Innovation and Entrepreneurship

How My Chapped Lips and MBA Inspired My Amazon Business
product photo featuring Nueve lip balm
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How My Chapped Lips and MBA Inspired My Amazon Business

Entrepreneurship and strategy opened new doors

Antonio Hurtado MBA 22 shares how his MBA prepared him to launch a healthcare product, how he leveraged Amazon for e-commerce success, and offers his tips on branding and sales. 

Seeing the Unseen: How Dreaming Big Can Change the World
The 3-person SchedGo team pose in Gallagher Hall
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Seeing the Unseen: How Dreaming Big Can Change the World

The power of purpose, dedication, and entrepreneurship

MBA student Dillon Hill shares his entrepreneurial journey having launched charities, set fundraising world-records, founded a marketing agency, won the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition and more.

From Authors to Career Switchers: Professor Greta Hsu on Market Category Constraints
Dean Rao Unnava with Professor Greta Hsu, teacher of the year awardee
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From Authors to Career Switchers: Professor Greta Hsu on Market Category Constraints

Poets&Quants: UC Davis Thought Leadership Video Series

In the latest UC Davis Thought Leadership Series, John Byrne interviews Professor Greta Hsu, whose pioneering research on “categorical stickiness” explains how moviemakers, tobacco companies and book authors position themselves in the market.

From Apple to Academia: Professor Andrew Hargadon on Innovation
Professor Andrew Hargadon with student
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From Apple to Academia: Professor Andrew Hargadon on Innovation

Poets&Quants: UC Davis Thought Leadership Video Series

Catch the first in our series of UC Davis Thought Leadership spotlights with Poets&Quants. Professor Andrew Hargadon is at the forefront of teaching, research and practice in cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship. 

Pursuing My UC Davis MBA: Embracing Heritage and Entrepreneurship
Marisol Ibarra in front of Gallagher Hall
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Pursuing My UC Davis MBA: Embracing Heritage and Entrepreneurship

Growing my family legacy of innovation with education and leadership

Sacramento MBA Marisol Ibarra reflects on how her upbringing and legislative background have fueled her desire to create positive change by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

How We Reached the Semifinals of 2023 Hult Prize Competition
Faye Wu, Amita Nair and Kritika Singh pose at the Hult Competition
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How We Reached the Semifinals of 2023 Hult Prize Competition

Building a sustainable fashion marketplace on the international stage

MBA student Amita Nair and her team developed a sustainable fashion marketplace for the world's largest student social entrepreneurship competition—backed by the United Nations.

MBA and Ph.D. Candidates Bring Healthcare Innovation to Market
Kourosh Vali and Regina Hoang MBA 23
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MBA and Ph.D. Candidates Bring Healthcare Innovation to Market

Big Bang! journey offers rich immersion in entrepreneurship

UC Davis MBA alumna Regina Hoang is now CEO of Storx Technologies, the 2022 Big Bang! Business Competition top prize winner. She reflects on the experience and how the company's transabdominal fetal pulse oximeter will transform labor and delivery.

Revolutionizing Education: SchedGo's Triumph in UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition
The 3-person SchedGo team pose in Gallagher Hall
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Revolutionizing Education: SchedGo's Triumph in UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition

Our AI technology helps college students plan their degrees and class schedules

Full-Time MBA student Akshaj Aravind Raghavi, CFO of SchedGo, shares his team’s journey building a network, gaining feedback and winning $30K in the 23rd annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition.

Automated College Degree-Planning Tool Wins Top Prize in Annual UC Davis Business Competition
Team SchedGo Big Bang! 2023 winnners
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Automated College Degree-Planning Tool Wins Top Prize in Annual UC Davis Business Competition

Device to Improve Post-Harvest Maize Yields in Africa Takes Home 2 Prizes Totaling $20,000

A team of two UC Davis MBA students and a senior computer science major received the $20,000 first prize for the best innovation and $10,000 more as the People's Choice winner in the 23rd annual Big Bang! Business Competition on May 23.

 
Entrepreneur to MBA: How My Indonesian Culture Taught Me to Invest in Myself
Gracia Liunita in pop-up booth at a food festival
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Entrepreneur to MBA: How My Indonesian Culture Taught Me to Invest in Myself

Family and community support essential as a first-gen college student

Bay Area MBA Gracia Liunita, a first-gen college student, says the support of family and her community have been essential to her success as an entrepreneur—and pursing an MBA.

My Journey to UC Davis: From Systems Engineer to Caregiver to Entrepreneur
Yekhiel Orokunle with his wife, Sydney Or okunle, and their children.
Blog

My Journey to UC Davis: From Systems Engineer to Caregiver to Entrepreneur

"Would you trade a six-figure salary for saving a life in your family?"

After leaving my job to help my wife through a difficult pregnancy, I joined the UC Davis MBA program and before I graduated brought a product to market and launched a company, Smart Rentics Inc., that helps millennials save up to $2,500 in monthly rent.

Growing My Entrepreneurial Mindset—and Exploring New Options
Diane Lim holding certificate
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Growing My Entrepreneurial Mindset—and Exploring New Options

My 5 Takeaways from the UC Entrepreneurship Academy

At the unique four-day academy, Sacramento Part-Time MBA student Diane Lim says she found mentorship, a collaborative spirit and support for her future business ideas.

Unlocking the Value of Our Alumni Community
Christopher Marshall headshot
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Unlocking the Value of Our Alumni Community

Our new Director of Alumni Relations and Network Strategy Christopher Marshall details his journey to the School, exciting new opportunities for alumni and more. 

Startups Make a Splash at the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition
BigBang! Business Competition Awards 2022
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Startups Make a Splash at the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition

Held in person for the first time since 2019, the 22nd Annual Big Bang! Business Competition presented over $100,000 in prize money and in-kind awards to early-stage startups in the food and agriculture, health, energy/sustainability, and social

My Professor Became My Career Mentor
Cami Harris MBA 22 and Professor Andy Hargadon
Blog

My Professor Became My Career Mentor

“Professor Hargadon, through his effective and engaging instruction, opened my mind”

Full-Time MBA student Camille Harris says Professor Andrew Hargadon’s enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship helped her find her way forward.

Online MBA Residential in Napa Highlights Wine, Food, Ag
Welcome to Napa Valley sign
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Online MBA Residential in Napa Highlights Wine, Food, Ag

The power of unexpected connections and branching out of your comfort zone

Online MBA student Ashlee Bippus shares lessons in wine making, alternative meats, agtech and more from recent weekend residential.  

Where Sustainable Energy and Finance Meet in Industry Immersion
Teghpreet Ahluwalia MBA 22 working at the Collaborative Leadership Retreat
Blog

Where Sustainable Energy and Finance Meet in Industry Immersion

Teaming up on solutions to solve issues from top energy and utility execs

A financier and entrepreneur, Sacramento Part-Time MBA student Teghpreet Ahluwalia sees greater potential between energy field and impact investing.