A healthy beverage startup company found at the Rady School of Management placed first in the Ignite UC San Diego startup pitch battle, earning a cash prize of $5,000 and being named best product.
The company, headed by CEO Kabir Gambhir (MBA ’10), produces the drink Cascaraa, made from the sun dried coffee fruit of the same name, which hopes to provide a healthy alternative to naturally caffeinated beverages for younger audiences. Gambhir said he was inspired to create the drink after facing health problems with traditional caffeine, and applied his past experience within the medical field in creating the drink.
“Discovery was a big part of maintaining health and wellness,” Gambhir said. “ It’s something that I’ve really been inspired to share with as many people as possible.”
The restructured Ignite Startup battle format
now features a rap battle as a part of its competition, incentivizing companies
to find a creative alternative in pitching their ideas.
Gambhir, alongside fellow team member Renan Iwayama (MBA ’19) and a few members of the company, did just that, showcasing their rapping skills with their original song, “Drink Cascaraa,” a parody of Snoop Dog’s iconic, “Drop it Like it’s Hot.”
“It was a fun and
amazing way to challenge ourselves in writing the lyrics for the song from a
pitch standpoint,” Iwayama said, “I’d definitely approve of them doing
something like this again next year.”
Gambhir says he plans to
use the prize money in reinforcing the company’s marketing strategies by
partnering with Hello Advisor, a promotions and marketing firm, in order to
continue expanding their product across San Diego, with the eventual goal of
reaching all of California.
“We’re thrilled to be
working with them, and in using their guidance in looking for new strategies
and expand,” Gambhir said.
#RadyMade Startup Wins Pitch Competition was last modified: March 8th, 2019 by Matthew Wu
The adage “Rome wasn’t built in a day” rings true in the
startup ecosystem. Ask any entrepreneur about their journey from idea to
flourishing company, and they’re sure to offer up a list of individuals who
helped them along the way.
The Rady School of Management startup community has been
developing a network of successful entrepreneurs for more than 15 years,
launching more than 180 student and alumni-led companies in its short lifespan.
Although the network has always been happy to help those looking to get their
companies up and running, the School recently created a new mentorship program
designed to connect budding entrepreneurs with seasoned industry experts to
foster creativity and provide the students with a strong support system
throughout the early stages of their startups.
Developing Rady Innovators and Entrepreneurs (DRIvE) is a
donor driven initiative born out of a gift from UC San Diego alumnus Mark
Waxman (B.A. Economics ’70). The program began last year by collecting a community
of both Rady and out-of-network professionals looking to share their skills and
knowledge of various industries. Then, students participating in the StartR Rady
accelerator were hand selected to join the mentorship program. Once the student
participants and mentors were chosen, pairs were formed based on mutual
interests and needs identified by the students.
“The mentors were extremely involved from the very beginning
– they wanted to get as much information they could about the students and
their companies to see how they could help,” said Karen Jensen, Entrepreneur
Advocate at the Rady School. “Their investment in our students has been crucial
to the continued development of several startups launched here at Rady.”
Once the matches are made, mentors and mentees stay in touch
by connecting in person or on the phone to stay involved with the entrepreneurs
throughout their journey. The DRIvE program also hosts quarterly Monday morning
events that facilitate in-person interactions between mentors and mentees
through workshops, pitch presentations and networking.
“We start by working with students to identify their needs
and interests, then we match them with mentors who have experience in those
fields,” Jensen said. “Each student can
have up to three mentors with expertise in fields, such as finance, marketing
and product development so the students have a strong network.”
The benefits of
mentorship
The expectation for the program is for mentors to stay
engaged for at least six months, but several mentor/mentee pairs have continued
to stay involved after the official program is complete.
Mridu Sinha, co-founder of MelioLabs, participated in the
initial cohort of the DRIvE program to take her microbial identification
startup to the next level. MelioLabs created a microbial identification system
that screens for newborns at risk for infection, making it easier to identify
newborns who are at risk of sepsis – a condition that can be fatal for infants.
