Big Bang Competition (UC Davis)

Overview

The Big Bang! Business Competition is an annual event hosted by UC Davis that empowers innovators to collaborate, develop, and test business ideas. It is complemented by a series of free educational workshops led by industry experts, covering essential business practices from legal foundations to pitch delivery, designed to help participants launch successful ventures. Participants in the Big Bang! Competition gain opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, apply business concepts learned in educational workshops, build teams, expand their networks, and compete for various cash prizes. The competition recognizes top innovations overall and awards winning ventures across six specific sectors: Animal Health + Industry, Education + Educational Tools, Energy + Sustainability, Food + Agriculture, Human Health + Industry, and Social Entrepreneurship. The competition runs from March to May each year, culminating in an Awards Ceremony where winners are announced and prizes are distributed. To be eligible, at least one founder of a team or venture must be affiliated with a California-based institution of higher education. All submissions and registrations must be made through the official competition platform, StartupTree, by the designated deadlines.

What to build

Participants must develop and test a business idea, culminating in an executive summary, team bios, customer call summaries, mentor engagement forms, a video pitch, and detailed pitch decks across multiple rounds. The venture should demonstrate innovation and potential in one of the identified sectors: Animal Health + Industry, Education + Educational Tools, Energy + Sustainability, Food + Agriculture, Human Health + Industry, or Social Entrepreneurship.

Prizes

Key dates

• Round 1 Final Registration DeadlineClosed (2026)
• Round 2 Submission Deadline (Semifinals)April 6, 2026, 1 PM
• Dry Run Presentations (optional)May 4, 2026, 4–8 PM
• Round 3 Submission Deadline (Finals)May 11, 2026, 1 PM
• Final Presentations and JudgingMay 14, 2026
• 25th Annual Big Bang! Awards CeremonyMay 19, 2026
• 2027 Big Bang! Competition Entry Period OpensDecember 2026

Eligibility

To participate in the Big Bang! Business Competition, at least one of your team or venture's founders must be affiliated with a California-based institution of higher education. The competition is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs. Participants may also concurrently participate in the Little Bang! Poster + Pitch Competition.

How to enter

1. Register your team/venture on the competition platform, StartupTree.
2. Submit deliverables for Round 1 (executive summary and team bios) by the deadline.
3. If advanced, submit deliverables for Round 2 (customer call summary, mentor engagement form, video pitch, detailed pitch deck) by the deadline.
4. If advanced, submit deliverables for Round 3 (additional customer call summary, presentation pitch deck) by the deadline.
5. Attend Final Presentations and Judging if selected as a finalist.
6. Attend the Awards Ceremony if selected as a finalist.

Submission requirements

• Round 1: Executive summary and team bios.
• Round 2: Customer call summary, mentor engagement form, video pitch, and detailed pitch deck.
• Round 3: Additional customer call summary and presentation pitch deck.
• In-person attendance for Finalist teams at Final Presentations and Judging.
• In-person attendance for Finalist teams at the Awards Ceremony.

Resources

• Big Bang! Workshop Videos on YouTube
• Big Bang! Rules and Tools
• Big Bang! Workshops
• Big Bang! Prizes and Sponsors
• Big Bang! FAQs
• Information Session Video
• Register for a Big Bang! Workshop
• Join Big Bang! Mailing List