Seven UC Davis students from four startup teams did just that when they took on the Big Apple, attending the third annual LaunchPad Propel to show 19 other attending universities #aggieinnovation in action to and how #aggieinnovators are creating solutions in sustainability and social impact.

I come from a household of six people and 24 eyes—everyone in my immediate family, including my four-year-old sister, wears glasses.

Growing up, my frames were usually purchased from the optometrist office and had price tags in the hundreds; they were easily the most expensive thing I wore. I am fortunate that my parents’ company insurance covered lenses and frames, but not everyone with impaired vision has that access to care. 

Japa, founded by UC Davis undergraduates Mathew Magno and Charles Chen, won a 2019 Sacramento Region Innovation Award for their smartphone app, which shows drivers the real-time availability of parking lots and structures. Vite Kitchens, founded by UC Davis alumni Tim and Tom Zheng, also received an award for their nutrient-rich instant ramen meals. Read the article >

“It does not take a genius to create something of high value, but instead dedication to the process and grit to push oneself beyond the mundane. We are all capable of being an entrepreneur, in some form or another, if we apply the right tools and empower the creator inside us.”

​—Sana Karimi | Sociology Major

Maria Artunduaga, a translational physician-scientist, took home the $20,000 first prize in the 19th annual Big Bang! Business Competition at the University of California, Davis (held May 23). Her innovation: a wearable device that uses acoustic sensors, data signal processing and artificial intelligence to predict and prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks.

18 teams receive $500 microgrants in first of three competitions

Thirty teams of UC Davis students from across the academic spectrum tested out their business ideas on December 7, 2017, in the first of three Little Bang! Poster Competitions.

The UC Davis Big Bang! is an annual business competition that calls on students and the public to bring their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to the bustling college town of Davis, Calif. Participants gain access to valuable resources, seasoned entrepreneurial mentors—and the chance to win big. This year, the prize money is upwards of $90,000 and growing.

Promising startups showcase ventures in UC Davis business competition

Medical device startup Raydiant Oximetry Inc., maker of a fetal pulse oximeter that keeps mothers and babies safe during childbirth, won the $10,000 first prize in the 17th annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition on Thursday, May 25.