Sinha connected with June Chocheles, President of the
Chocheles Consulting Group and Athena Foundation Board Member, who helped her
learn the ropes of fundraising, marketing, branding and business scaling.
Due to the value of the program, she remains in contact with
her mentor to this day. She credits the rapid success of her company to her
mentor who has continued to support her throughout the development of her
company.
“June has a lot of experience starting and running
companies, so it has been a wonderful experience working with her,” she said. “
While the StartR Inclusion accelerator – formerly known as mystartupXX
–helped initially launch MelioLabs, the DRIvE mentorship program has helped
sustain and grow the startup.
“If you’re looking to take your company to the next level,
the DRIvE program is a great way to help,” she said. “The mentors are extremely
helpful and supportive and have the tools and experience you may not have yet.
The strong Rady network connects you to a number of professionals who are
willing and excited to help you.”
The next generation
of innovators
The success of DRIvE has created a vast network of
interested mentors eager to share their knowledge and skills with budding Rady
entrepreneurs. The mentor network continues to grow to include more Rady alumni
who know the potential Rady startup leaders have to offer.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are essential aspects of
the Rady School experience, and we’re doing whatever we can to expose our
students to as many opportunities as possible,” Jensen said. “We’re so thrilled
that students and mentors have been so actively engaged in the first DRIvE
cohort, so we’re excited to continue to grow the program.”
Expert Mentors Guide Rady Students to Entrepreneurial Success was last modified: March 6th, 2019 by Hallie Jacobs
Since 2012, with
the launch of mystartupXX, accelerators have had a presence on the Rady School
of Management campus. The mystartupXX program was a first of its kind startup
accelerator focused on building female-founded companies. Not long after, in
2013, StartR was launched with a goal of accelerating startups led by
entrepreneurially minded MBA students and alums, helping them achieve success
that was unseen in the school before the program.
As interest in
entrepreneurship has grown, so has the demand for additional programs to
support the diverse interests and talents of Rady School students. As the programs expanded their scope and
reach, more students and San Diego community members were exposed to the
burgeoning entrepreneurial landscape with the help of the resources and network
provided by the Rady School, thanks to programs like the Veteran Ventures and
Social Venture Accelerator.
Each of the
accelerators has undergone changes over the past year, with the most
significant being the expansion of mystartupXX to included not only female
founders, but those from diverse and traditionally underserved populations.
With all of these changes, this was the perfect opportunity to bring all of the
accelerators under the same umbrella and look forward to building on the StartR
brand. The new StartR will encompass the programs launched at the Rady School
to form a more unified and holistic entrepreneurial platform.
“The Rady School accelerator programs have helped to launch more than 55 ventures to date, and we hope to bring even more veteran, community, youth and diverse entrepreneurs into the startup world,” said Lada Rasochova (MBA ’08) Executive Director of the California Institute for Innovation and Development. “Bringing all of our programs together under the StartR umbrella will better tie them together, and will help us share resources and showcase our reach and commitment to diverse entrepreneurship.”
Rady School
entrepreneurial programs have exponentially grown since the launch of StartR
and mystartupxx, providing entrepreneurial resources to hundreds of students
and community members. The innovative approach of the program will continue to
shift and change, addressing the needs and trends in the startup world.
The first StartR Class
“The StartR accelerator
programs are in a fantastic position to help our students and community members
with their companies and ideas,” Rasochova said. “The Rady School is home to a
wealth of resources, from brilliant faculty, to a wide network of investors and
a number of workshops designed to help businesses get off the ground. We have
been able to create new programs based on interest and needs of entrepreneurs
in all sectors and at every stage of their journeys.”
New brand,
same focus
The
StartR programs all have the same goal – to help connect budding
entrepreneurs with the resources and opportunities necessary to taking new
companies and ideas to the next level. While StartR Rady is focused
specifically on helping Rady students and alumni launch their companies, the
other four programs are designed to help members of the UC San Diego and
greater San Diego communities.
StartR Rady
A new name for the
original six-month StartR program, it was created for Rady School affiliated students
and alumni who already have a business foundation. During the program, students
have access to a number of workshops, mentorship opportunities, networking
events and more. The program culminates with a pitch event where startups
present their companies to San Diego business leaders.
