The UC Davis Innovation and Economic Development Office has launched the Aggie Venture Accelerator, an initiative designed to support early-stage startups developing solutions at the intersection of life science, food and health.
Delivered in partnership with The March Group, a thematic early-stage venture capital firm, the program will provide selected startups with mentorship, structured programming and investment with the aim of accelerating their path to market.
Based at Aggie Square and part of UC Davis Venture Catalyst, a division of the Innovation and Economic Development Office, the accelerator brings together the University of California, Davis’ strengths in research and innovation with The March Group’s expertise in identifying and scaling transformative technologies. The Aggie Venture Accelerator Fund, managed by The March Group, will invest in select startups participating in the program.
“The Aggie Venture Accelerator represents an important step in translating UC Davis innovation into impact,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “By connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, expertise and capital they need to grow, we are strengthening our role as a driver of economic development and advancing solutions to some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing our communities and our planet.”
Over the past decade, UC Davis has supported the launch of more than 300 startups that have collectively raised over $4 billion in funding. The Aggie Venture Accelerator builds on this momentum by focusing on early-stage companies working in life sciences and biotechnology, particularly those developing breakthrough approaches with the potential for significant societal and economic impact.
The program, which will operate across both Sacramento and Davis, features a four-month, cohort-based model intended to help startups refine their business strategies, validate market opportunities and prepare for fundraising. Cohorts will be intentionally small and focused to enable hands-on support and deep engagement. Participating teams will receive weekly mentorship, access to domain experts and curated connections to industry partners and investors.
“UC Davis is uniquely positioned to support startups at the earliest stages of development, where access to the right guidance and resources can make all the difference,” said George Baxter, chief innovation and economic development officer for UC Davis. “Through the Aggie Venture Accelerator, our goal is to create a focused, high-impact environment that is designed to help founders de-risk their technologies, build strong companies and move more quickly toward commercialization.”
Selected startups are eligible to receive a $250,000 investment through the Aggie Venture Accelerator Fund, including both direct capital and programmatic support. This funding is designed to help companies achieve key technical and business milestones while building momentum toward future investment rounds.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this unique and highly innovative entrepreneurship initiative,” said Harold Schmitz, founding partner of The March Group. “By combining the world class life sciences technology-based innovation strengths of UC Davis with the domain expertise of The March Group and the world-leading California technology innovation cluster, we believe companies emerging from this accelerator can have profound impact globally at the nexus of food and health, and locally in terms of economic growth.”
The Aggie Venture Accelerator will prioritize early-stage startups seeking pre-seed to seed funding. Ideal candidates will have strong founding teams, a clear path to commercialization and technologies with the potential to address complex challenges in human, animal and planetary health.
Startups interested in participating in the Aggie Venture Accelerator can learn more and apply on the AVA website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through the end of May.
About UC Davis Innovation and Economic Development Office and Venture Catalyst
The UC Davis Innovation and Economic Development Office (IEDO) supports the university’s mission to translate knowledge into impact by advancing innovation, entrepreneurship and industry engagement. Based at Aggie Square, IEDO works to grow and connect the regional innovation ecosystem, support startups and technology commercialization, and foster partnerships that drive economic development and societal benefit.
Venture Catalyst, part of IEDO, connects university researchers, students and entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship and networks needed to build successful startups. Their mission is to accelerate the translation of UC Davis research and talent into economic impact, supporting innovators from first idea to funded venture.
About The March Group
The March Group (TMG) is a thematic early-stage VC investor with deep innovation and domain expertise. We specialize in identifying opportunities in global industry paradigm shifts accelerated by exponential technologies.
Headquartered in Sacramento and Davis, Calif., TMG is anchored within the University of California (UC) — a world-leading innovation ecosystem that is No. 1 in the world for invention and patents with ~$8B annual research funding and 1,400+ startups formed. Our team manages a venture platform maximizing synergy with the UC system, including:
- Aggie Venture Accelerator Fund, a pre-seed fund that seeks to identify the best spinouts and translational ventures emerging from the UC Davis and UC system; and
- March EXP, our flagship early-stage venture fund that invests in category leaders emerging in Precision Nutrition, Intelligent Health, and Food + Medicine.
- Hailing from global premier investment firms and leading MNCs, our partners are industry leaders and passionate innovators who bring together a wealth of experience across technology innovation, operations, and investments.
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