Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
About the program · 3 linked sources
The Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship runs UC Davis's Big Bang! and Little Bang! competitions and the workshop series that accompanies them. A February 21, 2025 letter from Chancellor Gary S. May says the institute has supported campus innovation since 2006.
Also known as: Child Institute, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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.
Key numbers
Funding range
Not listed
Equity
Varies by investment
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-05-21
High confidence
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Reminders
Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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Student experiences · Read or add a note
Student notes
Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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Application and Timing
Big Bang! runs March through May, with workshops earlier in the year. The 2027 Big Bang! entry window is described as opening in December 2026. Little Bang! 2027 registration is described as opening in November 2026.
Participants
Competition eligibility is broader than enrolled UC Davis students. Big Bang! requires at least one founder affiliated with a California institution of higher education. Little Bang! is open to currently enrolled high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate students. The chancellor's letter also names undergraduate and graduate programming.
Funding and Equity
Cash awards sit in the competitions. The institute pages used here do not state that participation requires equity.
Recent Activity
The institute's competition pages were live on October 8, 2026, with 2026 results posted and 2027 entry windows announced.
Known Startups or Winners
2026 Big Bang! first place is recorded on the competition page. Little Bang! 2026 winner names were not on the captured page.
Research gaps & things to verify
Verification Gaps
The chancellor's letter names EQUIP and Blackstone LaunchPad. Current terms for those two were not captured, so they are not separate program notes.
Additional research notesShow
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at University of California, Davis.
3 sources
Student Startup Center description in the chancellor's letter
University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
Student Startup Center description in the chancellor's letter
Chancellor May's February 21, 2025 letter describes the Child Institute, the Student Startup Center, and PLASMA.
Read on University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
Big Bang! Business Competition
The competition, prizes, and May 21, 2026 winners pages describe Big Bang! awards and eligibility.
Read on University of California, Davis
Little Bang! Pitch + Poster Competition
University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
Little Bang! Pitch + Poster Competition
The Little Bang! page describes the poster competition, workshops, and prize count.
Read on University of California, Davis