StartR Inclusion
Originally
mystartupXX, this program introduces early-stage founders from underrepresented
populations to the world of startups through mentorship, business education and
funding. StartR Inclusion strives to promote diversity in entrepreneurship
at UC San Diego and beyond. Teams must be affiliated with UC San Diego
(students at any level, recent alums, postdocs or students at local research
institutes) and must have a member of a traditionally underrepresented
population in a leadership role to participate.
StartR Impact
Businesses with a
socially-conscious focus are booming, and investors are eager to support
companies that also have a social mission. Formally known as the Social Venture
Accelerator, StartR Impact nurtures innovative, scalable companies that address
important social issues. The program is open to all UC San Diego undergraduate,
graduate and postdoctoral students.
StartR Veteran
StartR Veteran
was launched at UC San Diego in 2017 as Veteran Ventures to support veterans
looking to launch a business after serving. The 10-week program provides veterans
with the support and skill development necessary to be successful in
entrepreneurship. This program is open to veterans inside and outside of the UC
San Diego network who are interested in launching a business, or who are ready
to scale and raise capital for existing businesses. StartR Veteran is a
collaboration between UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, The Basement,
and Office of Innovation and Commercialization.
StartR Teen
It’s never too
early to start thinking entrepreneurially, and StartR Teen strives to introduce
middle and high school students to the world of startups. StartR Teen works to introduce
students to startups, successful entrepreneurs and potential career mentors to
showcase the exciting world of entrepreneurship in America’s Finest City.
StartR Continues to Startup was last modified: March 6th, 2019 by Hallie Jacobs
Seven Rady-affiliated startups advanced to the next stage of the third annual UC Entrepreneur Pitch Competition, which celebrates the innovative and collaborative minds within the University of California System.
Devised to connect entrepreneurs at all levels with resources and mentors to help scale and launch their startups, the competition offers entrepreneurial hopefuls the opportunity to win $15,000 in seed funding.
The competition is composed of two tracks — an early-stage track for startups in funding round pre-Series A, and a later-stage track for startups in Series A and beyond.
Rady Teams
Bevea — A healthy, sustainable produced beverage made from discarded coffee fruit.
Blue Latitudes— An environmental consulting agency owned and operated by women with a mission to develop cost-effective solutions to environmental issues.
LeadCrunch.ai— An innovative platform that increases business to business sales and marketing by providing users with ideal leads using artificial intelligence.
Navega Therapeutics— A breakthrough therapy designed to combat the use of opioids by producing non-addictive pain management for patients.
Skinalytics— Personalized skincare designed to target the specific needs of each client using machine learning that links with a mobile device.
SurfUP— A new way to rent surfboards using a mobile application that simplifies the process of finding and renting surfboards using the shared economy model.
Veocor Diagnostics— A cost-effective system that improves the care of patients at risk of having stroke using cloud-based artificial intelligence.
To support Rady startup teams, click the link and vote on the page. Voters are able to vote on multiple teams.
Rady Teams Advance in UC Entrepreneur Competition was last modified: January 30th, 2019 by Hallie Jacobs
Entrepreneurship is a fundamental aspect of the Rady School of Management educational experience. Whether students are pursuing an MBA, Master of Finance or Master of Science in Business Analytics degree, students have the opportunity to take an idea and transform it into a company at the Rady School. The StartR Accelerator – a free six-month long acceleration program open to all Rady School students and alumni – sets the stage for students to get businesses running through educational seminars, access to funding, mentorship connection and more. Recently, the StartR Spring Class of 2018 gathered to present their pitches to Rady School students, faculty, alumni and the San Diego business community.
Robert Sullivan, Dean of the Rady School of Management, kicked off the event by celebrating the success of the StartR program.
“Since its inception in 2013, the accelerator program has launched 61 companies,” Sullivan said. “Twelve of these teams have been accepted into the prestigious EvoNexus accelerator, and 60 percent of the teams that have been launched are still operational. StartR teams have generated more than $40 million in capital.”
