Look Before You Leap

Look before you leap.

This saying resonates with planners and low-risk takers and had always seemed to serve me well.

I started my UC Davis online MBA just as the pandemic hit and the world reeled. Risk was everywhere. By the end of my first academic quarter, life and planning were at a standstill, except for Zoom. I was worried about the future and even considered leaving the program. The fear of not knowing what might lie beyond the jumping off point had me doubting myself.

Breathing Easier

Meet an inspiring changemaker for a better world. UC Davis alumnus Benjamin Wang, founder of NeVap, is featured in UC Davis Magazine for his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang won the 2014 Big Bang! Business Competition for his innovation of a breathing tube that minimizes the potential for infection. Read the article >

The Power of Empathy in Entrepreneurship

“We tend to celebrate the light bulb moments, but creativity is only one part of the larger puzzle that is innovation...empathy tends to transform your understanding of the problem.” Professor Andrew Hargadon shares his perspective on empathy and care in the entrepreneurial process in Comstock's Magazine. Read the article >

2023 Big Bang! Finalist Pitch Videos

The UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition provides a forum for innovators to collaborate as they develop and test business ideas.

View our 2023 finalists' videos below and learn about their innovations.

Congratulations, 2021 Big Bang! Finalists

Congratulations, 2021 Big Bang! Finalists Forty-five teams—representing 135 aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs—entered the 21st annual UC Davis business competition.

The competition drew students and alumni from across UC Davis, as well as from colleges and universities throughout California. Together, the Big Bang! and Little Bang!

Growing as an Aggie Innovator

Most of the time, small things are overlooked and go unnoticed.

People assume that it is just one small item. How much harm can it really do? 

When our group came together in a biodesign class, we wanted to bring attention to small things everyone uses—such as bandages, which millions of people use and that can add up to have a negative impact on the environment. Our product, Biobandage, is a 100% plastic-free, kombucha-based bandage designed to help heal wounds faster than traditional adhesive bandages. Biobandage uses kombucha’s byproduct, bacterial cellulose.

PHIXED Systems Finalist in StartUp Grind

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 >