What:

The winners of the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition will be announced Thursday night at a campus awards ceremony.

At stake is $50,000 in prizes, the largest pot in the competition’s 16-year history. The first prize award is $10,000 cash, plus $10,000 in in-kind services from Davis Roots, a local startup incubator with strong ties to both the university and the city of Davis. The second-place team will receive $5,000 in cash, plus $10,000 in in-kind services from Davis Roots. Attendees at the ceremony will select the $2,500 People’s Choice Award winner. 

Another $12,500 in cash prizes will be awarded to top concepts addressing biomedical innovation, clean tech, global poverty alleviation, and innovation in food and agriculture — all world-leading research areas at UC Davis.

“We’re pleased to see the high caliber of this year’s finalists,” said Cleveland Justis, executive director of the UC Davis Child Family Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which organizes and hosts the competition. “UC Davis has made a determined effort campuswide to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and the results are starting to pay big dividends.” 

When:

Thursday, May 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. (Reception begins at 5 p.m.; presentations and awards ceremony starts at 6 p.m.)

Where:

UC Davis Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, 500 Alumni Lane, UC Davis campus. 

Who: 

The five finalist teams will pitch their ideas at the awards ceremony: 

• Eclasstic, online learning platform with customized courses. Video
• ImmunoTag, biomedical innovation that prepares efficient antibody drug conjugates. Video
• Phoenix Lift, biomedical device to help treat dropfoot. Video
• Play Patch, wearable fertility tracker using basal temperature as a natural contraceptive method. Video
• Super Lithium Technology, clean technology with long-life batteries. Video

Keynote speaker: 

Anthony Soohoo, founder and CEO of Dot & Bo

Background: 

The Big Bang! is an annual business competition that provides workshops, mentorship, financing and networking to advance the startup process. New businesses are developed and pitched by interdisciplinary teams that draw from their business and technical expertise.

This year’s contest included 42 teams representing 120 aspiring entrepreneurs. Teams attend workshops to develop and hone their business concept during the competition, which starts in October and concludes in May.

More about the competition. 

There is no cost to attend the ceremony, but RSVP is requested. 

About the UC Davis Child Family Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The institute serves as the nexus for entrepreneurship education and research — and as a springboard for entrepreneurial initiatives — on the UC Davis campus. The institute brings science, engineering and business students and faculty together with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and corporate leaders in a highly collaborative environment that blends effective theory with hands-on participation and solution-driven innovation. The institute is a Center for Excellence at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.