A successful graduate of the StartR program returned to campus to speak about his company, CB Therapeutics. Sher Ali Butt (MBA ’16) entered the Rady School with an idea – to create cannabinoids without the use of marijuana plants. These compounds are not psychoactive. They do not produce a “high” or have potential for abuse and are already sold in the market similar to supplements. Since graduating from the Rady School, CB Therapeutics has been accepted into EvoNexus and Y Combinator, raised millions of dollars in funding and was recently selected as a finalist in a TechCrunch pitch competition in San Francisco.
“Rady was the best thing that happened to me and my business,” Butt said. “I came with an idea and left with a business. As a scientist, I was comfortable with creating the product, but I had no idea where to begin with the business side of things. CB Therapeutics would not have been possible without the Rady School.”
Here’s a look at the companies that were pitched at StartR Demo Day.
TrySpree
If you’re a fan of free stuff, TrySpree is for you. Developed by Ben Koonse (MBA ‘19), the website scrapes the internet to search for products offering free samples. The user is able to select free samples they’re interested in testing and choose to try them risk-free. TrySpree is then able to offer custom-selected samples to the customer based on their selections and interests. The company has created the most revenue out of any company actively involved with StartR, currently generating $1 million in revenue annually.
Hylite
Traditional shopping malls are struggling to meet the demands of dedicated online shoppers, but Rady School student Chuan He (MBA ‘18) is developing a solution to help both malls and customers improve their shopping experiences. Hylite is a precise marketing system that uses LED lights to identify preciswe shoppers’ location within a shopping mall. Shoppers are able to navigate better within a mall and can receive product offers from businesses in the location. Hylite plans to launch in China where almost 1,000 new malls were built last year alone.
AnalytixHub
Modern businesses have more data than they know what to do with in order to make informed decisions. AnalytixHub – launched by current student Fay Mehr (MBA ’19) – created a company that connects data scientists and analytics experts with companies and research institutions. The platform is also moving toward creating a database that provides advanced data analysis services and consultations on demand.
Bevea
Sugar-packed sodas are out and healthy beverage options are in! Bevea, created by Kabir Gambhir (MBA ‘10) creates beverages from a nutrient-dense coffee cherry byproduct. The beverage Cascaraa provides a solution for the 23 million tons of byproduct created annually while creating a low calorie, low sugar and delicious sparkling beverage. The drink comes in five flavors – original, mint basil, lavender, hibiscus, and rose chili.
Evolution Smart Bag
The average American woman owns 13 purses and handbags from seven different brands. To cut down on the clutter, Rady School graduate Suvi Tanninen (MBA ’18) created a smart bag designed to fit the needs of women on the go. The modular, washable and customizable bags come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes and are equipped with pockets that provide wireless charging.
In addition to the pitch presentations, Herb Meistrich was presented with the Guru Award in recognition of his mentoring support of students in the StartR program. The audience also voted on their favorite pitch and selected Koonse of TrySpree to receive a $500 check for his company.
Due to the success of their startups, each five teams have chosen to continue building their companies after graduating from StartR.
“It’s inspiring to see these teams succeeding and contributing to the local and national economy,” Sullivan said. “The Rady School community is proud of their efforts and we are looking forward to watching them continue to grow.”
StartR Demo Day Showcases Rady Innovation was last modified: October 9th, 2018 by Hallie Jacobs
San Diego has been the epicenter for a startup company revolution for years, launching innovative companies in biotechnology, consumer products, mobile applications, medical devices and more. To cater to the needs of the region, the Rady School of Management integrated startup-centric curriculum to encourage students to develop entrepreneurial skills necessary to launching a company or innovating systems and operations at existing companies.
Each year, entrepreneurs and innovators gather at San Diego Startup Week to celebrate the pursuits of local startups and entrepreneurs supporting America’s Finest City’s startup ecosystem. The weeklong event hosts panels, sessions and pitch competitions covering topics relevant to those in the industry. Topics covered marketing strategies, blockchain for startups, design thinking, app development and fundraising for success.
