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University of California, Davis

Davis, CA·University
Explore 5 programs ↓Official campus site ↗

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Inside this ecosystem · 4 linked sources

UC Davis runs student venture competitions through the Mike and Renée Child Institute and an undergraduate accelerator, PLASMA, at the Student Startup Center. Big Bang! published a 2026 first-place award of $25,000 to an all-undergraduate team. Little Bang! awards $1,000 to as many as eight teams.

This page is compiled from public university and program pages. It has not been claimed or corrected by the school.

Include. UC Davis has two current pitch competitions with published cash awards and an undergraduate accelerator.

How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.

At a glance

Indexed programs

5

All currently active

Top direct funding

$25,000

Big Bang! Business Competition

Equity

Mixed equity terms

Program mix

3

Pitch Competition · Entrepreneurship Center · Accelerator

Programs to explore

Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.

5 programs indexed

Pitch Competition

Big Bang! Business Competition

Pitch Competition
Official site

Also: Big Bang, UC Davis Big Bang

$25,000

funding range

Direct fundingEquity variesannualActive
Last activity
2026-05-21
Participants
Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
Verification
Partially Verified

Accelerator

PLASMA

Accelerator
Official site

Also: UC Davis PLASMA

—

funding range

Direct fundingEquity variesannualActive
Last activity
2026-10-08
Participants
Undergraduate Students
Verification
Partially Verified

Entrepreneurship Center

Student Startup Center

Entrepreneurship Center
Official site

Also: UC Davis Student Startup Center

—

funding range

Indirect supportEquity variesongoingActive
Last activity
2025-02-21
Participants
Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
Verification
Partially Verified

From students

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Founders at this school

Funding and Equity

The prizes page lists $25,000 for first place and $10,000 for each of six sectors, and says the pool is over $100,000. A May 21, 2026 story says the ceremony awarded almost $100,000, described as $97,000 including three $4,000 residencies. Little Bang! is $1,000 for up to eight teams. PLASMA says it provides seed capital and does not state the amount or an equity term.

Recent Activity

Big Bang! 2026 awards were announced in May 2026, and the page says 2027 entries open in December 2026. Little Bang! 2026 has concluded, with 2027 registration described as opening in November 2026. The PLASMA page was live on October 8, 2026.

Known Startups and Winners

First Bite, an all-UC Davis undergraduate team, won the 2026 Big Bang! first-place prize of $25,000. Sector winners are described as six $10,000 awards. Their names were not in the captured story. Little Bang! 2026 winner names were not in the captured page text.

Research gaps & things to verify

Missing Information

PLASMA seed amount, equity, and deadline. Little Bang! 2026 winner names. A dedicated Student Startup Center page. Current terms for EQUIP and Blackstone LaunchPad. The Big Bang! total differs between the prizes page and the news story.

News & articles

4 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of California, Davis.

4 sources

Official sources(3)

University of California, Davis has a public page built from sources. If a detail is wrong, students still see it.

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