Aggie Venture Accelerator

Welcome to the Aggie Venture Accelerator

The Aggie Venture Accelerator (AVA) is focused on supporting early-stage life science startups seeking to solve complex problems at the interface of human, animal and planetary health. We will back innovators confronting what we believe to be life’s most urgent challenges in an effort to bring a fuller, healthier and more resilient world within reach.

Over the past decade UC Davis has supported the launch of 300+ startups that have collectively raised over $4B. AVA will give new founders an opportunity to join a community of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives focused on making societal and economic impact.

Why AVA? World Class Partners.

The University of California, Davis is partnered with The March Group (TMG), a thematic early-stage VC investor with deep innovation expertise focused on startups with the potential for industry paradigm shifts in food and health accelerated by exponential technologies. The Aggie Venture Accelerator Fund, managed by TMG, will invest in select startups participating in the accelerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What kind of companies are you looking for?  Who can apply to AVA?
• The Aggie Venture Accelerator prioritizes:
  -    Early-Stage startups seeking Pre-Seed -to-Seed funding
  -    Science or technology-based life science/biotech startups with the potential for paradigm-shifting impact on human, animal, or planetary health
  -    Deep-science startups focused on venture backable solutions with meaningful value inflection points achievable within six months.
  -    Teams with at least two members, with one of those people being at the C-Level working full-time on the startup
  -    Teams with rights to—or a clear path to securing rights to—a core enabling technology or invention
  -    Teams who have completed a Regional I-Corps training hosted by a National Science Foundation I-Corps Hub, or equivalent training in the Customer Discovery methodology.
• How much funding is offered?
• The investment of $250,000 is comprised of two post-money SAFEs, executed simultaneously. The first is $175,000 in cash and the other is equal to the $75,000 investment for the program (infrastructure, resources, and services) UC Davis provides to each participant.
• I don’t have a company, can I still apply?
• If your team has a compelling technology and validated value proposition, but has not yet formed a company, please contact us to check eligibility. If accepted, in order to receive investment, your startup will need to be incorporated within the USA before the start of the program. Under certain circumstances—such as through an existing UC Davis affiliation—we may be able to offer resources to accepted startups to facilitate company formation prior to start of the program.
• What does the program entail?
• This intensive, hands-on program, which operates across both Sacramento and Davis, features a four-month, cohort-based model designed to help startups refine their business strategies, validate market opportunities and prepare for fundraising. Participating teams will receive weekly mentorship, access to domain experts and curated connections to industry partners and investors.
• Do you have access to a lab?
• Our team can help facilitate access to incubator space, office space and specialized equipment in the greater Sacramento region.
• How much work is required?
• It is expected that at least one of your C-Level team members can commit to your company and the program full time. AVA is an intensive program, requiring an estimated 10-13 hours a week of structured programming and out-of-classroom work while simultaneously working on daily operations and executing on key objectives during the 4-month period.   For example: 
  -    At least 1 team member must attend each cohort-based session (most Tuesday and Thursday mornings, mostly in-person); 
  -    There will be up to 1 hour of pre-work and/or 2-3 hours to create post- session deliverables associated with the interactive “in-person” cohort sessions; 
  -    The startup point-person is expected to meet with the program Director for weekly office hour check-ins to monitor progress, trouble-shoot, and offer resources (usually Wednesdays or Thursdays); 
  -    Ad-hoc action items with your legal counsel, service providers, mentors, and team members to achieve strategic milestones during the program
• Do I have to be a UC Davis-associated startup to apply?
• Born at UC Davis and built for the world, AVA accelerates startups that carry the Aggie spirit. We focus on UC Davis-associated ventures—those fueled by our students, staff, faculty, IP, incubators, accelerators or strategic collaborations. Our mission is to create a multiplier effect, turning campus innovation into market-leading impact. If you’re part of our ecosystem or ready to integrate into it, you belong in AVA.
• How does the application process work?
• Apply online and our team will read and review your application.
  
  If we’re interested in learning more, we’ll reach out to set up a brief interview with your leadership team.
  
  Select teams will be asked for further due diligence materials and referred to the AVA program and the AVA fund's investment committee to be considered for an offer for the next cohort.
• Additional questions?
• If you have other questions about the Aggie Venture Accelerator, email us at [email protected].