The 23rd annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition has once again returned and is now accepting applications.

The Big Bang! Business Competition provides a forum for innovators across California to collaborate, develop, and test business ideas. It helps entrepreneurs grow and find opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, learn and apply business concepts in interactive educational workshops, build their team, grow their network — and compete for almost $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. Eligible teams must have at least one founder affiliated with a California institution of higher education.

The 23rd annual Big Bang! will award prizes for the competition’s top innovation overall and the People’s Choice favorite, and for winning ventures in the following sectors:

  • Animal Health + Industry
  • Education + Educational Tools
  • Energy + Sustainability
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Human Health + Industry
  • Social Entrepreneurship

UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition Prizes

In addition to an overall prize, prizes are awarded in each of the sectors:

  • First Place – $20,000
  • People’s Choice Award – $10,000
  • Animal Health + Industry Sector Award – $10,000
  • Education + Education Tools Sector Award – $10,000
  • Energy + Sustainability Sector Award – $10,000
  • Food + Agriculture Sector Award – $10,000
  • Human Health + Industry Sector Award – $10,000
  • Social Entrepreneurship Sector Award – $10,000
  • Two in-kind services awards – $4,000 each

The competition format is as follows:

  • [Optional] Early Feedback Round – Deadline: January 20, 2023 by noon
  • Round 1 – Deadline:  March 1, 2023 by noon – final deadline to enter the competition
  • Round 2 – Deadline: April 6, 2023 by noon
  • Round 3 – Deadline: May 15, 2023 by noon

 

Learn more about the 2023 UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition

REGISTER NOW!

Since 2000, over 1,500 individuals and teams have participated in the annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition, the largest annual business competition in the Sacramento region. The Big Bang! has been a catalyst for launching dozens of local startups over the last 23 years.

“If you’ve got an innovative idea bring it to the Big Bang! There is no better program that I am aware of anywhere, and I’m not talking about just this community, I mean anywhere in this country, where you’re going to able to learn the nuts and bolts of starting a new company from the ground up, all the different stages, you can actually come with an idea and come out, potentially, with a check. The Big Bang! program not only teaches you, provides fantastic mentoring, then takes you through a process where you actually can be selected and they’re giving bigger and bigger prizes every year.” ~ Mike Hart, CEO of Sierra Energy