2020 Big Bang! award winner PHIXED Systems advanced as a top 8 finalist in Blackstone Launchpad's annual pitch competition, StartUp Grind, a convening of leaders in technology and big brands at the forefront of innovation. for the chance to win $50,000 in prizes. PHIXED Systems is an advanced analytics platform technology for bio-manufacturing. Read the blog >

Christy Serrato, founder of Pair Anything, discusses how her platform can engage wine consumers with a digital experience, becoming even more relevant during COVID-19. Pair Anything won $10K in our 2019 Big Bang!. Read the article >

Origin Materials is going public in $925 million SPAC merger with Artius Acquisition Inc. John Bissell, founder/co-CEO of Origin Materials, participated in the 2008 UC Davis Big Bang! with technology for producing recyclable and sustainable materials.  

Jill Vialet, social entrepreneur, discusses why play works through the power of safe, fun and healthy play at school every day. The quarterly Think. Do. Discover. Speaker Series is brought to you by the Davis Entrepreneurship Network, organized by the UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and sponsored by Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars. Watch the video >

Siva Gunda has been appointed commissioner of the CA Energy Commission. He formerly served in several roles at UC Davis Energy and Efficiency Institute and is pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at UC Davis. Siva was one of our institute’s first Business Development Fellows. Read the announcement >

Our senior program manager, Niki Peterson, was featured on the All Things Napa radio show on KVON-AM - 1440 AM 96.9 FM. Peterson talks about our institute approach to innovation and entrepreneurship—and opportunities to get involved, including the UC Davis Big Bang! and the Think. Do. Discover speaker series. Listen to the show >

Christy Serrato, founder and CEO of Pair Anything, was featured on the All Things Napa radio show on KVON-AM - 1440 AM 96.9 FM. Pair Anything won $10K in the 2019 UC Davis Big Bang! for its platform to help wineries connect with customers beyond the tasting room by guiding them on wine and food pairings. Listen to the show >

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, shares his uncommon path to purpose in the first Think. Do. Discover. Speaker Series event. The quarterly Think. Do. Discover. Speaker Series is brought to you by the Davis Entrepreneurship Network, organized by the UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and sponsored by Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars.

Inventopia, a Davis startup incubator launched by 2008 Big Bang! winner Tim Keller, recently landed a $100K loan from the City of Davis to add specialized space needed by local entrepreneurs and new ventures. Its newest tenant, Peakb, develops naturally derived blue food coloring and was founded by UC Davis Professor Justin Siegel. Read the article>

Kellan Hays, 2014 Big Bang! winner and UC Davis alumna, has been named one of Inc. Magazine’s top 100 female founders. Hays co-founded Good Nature Agro, a social enterprise that helps farmers transition to higher-value crops and connects them with buyers to move the farmers from poverty to the middle-class. Read the profile >