Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Our Road to the Big Bang! Finals: Building AI-Powered AgTech Focused on Cattle Health
Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo in a green polo shirt holds a wooden award in front of a UC Davis backdrop.
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Our Road to the Big Bang! Finals: Building AI-Powered AgTech Focused on Cattle Health

UC Davis MSBA project plants seed to solve $2B dairy cow industry drain

MSBA alumnus Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo, the CEO of HerdSense, a Big Bang! Business Competition Residency Award winner, shares how his team is innovating at the intersection of machine learning and AI integrated with cutting-edge, ruggedized hardware to eliminate subclinical lameness in dairy cattle.

Dean H. Rao Unnava: May 2026 Big 3 Video
Big 3 graphic with Dean H. Rao Unnava
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Dean H. Rao Unnava: May 2026 Big 3 Video

Global leaders strategize on food and health innovation | Counterintuitive personal branding | Big Bang! awards $100,000 to student entrepreneurs

Dean H. Rao Unnava’s final Big 3 video highlights global collaboration on food and health innovation, Lecturer Vanessa Errecarte’s new book on personal branding, and trailblazing student entrepreneurs win big at the 26th annual Big Bang! Business Competition.

26th Annual Big Bang! Awards Nearly $100,000 in Prizes to California-based Teams
A person in a Willy Wonka costume stands in front of a projection reading "BIG BANG! Business Competition Awards" and "GOLDEN TICKET Celebrate Innovation and Pure Imagination.
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26th Annual Big Bang! Awards Nearly $100,000 in Prizes to California-based Teams

Team of Master of Science in Business Analytics grads win Residency Award

Source: UC Davis

Out of 90+ entries, the Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship celebrated eight promising ventures tackling challenges in animal health, education, healthcare, sustainability, food systems, and social impact.

From Self-Doubt to CEO: My MBA Changed My Life as a Leader
A woman stands with arms crossed in front of a dark wall displaying the words "Guardian Secure Solutions.
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From Self-Doubt to CEO: My MBA Changed My Life as a Leader

What the UC Davis MBA taught me about trust, confidence and executive accountability

“The decision to pursue an MBA was not about changing careers. It was about strengthening my ability to lead,” says alumna Ashlee Cervantes Thomas, CEO of a leading security company. “It changed my life as a leader.”

The Startup Treadmill Is Broken for Deep-Tech Companies
A man wearing glasses and a striped shirt sits with arms crossed in front of a Tormach CNC machine in a workshop.
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The Startup Treadmill Is Broken for Deep-Tech Companies

Why science-based startups need a different model

“That exit should have been ours.” MBA alumnus Tim Keller, founder of Gunrock Venture Studio, unpacks why deep-tech, science-based startups collapse—and makes the case for a faster, smarter venture studio model.

From Michoacán to MBA: Intentionally Redefining Entrepreneurship
Three people stand indoors, smiling at the camera. They wear business attire and conference name tags. A wall sign behind them reads "Graduate School of Management.
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From Michoacán to MBA: Intentionally Redefining Entrepreneurship

Inside the MBA Residential: Where community fuels innovation, networks and real-world strategy

From her family’s small-town businesses in Michoacán to debating strategy with startup founders, Sacramento Part-Time MBA student Stephanie Martinez discovers entrepreneurship is legacy, community and courage.

What Made UC Davis the Right MBA
Professor Tony Simon launches tech startup with business student
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What Made UC Davis the Right MBA

Not just a degree—a toolkit that opened doors

From nonprofit healthcare to executive leadership, alumna Sara Howard explains how UC Davis’s collaborative MBA delivered a real-world toolkit—fast-tracking her career with immediate ROI and lasting impact.

Why I Chose UC Davis as a First-Gen, Creative Entrepreneur
Melissa Sanchez Robinson
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Why I Chose UC Davis as a First-Gen, Creative Entrepreneur

Building a stronger business foundation while raising my daughter and teaching photography

First-gen photographer and working mom Melissa Sanchez Robinson shares how UC Davis’ Sacramento Part-Time MBA is helping her scale her creative business, build confidence and open new doors for her family’s future. 

My Nontraditional Path to an MBA
Yamin Elshaer and Dillon Hill standing side-by-side in wedding attire
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My Nontraditional Path to an MBA

“I pursued an MBA to understand business—and my own blind spots.”

From dropping out of college to launching a viral nonprofit and building Cosmoforge, a thriving marketing agency, this entrepreneur found purpose—and powerful partnerships—through the UC Davis Full-Time MBA.

Charging $100,000 for H-1B Visas Will Cost the U.S. Uncountable Wealth
Students on KU Campus courtesy of AP
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Charging $100,000 for H-1B Visas Will Cost the U.S. Uncountable Wealth

Source: Los Angeles Times

Distinguished Professor Hemant Bhargava and USC Professor D. Daniel Sokol argue that the policy "will hurt U.S. growth and innovation, at a time when the global arms race for AI creates a vital need for the sharpest human talent and innovators."

