The Graduate School of Management’s Big Bang! Business Competition has announced new prizes worth $25,000 in support of innovative solutions in three areas: synthesis gas (syngas), resource efficiency in agriculture or food systems, and organizational transformation.

General registration for Big Bang! is closed, but the entrepreneurs among us have until April 11 to enter just for the new prizes, called challenge awards. The competition is open to UC Davis faculty, staff and students, as well as the general public.

Here are the new prizes listed with amount and sponsors:

• Synthesis gas (syngas) — $10,000, Sierra Energy
• Resource efficiency in agriculture or food systems — $10,000, Gowan Co. and AGR Partners
• Organizational transformation — $5,000, EVCO Plastics

“UC Davis’ core strengths in energy, agriculture, the environment and food are widely recognized by the business community,” said Cleveland Justis, executive director of the GSM’s Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which runs the Big Bang! Business Competition. “These challenge awards provide powerful new opportunities for the UC Davis community to drive innovation from the lab to the world.”

Fifty-seven teams registered for this year’s Big Bang! and the top 44 teams have advanced to the second round of judging. The Big Bang! provides workshops, mentorship, financing and networking to help aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs advance the startup process. The competition will conclude with an awards ceremony on May 25. Register here to attend.

More information about the challenge awards.

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