2021 Spring UC Entrepreneurship Academy
 

Entrepreneurship Academy Mentoring Overview
 

ACADEMY OVERVIEW

The virtual Entrepreneurship Academy is a five-day program designed for upper-division undergrads, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty and fellowship participants to explore the commercial potential of their ideas.

The academy combines focused lectures, practical exercises, breakout sessions and hands-on experiences in an innovative format to help you explore how your ideas or research can make a broader impact in industry, the marketplace and the world. You will learn to effectively present your ideas, identify market needs and opportunities, and develop a network of experts to support your venture.

MENTORING FORMAT

Mentoring sessions allow you to refine your ideas through one-on-one pitching and feedback in a timed virtual format.

  • Mentors are assigned to a specific Zoom breakout room. You will be assigned to your room and introduced to the mentors by the institute staff member assigned to your room.
  • You / Your team will briefly pitch your idea to the mentor and gather feedback through two-way questions and discussion. After 10 minutes, a Zoom notice will indicate that you have 5 minutes remaining in the session. At the end of the 15-minute session, you will automatically be rotated to the next room by institute staff.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES

Your job as a participant is to provide a clear elevator pitch, 10-slide deck draft, and specific questions regarding your venture. Mentors are equipped to listen to your venture and provide support, feedback, and ask clarifying questions to learn more about your endeavor.

Things to think about when talking to a mentor:

  • Is your Elevator Pitch concise and to the point?
  • Did you answer the key questions around who, what, why and how?
  • Did you define a market, customers and competition for the new venture?
  • Did you identify a business model?
  • Additional questions?

Niki Peterson
Senior Program Manager
UC Davis Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
(530) 400-9531  |  ndpeterson@ucdavis.edu