Institute Celebrates 25th Annual Big Bang! Business Competition
winners on stage with checks
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Institute Celebrates 25th Annual Big Bang! Business Competition

Winners showcase innovations in animal health, food sciences and STEM education

Source: Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Livestock microchip developer Nexa Labs won the $25,000 top prize at the 2025 Big Bang!, where the UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship awarded $100,000+ to startups developing promising solutions.

UC Davis Aggie Square Opens for Business
Rao Unnava standing in front of Gallagher Hall
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UC Davis Aggie Square Opens for Business

Dean H. Rao Unnava celebrates Sacramento innovation district coming to life

Dean H. Rao Unnava celebrates the opening of Aggie Square—a dynamic, $1.1 billion hub in the heart of the state capital where students will collaborate with researchers and industry, gain hands-on experience, build networks and drive innovation.

Building an Operating System for Democracy: My Journey as an Entrepreneur for Social Good
Mac Clemmens speaking on stage, behind a podium
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Building an Operating System for Democracy: My Journey as an Entrepreneur for Social Good

MBA alumnus Mac Clemmens’ Streamline web platform reaches millions

“The Graduate School of Management helped me recognize that if I truly wanted to create lasting change, I needed a different approach—one that could grow, adapt, and serve thousands of organizations at scale,” says MBA alumnus Mac Clemmens.

Take Control of a Virtual Corporation at UC Davis
Timothy O'Brien, Alex Schultz, and Kyle Wong, and Lecturer Marc Lowe in a classroom
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Take Control of a Virtual Corporation at UC Davis

Making strategic decisions in marketing, finance, research and development

Markstrat is an engaging, hands-on business simulation that brings marketing strategy to life. Bay Area MBA student Timothy O'Brien shared how it offers invaluable experience in strategic decision-making, market research, and team collaboration—skills that directly apply to real-world business success.

UC Davis and BioInnovation Institute Team Up to Improve Protein Nutrition on a Global Scale
Getty Images photo of international food in bowls on table
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UC Davis and BioInnovation Institute Team Up to Improve Protein Nutrition on a Global Scale

UC Davis MBA teams consult on market research for new products

Source: UC Davis

The UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health at its annual Partner Summit today announced an expanded collaboration with Denmark-based BioInnovation Institute (BII) to accelerate commercialization of discoveries in protein nutrition.

UC Davis Students' Seizure-Predicting Device Wins Top Prize at Big Bang! Business Competition
group photo of all Big Bang Business Challenge 2024 winners
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UC Davis Students' Seizure-Predicting Device Wins Top Prize at Big Bang! Business Competition

Other winning innovations improve black maternal health, offer affordable veterinary training tools and more

Source: Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

UC Davis students won the $25,000 first prize at the 24th Big Bang! Business Competition, organized by the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

How My Chapped Lips and MBA Inspired My Amazon Business
product photo featuring Nueve lip balm
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How My Chapped Lips and MBA Inspired My Amazon Business

Entrepreneurship and strategy opened new doors

Antonio Hurtado MBA 22 shares how his MBA prepared him to launch a healthcare product, how he leveraged Amazon for e-commerce success, and offers his tips on branding and sales. 

Seeing the Unseen: How Dreaming Big Can Change the World
The 3-person SchedGo team pose in Gallagher Hall
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Seeing the Unseen: How Dreaming Big Can Change the World

The power of purpose, dedication, and entrepreneurship

MBA student Dillon Hill shares his entrepreneurial journey having launched charities, set fundraising world-records, founded a marketing agency, won the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition and more.

From Authors to Career Switchers: Professor Greta Hsu on Market Category Constraints
Dean Rao Unnava with Professor Greta Hsu, teacher of the year awardee
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From Authors to Career Switchers: Professor Greta Hsu on Market Category Constraints

Poets&Quants: UC Davis Thought Leadership Video Series

Source: Poets&Quants

In the latest UC Davis Thought Leadership Series, John Byrne interviews Professor Greta Hsu, whose pioneering research on “categorical stickiness” explains how moviemakers, tobacco companies and book authors position themselves in the market.

From Apple to Academia: Professor Andrew Hargadon on Innovation
Professor Andrew Hargadon with student
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From Apple to Academia: Professor Andrew Hargadon on Innovation

Poets&Quants: UC Davis Thought Leadership Video Series

Source: Poets&Quants

Catch the first in our series of UC Davis Thought Leadership spotlights with Poets&Quants. Professor Andrew Hargadon is at the forefront of teaching, research and practice in cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship.