The campus field guide
University of California, San Diego
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Inside this ecosystem · 3 linked sources
UC San Diego supports student founders through The Basement and through the Rady School's Sullivan Center. The Basement runs LaunchPad, Founders Studio, and i4X. The Sullivan Center runs StartR accelerators and describes a Rady Venture Fund tied to graduate venture-capital courses.
This page is compiled from public university and program pages. It has not been claimed or corrected by the school.
Include. UC San Diego has a current student LaunchPad with a 2026-27 cohort and a Rady accelerator open to undergraduates.
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
3
All currently active
Top direct funding
Direct funding available
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
2
Accelerator · Incubator
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
3 programs indexed
Accelerator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Partially Verified
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funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-06
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Incubator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
From students
Be the first student from University of California, San Diego to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
Basement LaunchPad says proof-of-concept prototyping funds are available subject to availability. StartR pages describe training and mentorship and say the programs have supported over 300 companies that have raised over $200 million in twelve years. The Rady Venture Fund is described as making equity investments while training students in venture courses.
Recent Activity
The Basement LaunchPad page says Fall 2026 applications were due Tuesday, October 6, and that the Fall 2026 cohort runs from October 2026 through May 2027.
Known Startups and Winners
StartR's aggregate outcome (over 300 companies and over $200 million raised) is stated. Individual current student companies are not named on the pages used here.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
Prototyping-fund amounts, StartR stipend or equity terms, and Rady Venture Fund check size.
News & articles
3 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of California, San Diego.
3 sources
Official sources(3)
University of California, San Diego
The Basement LaunchPad
The Basement LaunchPad is for UC San Diego students with a startup, small business, or social innovation idea. The page lists a tailored curriculum, an assigned mentor, coworking, subject-matter experts, priority use of the prototyping lab, curated funding sources, proof-of-concept prototyping funds subject to availability, makerspace access, and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization startup toolkit. Undergraduate students can receive AIP 197 credit, and the program is approved for the co-curricular record.
Read on University of California, San Diego
The Basement Founders Studio
University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The Basement Founders Studio
Founders Studio is The Basement's exploratory pathway for students refining ideas. The page says it can be a step into LaunchPad. Benefits listed include subject-area experts, an online curriculum, possible proof-of-concept prototyping funds, coworking, and co-curricular credit. The program is by invitation, with partners in schools, departments, and student organizations.
Read on University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
StartR Accelerators
The Sullivan Center says StartR is a multi-session accelerator for students, alumni, and researchers, with mentorship and training from concept toward impact. Tracks named on the center pages include StartR Stage 1, StartR Stage 2, and StartBlue for ocean-focused startups. The accelerate page says StartR has supported over 300 companies that have raised over $200 million in twelve years.
Read on University of California, San Diego
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