Finalists For 2020 UC Startup Pitch Showcase

The University of California announced the five finalists of its 2020 UC Startup Pitch Showcase to be hosted at the fifth annual Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation (GCVI) Summit in Monterey, Calif., from Jan. 29 to 30, 2020. The finalists have won the opportunity to pitch their startups to more than 900 business leaders and venture capitalists.

This year, UCOP is partnering with Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), a nonprofit devoted to promoting education and science through its global startup competition. This competition is designed to elevate the next-generation of entrepreneurs creating new technologies and innovations to benefit humankind. Inspired by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, XTC provides top contenders the funding, strategic partnerships, and mentorship they need to pioneer technological breakthroughs and help power a sustainable future.

XTC will also select one finalist from the showcase as an XTC regional finalist in its competition, providing the opportunity to pitch to its global investor community as well as be in the running for up to $10 million in funding.

UCOP Innovation & Entrepreneurship collaborated with campus innovation and entrepreneurship colleagues to nominate their startups for consideration. The startup nominees were then invited to submit a pitch deck and pitch video to enter the showcase.

The following startups founded by UC alumni, faculty, and students were chosen for their unique innovation and creativity from a pool of contestants representing all ten UC campuses:

BioTrillion (UC Berkeley) 
BioTrillion is developing BioEngine4D™, a mobile digital biomarker platform for detecting developing diseases. Through machine learning and AI, disease development and response to drugs can be measured, resulting in earlier disease detection and accelerated therapeutic development.

Cayuga Biotech (UC Santa Barbara)

Cayuga Biotech is a startup developing novel hemostatic drugs and devices to reduce bleeding and save lives. The treatment uses nanotechnology and biomaterials to accelerate the body’s natural coagulation process to limit blood loss, save lives, and minimize recovery time post-injury.

Educational Vision Technologies (UC San Diego)

The fully-automated platform of Educational Vision Technologies generates online classes to enhance student success. By capturing, distilling, and connecting educational information, educators can save money and time in the creation of online courses.

FarmSense (UC Riverside)

FarmSense is an agricultural smart trap using optical sensor technology to monitor insects in the fields. FarmSense’s patented algorithm captures flying insect signals from the field and sends this categorized data, along with environmental information, allowing early detection to reduce pesticide use and increase crop yields. 

TomoCredit (UC Berkeley) 

TomoCredit provides a credit card for immigrants and students who do not have a credit score. TomoCredit uses a data aggregator to assess cash flow data to determine an applicant’s creditworthiness, allowing this demographic to access and build credit.

Victoria Slivkoff, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships for Innovation & Entrepreneurship for the University of California system, commented on the showcase “As the home to entrepreneurs and researchers at the forefront of cutting-edge discoveries and technological advancements, UC is the powerful engine behind California’s global leadership on innovation.”

“We take great pride in the impact that UC innovators have on sustainability and improving the lives of people around the world. We are excited to partner with XTC this year — and its valuable resources, strategic partnerships, and global network — to help UC innovators harness the power of technology to address the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Congratulations to the finalists and big thanks to the applicants, judges, and our gracious host GCVI.  UCOP Innovation & Entrepreneurship looks forward to the seeing the finalists in Monterrey on January 30th.

The 2020 UC Startup Pitch Showcase is a continuation of the prior years ‘I am a UC entrepreneur’ competition launched in 2016 to highlight the impressive work of the university’s student, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs.

For more information about innovation driven by the UC system, visit 
www.ucop.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship.