Founders Program
Rolling admission for any UC Davis student team with an idea. Start any week of the year, and earn escalating stipends as you reach verified milestones.
Three milestones, escalating stipends
Each milestone you clear with your Founders Program advisor unlocks the next stipend tier. There is no cohort calendar to wait for.
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Milestone 1
Validated customer discovery
Interviews and market discovery that show the problem is urgent to real prospective buyers.
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Milestone 2
Working minimum viable product
A working hardware prototype or software build, in the hands of early users for testing and feedback.
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Milestone 3
First sale or signed LOI
Early paying customers, clinical pilot agreements, or commercial letters of intent.
Who the Founders Program is for
Committed founders
Teams already working on a real venture. Many are PLASMA alumni, ENG 108 finishers, senior design teams, or Big Bang! and Little Bang! competitors who want to keep building after the competition. Big Bang! and Little Bang! are hosted by the Child Institute (IIE), Graduate School of Management.
Separate from PLASMA
The Founders Program and PLASMA have separate applications. PLASMA is a fixed 12-week cohort. The Founders Program takes teams at any stage, any time of year.
The Certificate
Completing the Founders Program is one way to finish the practicum for the Certificate in Entrepreneurship. See the full requirements.
Ready to start?
Apply any week of the year. Questions first? Email startup@ucdavis.edu, or come to Hack Night and ask in person.