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.
2018 Academy Schedule
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Applications for our 2019 academy will open in the fall. Please check back.
2018 Keynote Speaker
Jim Lugg – President, J. Lugg & Associates
An Evening with Jim Lugg, Founder of the Modern Salad
Click here for details >
2018 Featured Speakers
Andrew Hargadon – Faculty Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Cleveland Justis – Former Executive Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Victoria Lee – Partner and Co-Chair, Global Technology Sector, DLA Piper LLP (US)
Janine Elliott – Program Officer, VentureWell
Bruce German – Professor and Food Chemist, Food Science and Technology; Director, Foods for Health Institute
Kevin Hammill – COO, Pivot Bio
Lisa Curtis – Founder & CEO, Kuli Kuli
Joe Koepnick – Technology Development, Startups, IP Licensing, UC Davis Venture Catalyst
Kirsten Tobey – Founder, Revolution Foods
Marcus Meadows-Smith – CEO, BioConsortia Inc.
Daniela Barile – Associate Professor & Chancellor’s Fellow, UC Davis
Cecilia Chi-Ham – Director Innovation, Intellectual Property and R&D Strategy, HM.Clause
Sam Doyle - Analyst, AGR Partners
Rebekah Moses -Sustainability & Agriculture Manager, Impossible Foods Inc.
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: Applications for the 2019 Food, Ag and Health Entrepreneurship Academy will open in the fall. Please check back.
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 Niki Peterson for more information.
Location, Dates and Travel Information
The 2018 academy was Monday-Wednesday, February 6–8 at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center on the UC Davis main campus. Dates for 2019 will be announced soon.
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 participants at this academy—and/or at one of our other entrepreneurship academies—please apply below.
Apply to be a mentor >
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