The annual Big Bang! Business Competition provides a forum for innovators to collaborate, develop and test business ideas—and compete for cash prizes.
The 25th annual Big Bang! kicks off on November 13 and concludes with finalist presentations and an awards ceremony in May. Register now for our Kickoff event!
Register for the Big Bang! on Startup Tree
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. Register for the Big Bang! Round 1!
The Big Bang! Workshop Series will give you the knowledge and skills you need to move from concept to company—and to effectively compete in the Big Bang! Business Competition.
For competition details and specifics, read more here:
Overview, Eligibility + Requirements
Meet a 2024 Big Bang! Winner: Birth By Us
UC Davis medical student Ijeoma Uche (pictured) and co-founder Mercy Oladipo, an MIT graduate based in Chicago, built a new vision for maternal health by combining data analytics with resources that can help patients achieve their best possible outcomes for themselves and their families.
Birth By Us won the $12,500 Social Entrepreneurship award in the 2024 Big Bang!. The app provides a digital platform that merges medical research with Black-focused, patient-centered care. It yields tailored visit preparation and recommends culturally responsive resources — which are especially crucial during the postpartum period, when parents often experience a drop off in provider support.
Competition Deliverables: Templates + Examples
Download the templates and examples below as needed.
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
Judging Criteria
Your entry to the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition will be judged on the following criteria:
| Problem/ Solution/ Value Proposition | 20% | Customer and Market | 20% | Business Model and Plan | 20% | Team and Advisors | 20% | Two-minute Video Pitch | 20% (Applies to Round 2 only) | Presentation and Pitch | 20% (Applies to Round 3 only) |
| • Well-defined problem • Well-articulated solution • Clear Value Proposition | • Clearly defined customer • Well-understood marketplace • Well-structured go-to-market approach | • Well-defined revenue model • Clear financial assumptions (revenue, costs, timeline) • Clear understanding of revenue requirements and usage | • Relevant domain and functional expertise • Clear roles and responsibilities • Well-positioned and relevant advisors | • Well-crafted and structured presentation • Well-presented pitch • Clear call to action |
Big Bang! Competition Rounds
Round 1: Executive Summary / Team Member Biographies
Round 1 requires submission of a two-page executive summary and a maximum one-page team member biography (for each team member) submitted via Startup Tree by the deadline listed below. Refer to templates and guidelines provided.
• Round 1 Deadline—March 3, 2025 by 1 PM: Submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted. This is a required submission to advance to the next round.
• Top teams advance to Round 2.
Round 2: Semifinals
The top teams advanced to Round 2 must submit the following deliverables via Startup Tree no later than April 7, 2025 by 1 PM. Refer to templates and guidelines provided.
• Two-Minute video pitch
• Detailed pitch deck (approximately 10 slides)
• Summary report of 20 customer call interviews (maximum five pages)
Submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted. This is a required submission to advance to the next round.
Top teams advance to Round 3.
Round 3 teams have the valuable opportunity to receive presentation feedback from mentors in an OPTIONAL "dry run" practice session rotation on May 6, 4-8 PM. The Dry Run Sessions will take place over Zoom.
Round 3: Finals
The top teams advanced to Round 3 must submit the following deliverables no later than May 12, 2025 by 1 PM. Refer to templates and guidelines provided.
• Presentation pitch deck (approx. 10 slides)
• Additional 10 customer call summary (maximum three-page summary)
Finalist teams present to a live panel of external judges on May 14, 2025. We will announce award winners at the Big Bang! Awards Ceremony on May 20, 2025.
All finalist teams must attend the final judging and awards ceremony in person at UC Davis.
Questions?
Please check out our FAQ page. If your question isn't answered there, email aggieinnovators@ucdavis.edu. We're glad to help!