Accelerators & Mentors

Applying to an accelerator program can turbocharge your startup’s progress and increase your odds of success. There are many great programs right here at UC Berkeley, as well as some high profile external ones with whom BEA has close ties. You can explore these and more below.

UC Berkeley Accelerators

The Foundry @ CITRIS The Foundry @ CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS)) helps entrepreneurs build companies that make a significant impact on the world. The Foundry provides access to design, manufacturing & business development tools, along with a community of entrepreneurs and experts to transform entrepreneurial teams into founders.

Free Ventures Created by students in 2013, Free Ventures is a startup launchpad for Berkeley students, providing resources and a framework to build ideas (for products or services) into companies.

Other UC Berkeley Resources

Lester Center for Entrepreneurship The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship is the Berkeley-Haas entrepreneurship innovation hub and supports students through course offerings (e.g., Steve Blank’s Lean Launchpad class),  student scholarships, competitions, events, and mentorship.

Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology The Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (CET) is an academic center affiliated with the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership in UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering. CET aims to equip engineers and scientists with the skills to innovate, productize and commercialize technology in the global economy.

Berkeley Startup Cluster The Berkeley Startup Cluster is a resource for innovative companies and budding entrepreneurs in Berkeley, providing connections to mentors, networking opportunities, early stage investors, partners or just cool tech companies close to the UC Berkeley campus.

Other Bay Area Programs