Food, Ag + Health Entrepreneurship Academy
The Food, Ag + Health Entrepreneurship Academy is the premier academic program for commercializing innovations in food and agriculture. It is a springboard for moving research out of the lab and into the world.
The academy combines focused lectures, practical exercises, networking sessions and hands-on experiences in an innovative format to help you explore how your research can make a broader impact in industry, the marketplace and the world. You’ll learn to identify market needs and opportunities, develop a network of experts to support your venture—and create agriculture ‘food chain’ clusters of innovation.
The 2018 academy is a collaboration co-sponsored by the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Innovation Institute for Food and Health and the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The academy includes:
- An intensive opportunity to explore the market opportunities surrounding your ideas and your research.
- Daily seminars and interactive sessions taught by leading investors, industry executives, entrepreneurs and university faculty.
- The tools to communicate the broader potential of your research.
- Evening mentoring sessions with industry executives and investors.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Thursday, February 2, 2018
2017 Keynote Speaker
We will update with our 2018 keynote speaker once confirmed.
Noah Alper– Noah Alper Consulting; Founder, Noah’s Bagels
2017 Featured Speakers
We will update with our 2018 speakers once confirmed.
Cristina Davis – Professor, UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Andrew Hargadon – Faculty Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Cleveland Justis – Executive Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Ashish Malik – President and CEO, Bee Vectoring Technologies, International
Pam Marrone–Founder and CEO, Marrone Bio Innovations
Poornima Parameswaran – Co-Founder, Trace Genomics Inc.
Tom Tomich – Professor and Director, UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute
Scott Pink – Special Counsel, DLA Piper
Melissa Tilney – Co-Founder, AgFunder
Jeremy Warren – President and CEO, AstRoNA Biotechnologies
Eric O’Brien – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fall Line Capital
Manuel Gonzalez – North America Head of Start-Up Innovation, Rabobank
Josette Lewis – Associate Director, UC Davis World Food Center
Joe Koepnick – Associate Director, New Venture Resources, UC Davis Venture Catalyst
Hank Giclas – SVP— Science, Technology & Strategic Planning, Western Growers Association
Dan Phillips – Managing Director, Sandbox Industries and Cultivian Sandbox Ventures
Speakers are added as they are confirmed.
How to Apply
The academy is open to upper-division undergrads, graduate students (master’s and doctoral), postdocs and faculty in science and engineering. It is open to applicants from any university as well as interested applicants with no university affiliation. Priority registration is given to UC-affiliated participants.
To obtain maximum benefit from the program curriculum, participants are encouraged to attend all three full days of the academy.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Thursday, February 2, 2018
Registration Fees
$250: California university/college students and faculty.
$500: Out-of-state university/college students and faculty.
$1,500: Participants with no university affiliation.
Registration fee includes course, materials and dining. Payment due upon acceptance to the program. This fee does NOT include lodging, transportation or parking fees, which are the responsibility of the participant.
Scholarship Aid
There are a limited number of scholarships available for interested UC Davis participants. Please indicate on the application form or email Christine Felkel for more information.
Fellowship Aid
Keller Pathway Fellowship
Through the generous support of Barry and Lynda Keller, we recently launched the Keller Pathways Fellowship Program. Selected fellows attend the academy free of charge as the first step in a year-long affiliation with our institute. Read more >
To be considered for a fellowship, please indicate “Yes” where indicated on the application form.
Location, Dates and Travel Information
The 2018 academy is held Monday-Wednesday, February 6–8 at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center on the UC Davis main campus.
Coffee/tea, lunch and dinner are provided daily. Lodging, transportation and parking fees are the responsibility of the participant.
We recommend the following nearby hotels:
Call for Mentors
An integral part of the academy experience is the opportunity for participants to engage with industry professionals over two evenings. If you are interested in serving as a mentor for academy participants during one or both mentoring sessions, please sign up below:
