University of California (UC) Davis has tapped venture firm The March Group to run the Aggie Venture Accelerator and Fund, targeting preseed and seed-stage companies working at the intersection of life sciences, food, and health.
Eligible startups will receive $250,000 in “direct capital and programmatic support”, though the university hasn’t disclosed a breakdown. The fund size is undisclosed, though the university was reportedly pursuing a $10 million vehicle.
Aggie Square is an innovation district created by UC Davis and the City of Sacramento.
Already located here is the Health Venture Studio – launched a year ago and backed by the $25 million Investing in the Future of Medicine Fund – and managed by the human health-focused commercialisation arm, UC Davis Health Ventures.
“UC Davis is uniquely positioned to support startups at the earliest stages of development, where access to the right guidance and resources can make all the difference.
“Through the Aggie Venture Accelerator, our goal is to create a focused, high-impact environment that is designed to help founders de-risk their technologies, build strong companies and move more quickly toward commercialisation.”
George Baxter, chief innovation and economic development officer for UC Davis
UC Davis has launched more than 300 companies over the past decade, and the portfolio has gone on to raise more than $4 billion in funding.
