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Past Events
IDEAS Council Meeting: October 6, 2021
Innovation Expo 2021
Event Details
The Innovation Expo: Health and Wellness event, hosted May 27, 2021, was a celebration of all entrepreneurship-related accomplishments at UC San Diego, showcasing the various entrepreneurial and innovative accomplishments relating to this year's theme of Health & Wellness.
Congratulations to our Innovation Expo Finalists
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Pitch Competition Finalists:
1st Place Winner: Alga
Austin Sheagley | Cognitive Science | Class of 2019
2nd Place Winner: Jeweled
Daniella McDonald | School of Medicine | Class of 2023
3rd Place Winner: Stasis
Sai Komatineni | Electrical Engineering | Class of 2022
Prototype and Demo Fair Finalist:
Audience Choice Winner: Marai
Maria Charles | Biochemistry | Class of 2024
Why does the Innovation Expo focus on health and wellness?
This theme is important to UC San Diego because of our connection to diverse stakeholders and to acknowledge our potential for global impact. As part of our strategic plan and in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our focus for this event celebrates our commitment to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages is essential to sustainable development.
More than ever, our role as educators, innovators, and entrepreneurs has been highlighted throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of human suffering, the destabilization of the global economy, and upending the lives of billions of people around the globe have made the need for innovative solutions all the more urgent.
What is the theme of the Pitch Competition?
Enriching Human Life and Society: Improving health and alleviating ailments, and mitigating social disparities through education, resources, historic perspectives, technologies, and communication.
Who can apply to the Pitch Competition?
The Pitch competition is open to all UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students. Startup or project teams that can take advantage of available information to harness statistics, novel science behind health and wellness, or have a new approach to engaging the mind, body, or spirit are encouraged to apply.
Do I need to have a specific type of technology to apply to the Pitch Competition?
We are agnostic of technology type and focused instead on the mission and vision of the startup or project team.
Are there any prizes for winners of the Pitch Competition?
Winners will receive potential in-kind awards, including:
- EIR 1:1 mentorship
- virtual lunch with venture capital partner
- UC San Diego Media Exposure
- and more
What types of projects can be showcased at the Prototype and Demo Fair?
For a physical device: A basic prototype that demonstrates some functionality
For software: Display executable code that generates output, whether data or a basic functioning platform/app on a computer or mobile device.
For a process or service: Be able to describe the process or service and how it is delivered.
For any combination of the above: Be able to describe and/or show how the components interact with one another to deliver the final benefit to the user.
What should you talk about when showcasing your project at the Prototype and Demo Fair?
- What problem are you solving?
- Who are you solving this for?
- What are the main features of your product/service/process?
- Without giving away your “secret sauce,” how does your product, service, or process work?
What are important dates to know for the Prototype and Demo Fair?
- Application deadline: Sunday, May 2nd at 11:59 p.m.
- Selected teams notified: Monday, May 10th
- Final videos submitted: Monday, May 17th
- Dress rehearsal: May 26th
- Day of event: May 27th