spearheaded by student managers Elijah Yeboah, Olivia Bates, and Jorge Diaz! https://lnkd.in/gXncUggJ

At the Student Startup Center, we believe that addressing the next generation of global challenges begins with empowering the communities and innovators who understand them firsthand. Through our Cultural Connections initiatives—#BuildBlack, #ElevateHer, #AccessibleStartups, and #InnovAmigis— student managers have pioneered unique events designed to bridge the opportunity gap for underserved groups in entrepreneurship. By offering specialized tools, resources, and mentorship, Cultural Connections equips students with the skills and support they need to launch their careers as founders. Thank you to the UC Davis College of Engineering for showcasing Cultural Connections and its incredible events, spearheaded by student managers Elijah Yeboah, Olivia Bates, and Jorge Diaz! https://lnkd.in/gXncUggJ

Looking to learn what innovation means to investors? At #VCsatUCD, hear directly from the people and portfolios shaping today’s startup world. Join our weekly Q&A sessions to meet the movers and shakers of venture capital! Whether you’re an aspiring founder, investor, or eager to explore the ecosystem where innovation thrives, don’t miss the opportunity to ask questions, learn from experts, and forge connections to build your network. Visit Aaron Mondell Anderson's page for updates on our latest guests, and watch the trailer below to learn more about #VCsatUCD, filmed and produced by Video and Audio Managers Miles Barry and Ocean Chee!

Chancellor Gary May recently sat down with Simran Lallian, Co-Founder of EpiSense and Venture Development Manager, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey in Davis and its impact beyond campus. EpiSense, a medtech startup, uses EEG and machine learning to enhance epileptic seizure prediction, addressing a critical challenge in healthcare. In addition to winning first place in the 2024 #PLASMA cohort, EpiSense has earned national recognition, including success at UCSF's Startup Legal Garage and a win at the 2023 Blackstone LaunchPad Competition. Citing support from the SSC and its faculty, Simran has given back tenfold by applying lessons learned as a founder to mentor other student entrepreneurs. We’re incredibly proud to have Simran as a member of the Student Startup Center team and fortunate for her contributions! EpiSense's success and impact showcase the power of student entrepreneurship, and we can’t wait to watch its continued growth. Learn more in the podcast feature below! https://lnkd.in/gwwmtECH

Whether leading workshops on entrepreneurship or welcoming industry-expert guest speakers, no two days as a student manager are ever the same! Meet the team that helps bring the SSC's vision to life in our ongoing spotlight series, shared by Director Aaron Mondell Anderson. (Pictured: Siena Reale, Victoria Kerslake, Olivia Bates, Atmaja Patil, Elijah Yeboah, Travis Orem, Shruti Kakar, Lucas Fedronic, Nadia Iwach)

With our #PLASMA program in full swing, teams have been deeply immersed in learning to develop and scale their ventures! In our most recent workshop, we were excited to welcome Josh David Miller, Co-Founder of Traction Lab Venture Accelerator, who shared his expert insights on startup growth and strategy. After teaching a seminar informed by industry-exclusive insight, Miller worked directly with founders in two-on-one mentoring sessions to refine their strategies ahead of #DemoDay. Learn more about Miller’s work, publications, and presence in the startup ecosystem below! https://jdm.bio/links

Introducing the Hack Night Microgrant Program, hosted at the Student Startup Center! Have an independent project you've been wanting to build? Need funding for hosting, APIs, or hardware? Through the Hack Night Microgrant Program, the ASUCD Innovation and Research Lab is here to help! Whether you're exploring AI, game development, hardware hacks, open-source contributions, or experimental tech, this is your chance to turn ideas into reality. How it Works: - Form a team of up to 3 people, or work on your own - Attend all Hack Nights during the funding period (Thursdays, 6-9PM at the Student Startup Center) - Regularly demo your progress - Submit a clear breakdown of how the grant will be used Grant Tiers: - Tinkerer ($100) – Small-scale projects (2-4 weeks) - Hacker ($200) – Hosting, APIs, minor hardware (1-2 months) - Innovator ($300) – Larger infrastructure needs (1-2 months) - Visionary ($500) – Ambitious projects with significant costs (quarter-long) Applications close February 28th--submit your project idea below and bring it to life at Hack Night! https://lnkd.in/gv-rJxrS

Mark your calendars for next week’s mini-hackathon, hosted at Thursday's Hack Night in partnership with HackDavis! For those seeking a hands-on challenge, join us to design, code, and create for a chance to win merch and prizes!

At last night’s #Talking2Humans session, students two-stepped outside of their comfort zone during a line dancing lesson—even our student managers couldn’t stay off the dance floor! Through fun, ad-hoc events, #Talking2Humans encourages confidence, open-mindedness, and resilience, building the personal skills essential to entrepreneurship.  Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday, we look forward to seeing you at next Tuesday’s event!