Frequently Asked Questions

General

I’m new to the I&E ecosystem at Cal. How can I learn more?

Spending some time on our website will help you to learn about classes, speakers, events, and student organizations that might be of interest to you. You can also learn more at BEGIN.

If you’re interested in taking a course on tech entrepreneurship, you might consider the A. Richard Newton Lecture Series: A Berkeley Changemaker Course,

I’m curious about the startup creation and launch process. What campus resources are available to me?

Berkeley’s undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship courses will equip you with essential skills as you begin your startup journey. If you are intersted in social entrepreneurship, immersing yourself in a Big Ideas course will serve as an enriching learning opportunity as well.

Once you are ready to take your idea to the next level, additional campus resources include accelerators and incubators like StEPLAUNCH, SkyDeck, and CITRIS Foundry

I’m in a more advanced stage of the startup process. What campus resources are available to me?

Campus resources include accelerators and incubators such as StEP, and LAUNCH, and CITRIS Foundry

SkyDeck Berkeley provides a six month acceleration program, as well as “hot desks”, for startups affiliated with UC Berkeley, any UC campus, Lawrence Berkeley Lab, or global founders. Learn More!

I am a Berkeley student working on a startup. Our team is looking for seed funding and advice about reaching out to VCs. How might we obtain guidance about acquiring funding and navigating the VC space as students?

Through LaunchPad, Berkeley students have the opportunity to work closely with peers across the entire University of California network as well as connect to LaunchPad’s global network of mentors, events, funding, talent, job opportunities, and more. LaunchPad programming is designed to support students gain key entrepreneurship skills to build a successful company or build a resume for success in landing a job after college and advancing careers. To learn more and to book an appointment with a mentor, please visit: https://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/blackstonelaunchpad/

Are there mentorship programs for undergraduates?

Berkeley Connect brings together undergraduate students with graduate student mentors through a semester-long program. Students build meaningful relationships and enhance their academic experience while earning one P/NP credit. Learn More!

Additional mentorship opportunities, as well as a great place to get general I&E questions answered is BearX, a site dedicated to our UC Berkeley community. In the words of BearX: "Connect with students, alumni, faculty, and staff to advance your career, find mentors, join startups, attend exclusive events, and more!" Click here to visit BearX.

Where are the makerspaces on campus?

There are makerspaces at Cory HallJacobs Institute for Design InnovationCITRIS and the Banatao Institute, and Moffitt Library. 

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, makerspace services are now being offered in new ways. To find the latest information, please visit their makerspace pages.