Changing the World, One Idea at a Time

Professor Andrew Hargadon founded the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship in 2006, based on the simple concept that the network drives innovation, and that our location at UC Davis would help us bring people together in uncommon ways to drive innovation and entrepreneurship.

Based at the Graduate School of Management, we brought a small cohort of scientists and researchers together with business people. Five years later UC Davis alumni Michael C. and Renee Z. Child gave $5 million to create an endowment that launched the institute, broadening our programming and reach. The result speaks volumes.

Today the institute helps UC Davis researchers find a path to commercialization and helps students across diverse academic disciplines develop the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, and tools that are critical to address the world’s complex social and economic challenges.

The institute also plays a key role in integrating innovative and entrepreneurial thinking and action across UC Davis and helps strengthen the university’s position as a catalyst for economic development in the region, state and beyond.