UC students and startup founders can partner with dedicated business mentors and entrepreneurs in residence. EIRs bring extensive expertise and a long-term track record of success incubating and accelerating startup ventures across industries and markets.

Our mission is to empower creative problem solvers by providing training, access to equipment, and resources from ideation to creation.

This eight-week accelerator program is designed to help answer key questions about product-market fit, customer acquisition and funding sources. With cohorts running three times a year, selection to the Venture Lab Accelerator is competitive and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Venture Lab Accelerator applicants must complete our Digital Pre-Accelerator before applying, though we’ll consider business ventures with demonstrated traction.

The online Digital Pre-Accelerator helps you build a business model, master customer discovery and craft a compelling story, all at your own pace. Finish the Digital Pre-Accelerator to earn a UC microcredential and meet with Venture Lab staff about next steps.

The Venture Lab NEXT Accelerator is a 12-week, student-only startup accelerator program that takes place in the summer. It curates peer-to-peer learning, offers direct funding to startups and prepares you to enter the marketplace by engaging with venture capitalists or angel investors.