Build Startups.
While at UC Davis.
We are build-first. An engineering center where undergraduate Aggies discover, launch, build, and scale startups that solve problems that matter.
Built for Founders & Early Joiners
Whether you start your own venture or become the 2nd, 5th, or 20th person at a high-growth startup, we equip you with real hands-on product engineering, customer discovery, and execution skills.
Food & Agriculture
AgTech, biologicals & food systems.
Human & Animal Health
MedTech & Aggie Square hub.
Climate & Environment
Decarbonization & CleanTech.
Open / Founder's Choice
AI in physical & digital systems.
Everything You Need to Build
Open to all undergraduate majors and disciplines across UC Davis.
PLASMA Venture Accelerator
12-week structured cohort with mini-cohorts of 5–7 teams across Health (Aggie Square) and Open tracks. Teams receive stipends throughout, finishing with live Demo Day cash prizes and an Alumni Dinner.
EIR Program
Rolling admission for any team with an idea. 3 key milestones: Customer Discovery → Working MVP → First Sale, with escalating stipends.
Certificate Program
Earn the verified Credly Certificate in Entrepreneurship badge with ENG 008, ENG 108/H4, electives, and a hands-on practicum.
The Front Door & VR Lab
Drop-in collaborative center where ENG 9 meets, cohorts gather, and teams build. No appointment needed.
Team Coworking Lounge
Dedicated desks for active teams, rolling whiteboards, screens, and sprint spaces for venture development.
Rapid Prototyping Lab
3D printing, Glowforge laser cutting, soldering, hand tools, and testing benches guided by student managers.
Find Your Startup Pathway at UC Davis
Explore programs via instant Live Matrix filters or take the 3-step Guided Advisor to get matched with courses, makerspaces, seed grants, and faculty leads.
How to Engage with the Student Startup Center
Dedicated pathways designed for undergraduate & graduate builders, alumni investors, and university partners.
For Students & Builders
Whether you have a raw idea or a working MVP, access free 3D printers, pitch for milestone stipends in EIR, join PLASMA, and earn the Certificate in Entrepreneurship.
- ✓ Open to all majors (no business prerequisites)
- ✓ Fulfills degree certificate requirements
- ✓ Free filament & rapid prototyping tools
For Alumni, Mentors & VCs
Mentor high-growth student founders, sit on Demo Day judging panels, host founder firesides, and gain early access to breakout venture dealflow.
- ✓ 1-on-1 EIR & PLASMA team mentorship
- ✓ Exclusive invite to annual Alumni Dinner
- ✓ Access to YC-caliber student talent
For Faculty & Campus Partners
Collaborate on Innovation for Impact challenge tracks, license research IP into student ventures, and partner across College of Engineering programs.
- ✓ Sponsor multidisciplinary course sprints
- ✓ Partner with Aggie Square & CITRIS
- ✓ Support student career placement
See Aggie Founders in Motion
From late-night prototyping sprints in Bainer Hall to live investor Demo Days at Aggie Square.
3:15 • Demo Day Reel
PLASMA Demo Day Pitch Showcase
Student founders take the stage pitching healthcare devices, AI tools, and CleanTech solutions.
2:45 • Facilities Tour
Inside the 1124 Bainer Prototyping Studio
A 60-second walkthrough of our 3D printing farm, laser cutting studio, and electronics workbenches.
4:10 • Founder Stories
From Classroom Project to Venture Capital
Hear firsthand from alumni who turned class projects into VC-backed startups and Y Combinator companies.
Built by Students. Backed by the SSC.
Hear from undergraduate founders who scaled from Bainer Hall to Big Bang! awards and venture capital.
“The hardware lab in 1124 Bainer gave us the 3D printers and rapid testing capabilities to build 25+ prototypes of our neonatal tube holder. SSC mentorship directly guided our Big Bang! win.”
First Bite Founders
Neonatal MedTech • Big Bang! Winner
“Starting a diagnostic medical venture while in engineering school felt daunting until we joined the SSC. The mentor check-ins and pitch feedback gave us the roadmap to validate our technology with real clinicians.”
Alana Paje & Keira Patel
Co-Founders, MammoTEN
“The milestone stipends in EIR kept our runway alive. Demonstrating validated customer discovery and first sales gave us the metrics we needed to pitch venture angels.”
Arnav Akula & Dante Romero
Co-Founders, Customera
From the Aggie Startup Dispatch
Articles, playbooks, and founder interviews from across the UC Davis entrepreneurship network.
How First Bite Won Big Bang! with Neonatal Innovations
How rapid 3D prototyping and 50+ clinical interviews in Bainer Hall produced an award-winning medical device.
Demystifying EIR: 3 Milestones to First Sale
Why rolling admission and progress-based stipends give undergraduate founders maximum runway.
Inside ENG 108: Hands-on AI Ventures
How students build and launch full-stack AI products with Dr. Alfredo Costilla Reyes at eng108.ai.
Connect with @ucdavis.startup
Follow daily reels, student builder spotlights, hackathon live streams, and founder announcements on our official social media channels.
Subscribe to the Weekly Dispatch
Receive verified grant opportunities, EIR application alerts, and guest speaker announcements.
Ready to Build Your Venture?
Join PLASMA, apply for EIR milestone stipends, earn the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, or visit Bainer Hall 1503 & 1124 this week.