Organization · Accelerator

Startup UCLA

Startup UCLA is an entrepreneurship hub and accelerator program at UCLA, supporting early-stage startups and aspiring entrepreneurs through various services and resources.

AcceleratorProgram hostCommunityEvent host

Overview

What Startup UCLA does

What Startup UCLA is

Startup UCLA is an entrepreneurship hub and accelerator program at UCLA, supporting early-stage startups and aspiring entrepreneurs through various services and resources.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports program host and community and event 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
Accelerator
Founded
Founded in 2012
Approximate age
About 14 years
Structured capabilities
Program host · Community · Event host
Last reviewed
April 11, 2026
What Accelerator means

An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.

Open the glossary entry

Official channels

Find Startup UCLA elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

Startup UCLA as a program host

Program thesis

Startup UCLA supports entrepreneurship and innovation among students and faculty at UCLA, fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem within the university community.

Focus narrative

Startup UCLA focuses on supporting early-stage companies and entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives. It provides services such as workspace, mentorship, legal services, and access to a network of entrepreneurs and investors. The organization emphasizes entrepreneurship across various sectors and encourages participation from students and faculty regardless of their academic backgrounds.

Value and support

Startup UCLA offers workspace, guidance, legal services, and mentorship to early-stage companies, along with access to a network of entrepreneurs and investors.

Format and cadence

Typical duration
10 weeks
Format
In Person

Availability

Application state
Not published

Focus and fit

Stages
Accelerator · Pre-seed · Seed

Alumni and track record

Alumni context

Startup UCLA has supported over 3,010 entrepreneurs and facilitated 4,500 venture consulting meetings. Alumni of the Summer Accelerator program have collectively raised over $100 million in funding.

Capability profile

Startup UCLA as a community

Community overview

Startup UCLA is an organization based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) that supports entrepreneurship and innovation among students and faculty. It was established to foster a vibrant startup ecosystem within the university community. The organization provides resources, mentorship, and programs aimed at helping individuals develop their entrepreneurial skills and launch new ventures.

Community focus

Startup UCLA focuses on supporting early-stage companies and entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives. It provides services such as workspace, mentorship, legal services, and access to a network of entrepreneurs and investors. The organization emphasizes entrepreneurship across various sectors and encourages participation from students and faculty regardless of their academic backgrounds.

Member value

Members gain access to workspace, mentorship, legal services, and a network of entrepreneurs and investors. They can participate in various programs designed to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and launch new ventures.

Membership

Recorded members
3,010
Pricing models
free

Format and cadence

Modality
in-person
Schedule
rolling-admissions
Commitment
light

Availability

Membership state
Accepting

Audience and fit

Audience
Founders · Students
Benefits
mentorship, network-access, and legal-services
Program types
accelerator, community, and bootcamp
Selection criteria
open
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed

Community activity

Events and activity

Startup UCLA hosts several recurring events, including the Winter Mixer, a networking event for students and entrepreneurs, and the Summer Accelerator Demo Day, where startups pitch their innovations. Additionally, they organize the UCLA Innovation Week, featuring various entrepreneurial activities and competitions, and the Startup UCLA Speaker Series, which includes regular talks by industry professionals.

Notable members

Notable individuals involved with Startup UCLA include William Hsu from MuckerLab and Richard Wolpert from HelloTech, as well as Jim Armstrong from Clearstone Venture Partners and Mich Mathews, former CMO of Microsoft.

Capability profile

Startup UCLA as an event host

Event focus

Startup UCLA focuses on supporting early-stage companies and entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives. It provides services such as workspace, mentorship, legal services, and access to a network of entrepreneurs and investors. The organization emphasizes entrepreneurship across various sectors and encourages participation from students and faculty regardless of their academic backgrounds.

Format narrative

Startup UCLA offers a range of programs including a Summer Accelerator, Innovation Fellows, Pre-College Institute, and Blackstone LaunchPad, all designed to foster entrepreneurial skills and support new ventures.

Participant value

Startup UCLA provides essential resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them to develop their ideas and launch successful ventures.

Format and cadence

Event types
workshop and meetup
Recurrence
annual
Modality
in-person
Startups can present
Yes

Availability

Registration state
Accepting
Next event location
Covel Commons, UCLA

Audience and fit

Selection criteria
open
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed
Audience
Founders · Students

Speakers and past editions

Speakers

Notable speakers include William Hsu (MuckerLab), Richard Wolpert (HelloTech), Jim Armstrong (Clearstone Venture Partners), and Mich Mathews (Former Microsoft CMO).

Past editions

Startup UCLA has supported over 3,010 entrepreneurs and facilitated 4,500 venture consulting meetings. Alumni of the Summer Accelerator program have collectively raised over $100 million in funding.

Common questions

What to know about Startup UCLA

Upseed classifies Startup UCLA under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes program host, community, and event host capabilities.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

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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 11, 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.