Application for 2021 Cohort

Open to all UCLA faculty, 8-10 faculty-led teams will be invited to participate during winter and spring quarters 2021. The program is designed to advance innovative faculty projects into new startups, centers, or non-profits through a series of workshops and 1:1 venture consulting meetings.  Postdocs and project scientists may apply for program with a letter of support from their faculty supervisor.

The program culminates in a virtual public Pitch Showcase to the UCLA community and a network of local entrepreneurs and investors.

Responsibilities
1.  Attend all virtual program events:

• January 13:  Orientation & Customer Development Workshop
• February 3:  Legal Formation Workshop
• March 3:  Fundraising Workshop
• Week of March 29:   Pitching Workshop
• Week of April 12:  Pitch Coaching Workshop
• One-to-one Venture Consulting Meetings with Startup UCLA staff (four 30-minute sessions)
• Meeting with assigned Mentor
• Meeting with TDG, as needed
• Pitch Showcase practice session
• May 2021 (date TBD):  Present at Pitch Showcase

2.  Commit roughly three hours minimum per week to developing your project/startup
3.  Stay involved with Faculty Innovation Fellows and its alumni network after the program

Qualifications
1. All UCLA Faculty (both senate and non-senate faculty, academic administrators, and lecturers) may apply for the program. Visiting faculty are not, however, eligible.  A list of senate and non-senate titles can be found here: https://www.senate.ucla.edu/about/academic-senate-membership
2. Postdocs and project scientists may apply for program with a letter of support from their faculty supervisor
3. Faculty/postdocs/project scientists must have a project/startup to work on during the program
4. Project/startup must have demonstrated proof-of-concept at time of application
5. Open to receiving feedback and willingness to iterate on project/startup

Perks & Benefits

1.  $2,000 per team for faculty research support funds (may be used for design work for web/print media, brand development, consultations/travel, etc.)
2.  Collaborate with program leaders, Startup UCLA staff, and colleagues across the University
3.  Meet with a mentor with relevant experience to your area of interest
4.  Raise your project’s visibility in the UCLA community and beyond
5.  $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credits
6.  $20,000 in Google Cloud Platform credits
7.  Complimentary legal guidance from a premiere law firm

Faculty Innovation Fellows is a collaboration between Startup UCLA, the UCLA Technology Development Group, and, the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research & Creative Activities.

If you have any questions about the application or any of the above, please email InnovationFund@tdg.ucla.edu.

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