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UC San Diego Office of Innovation & Commercialization

Accelerating Innovations to Market (AIM)

Accelerates commercialization of UC San Diego technologies with dual-use potential by providing funding, mentorship, and networks to help researchers and startups develop solutions for both civilian and defense applications, advancing them toward real-world deployment.

AngelPad

AngelPad Accelerator Program

Ranked #1 U.S. accelerator by MIT/Rice University's Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. A highly selective seed-stage accelerator in San Francisco and New York, accepting ~15 teams twice per year from ~2,000+ applicants. The 10-week intensive program covers product-market fit, target market definition, first validation, and investor meeting preparation. Has launched 150+ companies with $1.8B total funding raised. Portfolio includes Postmates, Buffer, Periscope Data, DroneDeploy, and 3 unicorns.

BEAM Circular Accelerator – gener8tor

BEAM Circular Accelerator – gener8tor

12-week hybrid accelerator in Modesto, CA for circular bioeconomy startups, providing $100K total support including $15K non-dilutive grant, $35K investment, and $50K campus credits.

JLABS San Diego (Johnson & Johnson Innovation)

Blue Knight Residency Program

A specialized JLABS residency in partnership with BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) focused on medical countermeasures and pandemic preparedness technologies.

Catalyst Business Accelerator

Provides free consulting and training to new and existing businesses, offering expertise in areas like accounting, marketing, funding, government contracting, and business operations through a network of service locations and outreach centers.

Innovation Hub (I-HUB) / Inland SoCal Accelerate Hub

Crucible Accelerator

An 11-week, no-cost and no-equity accelerator program for early-stage startups in the western US, run by the UCR Innovation Hub (I-HUB) as part of the Inland SoCal Accelerate Hub initiative funded by CalOSBA.

Cyclotron Road

Cyclotron Road Fellowship

A 2-year DOE-funded Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Supports entrepreneurial scientists with a living stipend, $100K+ in research support, startup curriculum, mentorship, and access to Berkeley Lab's world-class facilities.

Expert Dojo

Expert Dojo Growth Program

A non-equity community program for startups ready to scale that do not need investment from Expert Dojo. Includes monthly high-level training videos from experts, monthly AMA sessions with Dojo experts, exclusive perks and discounts, growth tracking, and complimentary tickets to Expert Dojo events. Top performers may transition into the Investment Program and receive referrals to outside VCs and investors.

Expert Dojo

Expert Dojo Investment Accelerator Program

Expert Dojo's core accelerator and venture investment program for pre-seed and seed startups. Invests $50K–$100K (SAFE notes) for 3.5%–7% equity. Provides Monday Accountability Sessions, Monthly Mastermind sessions (4/month), weekly expert training videos, warm introductions to VCs and investors, and Quarterly Demo Days. Over 260+ startups invested since 2018. Ranked among most active pre-seed investors in U.S. after Techstars and Y Combinator. Portfolio companies have raised an average of $3.7M. Focus on minority- and female-founded tech companies.

Larta Institute

Heal.LA Bioscience & Healthcare Accelerator

Accelerates early-stage ventures developing medical, digital health, and biotech solutions to address health challenges in Los Angeles, offering mentorship, strategic guidance, ecosystem connections, and non-dilutive funding to improve community health and equity.