Ready to make the leap into entrepreneurship? Gain the knowledge and skills you need to move from concept to company.
Register for the Big Bang! on Startup Tree by March 3, 2025
StartupTree is our competition platform where you will register your team and submit all deliverables. Please note that we cannot accept emailed submissions.
The UC Davis StartupTree community is your hub to expand your network—and learn about events, competitions, resources and programs on campus and beyond.
Learn to move your business idea forward in a series of five innovation workshops presented by business and investment leaders.
Our Big Bang! workshops are designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs. They provide the knowledge and tools you'll need to create the deliverables needed to compete in the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition, our Little Bang! Pitch + Poster Competitions—or begin any other entrepreneurial journey.
Workshops meet on Zoom from 12-1:30 PM and are free and open to the public.
Big Bang! Workshops
The Big Bang! workshop sessions combined with participation in the Big Bang! Business Competition will give you the knowledge and skills to move from concept to company or to succeed in whatever career path you chose. You'll learn to:
- Solve complex problems.
- Be a part of and effectively lead cross-functional and cross-cultural teams.
- Make connections and build your network.
- Thrive in challenging times.
Legal Foundations: Understanding IP and Venture Law (Watch the Video)
Presented by Vicki Lee, Partner, DLA Piper
Understanding the importance of and approach to intellectual property and venture creation is critical to building a solid foundation for a new enterprise. In this workshop, you will learn about patents, trade secrets, venture structures, and contracts from an experienced start-up attorney.
Business Canvas: Framing Your Approach (Watch the Video)
Presented by Joe DiNunzio, executive director, Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
A successful new venture starts with a clear understanding of the problem you want to address, the solution you are proposing, and the value proposition you are delivering. In this workshop you will learn about the core framework used by the Institute to help structure and define your overall approach to the business and the core elements of your 10-slide pitch deck.
Market, Business, and Technology Validation: Building Your Commitment (Watch the Video)
Presented by Joe DiNunzio, executive director, Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Understanding and validating the key assumptions about your market, your business, and your technology is central to your ability to define your early-stage efforts and build commitment – yours and those around you. In this workshop you will learn about the framework developed by the Institute to identify and address questions about the desirability, viability, and feasibility of your new venture.
Feb. 5, 2025, 12-1:30 PM | The Pitch: Telling Your Story (Watch the Video)
Presented by Angela Lindley, communications manager, Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Vanessa Errecarte, lecturer, Graduate School of Management
Authoring and delivering a compelling pitch are key differentiators for you and your venture. In this workshop you will learn from communication professionals about how to craft a compelling narrative that clearly articulates your vision, your product, your customer, and your plans to potential co-founders, partners, and investors (and Big Bang! judges).
Feb. 19, 2025, 12-1:30 PM | Business Model: Defining a Sustainable Enterprise (Watch the Video)
Building an economically viable enterprise – whether you are driven by mission or margin – is critical to achieving the impact you want to have with your venture. In this workshop you will learn from a financial expert about how to structure and share elements of a business model, including revenue, costs, and change over time.