Student Startup Center

The Student Startup Center (SSC) at UC Davis is a business incubator and student organization on the University of California, Davis campus where students can prototype and collaborate on technology and related ventures. The SSC launched in October 2013 and has served as a flexible space for over 850 students on campus. The space has been used as a classroom, meeting space, event venue, makerspace, and student startup incubator. Examples of classes offered through SSC during Fall 2021 include a course titled "Introduction to Entrepreneurship" and "Launching a Company".

The space was initially designed as a creativity hub for students and entrepreneurs, and includes resources to help those develop ideas and businesses. These include materials and software for the creation of prototypes, such as a 3D printer for physical prototypes, a 3D scanner for digitizing 3D physical models, and a CNC device for milling and machining of basic materials such as plastics, woods, and aluminum.

PLASMA is a 12-week, early-stage cohort accelerator for UC Davis undergraduate students with a startup business idea. PLASMA and the SSC have no stated interest in ideas by industry or technology. The program works with the students to develop their ideas and help their startup idea to succeed. This includes a mentor network, educational lessons including guest lectures from industry leaders, seed capital, and an entrepreneurial work environment. In 2021, the PLASMA cohort included the following student startups:

• ExpertIEP
• AudioJot
• FashionAI
• Komma
• JusCheckIt
• Melva
• Seize
• SchedGo
• Qyu.AI
• Voderrn

The SSC also offers a series of events and workshops for students. These activities tend to focus on helping students in entrepreneurship and in starting a company. The events and workshops held during 2021-2022 include the following:

• Startup School
• Pitches & Popcorn
• Startup Speaker Series
• Peer Review
• VCs @ UCD
• Speed Networking
• Startup Week