Four Rady School of Management alumni were invited to share their expertise and knowledge as startup experts at a variety of panel sessions.
Silvia Mah (MBA ’10) led three sessions – From Bench to Blockbuster, which explored how to turn an idea into a fully-functioning company, Choosing Your Unique Path for Passionate Entrepreneurs, and San Diego Startup Ecosystem, a panel analyzing the current state of San Diego’s startup scene and evaluating future projections. Mah is a startup expert, with two businesses dedicated to launching startups developed by women and minorities.
Lauren Lindner (MBA ’15), Director of Strategy for Brain Corp, hosted a talk titled Scaling an Artificial Intelligence Business: How to go from Local to Global. Brain Corp develops artificial intelligence technology with cloud-based capabilities.
Marcos Rivera (’07) spoke in part A and B of the Hiring Product Managers: The Who, What, When, and Why for Success. The two-part series explored the intricacies of hiring the right people for the complex position. Rivera works as a Program Director of Product Management for Vista Equity Partners.
Julio de Unamuno (MBA ’14) was a speaker in the panel titled Minorities Doing Crazy Sh*t. The diverse panel featured minorities who are leading startups in San Diego. De Unamuno’s company LabFellows, a Rady School StartR Accelerator alum, created a platform that simplifies the logistical needs of life science companies.
UC San Diego also hosted a Pedicab Pitch competition, which featured three experts judging pitches from participants. More than 40 people participated in the event, showcasing their 90 second pitches in one of downtown San Diego’s most popular forms of transportation – the pedicab.
Rady Takes San Diego Startup Week by Storm was last modified: July 18th, 2018 by Hallie Jacobs
Engineers and entrepreneurs work together to solve problems, but oftentimes there is a divide between the two schools on university campuses. Seeing the need to bring the collaboration between engineering and business to the startup realm, the Rady School of Management and the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego launched the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE).
The Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, which launched last year, links the Jacobs School of Engineering and Rady School of Management through the Rady School’s Lab to Market core sequence, which challenges students to build a business around a real technological innovation.
“We are forging new paths with the Technology Management and Entrepreneurism Fellowship Program and continuing to deliver on our promise to impact the innovation economy,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “The combination of our two world-class schools puts us in a position to do what no other institution has been able to accomplish.”
Since its inception, 17 engineering students have completed the inaugural course. Teams that have gone through the program have found success, such as obtaining funding, winning pitch challenges and receiving recognition at competitions around the country.
A shining example of the success of the program? South 8 Technologies, an endeavor launched at UC San Diego that features team members from both the Jacobs and Rady Schools. The company – which developed a breakthrough chemistry for batteries, allowing them to increase energy density at lower temperatures without compromising power – recently won first place at UC San Diego’s illustrious Entrepreneur Challenge. Additionally, the team will head to the National Clean Tech Business Plan Competition later this month hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“The classes taught us how to better pitch our tech to business people,” said Jungwoo Lee, a nanoengineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego and member of South 8 Technologies. “As engineers, we often describe a technological advance as something that’s X percentage better than Y. But to succeed in the business world, we need to describe our tech as something that results in greater value to the customer — something that is worth replacing the existing product.”
Students and recent alumni enjoyed working with Jacobs School of Engineering students because the collaboration opened their eyes to new possibilities and problem-solving strategies. Recent Rady School graduate Lloyd Hinostroza (MBA ’17) shared why he believed the program was beneficial.
“Without IGE I would have been unaware of the exciting work being done at the Jacob’s School that is being brought to the marketplace,” Hinostroza said. “And more importantly, I would not have had the opportunity to meet and work with the great research teams working on being the next market disruptors.”
Rini Abraham (MBA ’17) echoed the statement.
“I think this is a great option and would highly recommend future Rady students to actively seek IGE students and work with them,” she said. “Lab to Market serves as a great avenue to build the relationship between engineers and business students. This positive work environment is critical and I think it has given us a strong foundation for our careers.”
The overwhelming success of first group of IGE students has set the stage for the program to continue.
