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 2019 academy was co-sponsored by the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 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.
2019 Academy Schedule
Applications for our 2020 academy will open in early fall 2019.
2019 Featured Speaker: Dan KUrzrock | co-founder and chief grain officer, ReGrained
HAVE YOUR BEER AND EAT IT TOO: Where Others See Waste, ReGrained Sees Taste
ReGrained rescues and upcycles grain generated by the brewing industry into SuperGrain+ flour, a versatile ingredient that produces delicious, nutritious and highly functional foods. Dan Kurzrock created ReGrained out of his hobby for homebrewing beer, where he first discovered that the artist formerly known as “spent” grain could be given a delicious second life. He is now obsessed with better aligning the food we eat with the planet we love through edible upcycling.
2019 ACADEMY Speakers
Note: Will will add featured speakers as they are confirmed.
Andrew Hargadon – Faculty Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Joe DiNunzio – Executive Director, UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Victoria Lee – Partner and Co-Chair, Global Technology Sector, DLA Piper LLP (US)
Billy Krimmel – Founder, Restoration Landscaping Co.
Tim Blank – Chief Technology Officer, Tower Garden; Urban Farming Consultant; Keynote Speaker
Zane Starkewolfe – Associate Director, Venture Catalyst – New Venture Resources
Antonio Patric Buchanan – Co-CEO, Antonio & Paris
Denise N. Bronner – Host-Pathogen Interaction Expert; Founder/CEO, Anu Snacks; Community Outreach & Diversity Advocate
Bruce German – Professor of Food Chemistry & Director, Foods for Health Institute, UC Davis; Co-founder, Evolve BioSystems
How to Apply
The academy is open to upper-division undergrads, graduate students (master’s and doctoral), postdocs, faculty and others who are studying, researching or working in the area of food, ag and health. 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 2020 Food, Ag and Health Entrepreneurship Academy academy will open in early fall 2019.
Registration Fees
$1,000: 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 2020 academy is planned for Tuesday through Thursday, February 4-6, 2020 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 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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