Organization · Incubator
Academic Innovation Catalyst
Academic Innovation Catalyst (AIC) is a non-profit organization focused on fostering academic innovation in deep technology fields, particularly Climate Tech and AI for Good. They provide early-stage funding and support to help academic innovators commercialize their discoveries.
Overview
What Academic Innovation Catalyst does
What Academic Innovation Catalyst is
Academic Innovation Catalyst (AIC) is a non-profit organization focused on fostering academic innovation in deep technology fields, particularly Climate Tech and AI for Good. They provide early-stage funding and support to help academic innovators commercialize their discoveries.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Incubator
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host
- Last reviewed
- April 25, 2026
What Incubator means
An incubator is a support environment for turning a nascent idea or early company into a startup that is more ready for customers, funding, or an accelerator.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Academic Innovation Catalyst elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Academic Innovation Catalyst as a funder
Investment thesis
Academic Innovation Catalyst focuses on unlocking academic innovation in deep technology fields for positive social impact, providing early-stage funding and support to academic innovators.
Focus narrative
AIC invests in academic innovators seeking to commercialize discoveries that have a positive social impact. The organization specifically targets innovations in deep tech, which includes scientific or engineering breakthroughs across fields such as advanced materials, quantum technologies, semiconductors, AI and machine learning, photonics, energy and climate tech, and aerospace technologies. AIC primarily engages with innovators at the pre-venture or early venture-formation stage.
Value beyond capital
AIC provides proof-of-concept, non-dilutive grants for market research, prototype development, and other commercialization activities. The organization offers access to legal advice, assistance in building founding teams, guidance on business plans and pitch decks, and support in identifying downstream funding sources.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Regions
- United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
Portfolio context
AIC has established partnerships with several programs and institutions, including the Bakar Fellows Program, the largest proof-of-concept funding platform at UC Berkeley; CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, a University of California research center focused on creating IT solutions for societal and economic benefits; and the College of Computing, Data Science and Society (CDSS) at UC Berkeley, aimed at advancing computing and data science.
Capability profile
Academic Innovation Catalyst as a program host
Program thesis
Academic Innovation Catalyst (AIC) is focused on unlocking academic innovation in deep technology fields for positive social impact, providing early-stage funding and support to academic innovators.
Focus narrative
AIC invests in academic innovators aiming to commercialize discoveries that yield positive social impact. The organization specifically targets innovations in deep tech, encompassing scientific and engineering breakthroughs in areas such as advanced materials, quantum technologies, semiconductors, AI and machine learning, photonics, energy and climate tech, and aerospace technologies. AIC primarily engages with innovators at the pre-venture or early venture-formation stage.
Value and support
AIC offers proof-of-concept, non-dilutive grants for market research, prototype development, and commercialization activities. The organization provides access to legal advice, support for venture formation, assistance in building founding teams, guidance on business plans and pitch decks, and help in identifying downstream funding sources.
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Common questions
What to know about Academic Innovation Catalyst
Upseed classifies Academic Innovation Catalyst under the Incubator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and program host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 25, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.