“The IGE partnership was built to bridge the gap and celebrate the strengths of both schools while working together to solve pressing issues,” said Sullivan. “The IGE students have proven that greater success can be accomplished when business acumen is combined with engineering skills.”
Entrepreneurs and Engineers Unite for Innovation was last modified: September 5th, 2017 by Hallie Jacobs
One thing that truly sets the Rady School apart from other MBA programs is that innovation is a foundation of the experience here and is integrated into every aspect of the school.
Lab to Market (L2M), the Rady School’s signature capstone series, provides MBA students the unique opportunity to develop a business from idea generation to market launch. Students have the option to choose between entrepreneur and corporate tracks, enabling students to craft a more customized MBA experience and benefit from the L2M series for their personal goals, whether that is along the lines of entrepreneurship or climbing the corporate ladder.
This month, full-time and part-time MBA students in the entrepreneur track formally pitched their companies to a panel of experts, consisting of two faculty members and three alumni, who gave them feedback on their ideas. Here is our roundup of each of the teams:
Full-Time MBA Companies
CB Therapeutics
Industry: Biotech
Company Concept: CB Therapeutics has developed a novel process for producing a wide range of cannabinoids, terpenes and other therapeutic compounds found in cannabis that will be non-psychoactive.
Why It Matters: Cannabis plant growth requires large amounts of land, cultivation, and resources. CB Therapeutics patent-pending biosynthetic production platform will be able to produce pure cannabinoids for less than 10% of the cost of plant-based production.
Company Concept: Veg makes growing veggies at home super simple by providing smart gardens, seasonal shipments, and cohesive information available on multiple platforms including an app.
Why it Matters: The concept leverages modern technology to reduce the time and energy it takes to grow at home.
China Financial Services
Industry: Financial Services
Company Concept: China Financial Services provides a new investment tool unique to the Chinese investment market, with access to historical data to make it easier to analyze the Chinese stock market.
Why it Matters: This tool would enable individual investors with limited financial industry experience to rely more on historical transaction data and less on price trends, enabling them to make better financial decisions.
Trivci
Industry: Technology
Company Concept: Trivici is an itinerary organization app tailored for group travelers that facilitates the organization and planning of holiday trips – utilizing social media to create a community of travelers that sparks innovation in travel styles.
Why it Matters: Trivci compiles traveler planning needs from start to finish in a single app.
Apollo Mail
Industry: Technology
Company Concept: Apollo Mail optimizes the email experience by converting email threads to the SMS layout as well as integration of additional services such as cloud storage, calendars and note taking applications.
Why it Matters: Apollo Mail aims to make email via smartphone as productive and efficient as email via a desktop computer.
Part-Time Weekend MBA Companies
Diabetes Educators
Industry: Education/Technology
Company Concept: Diabetes Educators offers a gamification to promote critical thinking for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) preteens and adolescents to educate new users on managing their disease and achieving optimal glycemic control through the use of their insulin pump.
Why it Matters: The game could potentially reduce the amount of current adverse events (AE) which occur in over 40% T1DM pump users per year, along with their expensive and devastating consequences.
Neighborhood Garden
Industry: Childcare
Company Concept: Neighborhood Garden is a community-driven, restaurant-like establishment that parents can go to with their children and have an enjoyable dinner for adults while their children are actively engaged.
Why it Matters: Neighborhood Garden offers a going-out experience with a focus on children and community, alleviating the headache that parents sometimes face taking their children to a restaurant.
VisiCELL
Industry: Technology
Company Concept: VisiCELL offers a clinically applicable, non-toxic stem-cell labeling solution that is readily internalized into cells and easily detected through an MRI in living organisms.
Why it Matters: This solution would enable a more successful and swiftly progress the right therapeutic candidates into late clinical trials, optimizing stem cell development pipelines and accelerating the time to market for the movement of the right cell therapy for patients from pre-clinical into clinical trials.
AirCourse
Industry: Technology
Company Concept: AirCourse will employ a top notch supply chain solution to help revolutionize the airport food experience.
Why it Matters: AirCourse would leverage innovation and technology to help alleviate the stress of finding quality food in airports.
