Professor Tony Simon demonstrating his virtual reality healthcare innovation VR device

About Us

Become an Aggie Innovator

At the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we believe that UC Davis students, faculty and staff have a responsibility to change the world.

And that we have a responsibility—and the tools, knowledge and expertise—to help you do just that.

We help researchers find a path to commercialization—and help students develop the entrepreneurial mindset needed to solve our world’s challenging social and economic problems.

We believe entrepreneurship is not only about starting a company, making money—or a calling for a select few.

Rather, entrepreneurship is
  • looking past the status quo.
  • a mindset and skillset to be learned.
  • putting knowledge into practice.
  • learning the power of the network.
  • solving important problems.
  • making a positive and lasting change.
Postdoctoral researcher and Business Development Fellow Denise Bronner
As a UC Davis postdoctoral scholar and Business Development Fellow, Denise Bronner won several prizes in the 2018 Big Bang! Business Competition. Today she is director, senior global feasibility lead — immunology at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Open to all

We are committed to providing access to all UC Davis students, staff, and faculty members who have interest and motivation. We actively recruit and engage traditionally underserved innovation and entrepreneurship communities, including:

  • women;
  • Black people;
  • Latinx people;
  • first-generation students;
  • members of the LGBTQIA community;
  • underresourced people and communities.
Explore our programs—and launch your entrepreneurial journey
  • Entrepreneurship academies
  • Fellowship programs
  • Business and poster competitions
  • Convening events, from conferences to keynote speakers to networking mixers and more
We invite you to explore our website and discover how we can help you develop your entrepreneurial mindset to create positive and lasting solutions in food, global health, climate change, energy and more.