Lauren Herr is the Social Media Manager for the Rady School. In her free time she can be found snapping landscape pictures and taking advantage of San Diego’s amazing beaches and coffee shops.
Roundup: Entrepreneur Track Lab to Market (L2M) MBA Startup Company Profiles was last modified: September 5th, 2017 by Lauren Herr
In a culture where the importance of racial, ethnic and gender diversity are often overlooked, the mystartupXX accelerator, a collaboration of the California Institute for Innovation and Development (CIID) and the Jacobs School of Engineering, is making a difference.
The idea for mystartupXX originated when Executive Director of CIID Lada Rasochova and her colleague Rosibel Ochoa from the Jacob’s School of Engineering attended a screening of The Social Network, a 2010 film loosely based on the origin of Facebook. Rasochova and Rosibel were both surprised by the lack of women in a domain where women are an important part of the target market.
“We looked in to all our incubator and accelerator programs, and we actually counted how many women we had in our programs. It turned out that we had only one woman in almost ten years of various innovation activities at UC San Diego. There were no females participating,” said Rasochova.
Together, Rasochova and Ochoa applied for and received a grant from VentureWell to fund a diversity-driven accelerator program at UC San Diego. The program now admits ten teams each year, and provides a place for teams to explore their start up ideas, network with each other, find new members, talk about the challenges of startups and share success. In addition, mystartupXX offers resources for startup teams, including mentorship from local entrepreneurs, IP advice, access to $100,000 in credits for Amazon Web Services and a workshop with various guest speakers from the community and beyond.
All UC San Diego students, including undergraduates, graduates and post-graduates from any school and any major are eligible to apply. In addition, alumni from UC San Diego who have graduated within the last five years at the time of application are also eligible.
mystartupXX focuses on creating effective teams by bringing together not only individuals of different genders, but also individuals with different backgrounds and life experiences to work on a single project or idea. The diverse skillsets of these teams prepare them well to creatively overcome the challenges of starting a company.
Since its inception in 2012 mystartupXX has made a huge impact on the entrepreneurial community, both at UC San Diego and beyond. According to Rasochova, a number of other programs which focus on similar diversity-driven goals have arisen in the last three years. In particular, Hera Hub and Rady School alum Silvia Mah’s (MBA ’10) Hera LABS, two organizations aimed at helping female entrepreneurs succeed in the business world, have been influenced by the program. Hera LABS and mystartupXX often collaborate to co-sponsor conferences and workshops to drive diversity in San Diego’s entrepreneurial community.
“In general mystartupXX is just a part of what the community is doing to try and really look in to diversity, because if we are not including some groups of the population the results are really limiting the impact and potential of companies,” said Rasachova. “If you are not using the ideas of 50 percent of the population you are really limiting economic growth, job creation and the competitiveness of the United States around the world.”
Applications for the 2015-16 mystartupXX program are now open! UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral students and recent alumni are eligible to apply and must submit an online application by November 15, 2015 to be considered.
Aleena Karamally is a student writer for the Rady School and a freshman at UC San Diego. She is a Human Development major and a member of the UC San Diego Equestrian Team.
The mystartupXX Accelerator Program Supports Diversity in the San Diego Community and Beyond was last modified: September 5th, 2017 by Aleena Karamally
have been accepted into the prestigious EvoNexus accelerator, and 60 percent of the teams that have been launched are still operational. StartR teams have generated more than $40 million in capital.”
In addition to the pitch presentations, Herb Meistrich was presented with the Guru Award in recognition of his mentoring support of students in the StartR program. The audience also voted on their favorite pitch and selected Koonse of TrySpree to receive a $500 check for his company.
San Diego has been the epicenter for a startup company revolution for years, launching innovative companies in biotechnology, consumer products, mobile applications, medical devices and more. To cater to the needs of the region, the Rady School of Management integrated startup-centric curriculum to encourage students to develop entrepreneurial skills necessary to launching a company or innovating systems and operations at existing companies.
In a culture where the importance of racial, ethnic and gender diversity are often overlooked, the