Do I need to be located in San Diego?
No, startups from across the United States are encouraged and welcome to apply for StartBlue. Required in person programming will be in San Diego on September 14-18 and November 16-20, virtual workshops and mentoring will be held September - December. Accepted participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs for the in-person portions of the program. The TDC award funds may be used to pay these travel and accommodation costs.
Do participants have to be UCSD affiliated?
No, program participants do not need to be UCSD affiliated. However, startups must be US based or a US subsidiary and have at least two members participating in the program.
What does it cost?
Nothing, except time and a willingness to learn and commitment to active participation in the program. StartBlue takes no equity and is offered at no cost to participants.
What funding can I get?
Launch startups can apply for up to $20k and Scale startups can apply for up to $150K in Technology & Commercialization Development Awards (TDCs) upon completing the program. To be considered for TDC funding, startups must maintain high levels of engagement throughout the fall program such as attending key in-person events, weekly sessions, and submitting track-specific deliverables for a competitive merit review process.
How big should my team be?
Teams should consist of two or more people to allow for full participation and shared responsibilities. Strong applicants will have teams with both technical and business leads. Selected startups must have at least two team members at each in-person week–– September 14-18 and November 16-20.
What are factors to consider when self evaluating for program track Launch (early stage) vs Scale (mid stage)?
Startups should consider both their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Business Readiness Level (BRL). We encourage you to apply for the program track that you think fits. Final track assignments will be made by the StartBlue team based on your overall technical and commercial readiness.
Do I need to have IP protected/an LLC already?
Not necessarily. You don’t need to be incorporated to apply. IP protection, company formation, and legal matters will be covered in the Launch (early stage) programming. However, startups that are awarded TDC funding upon program completion need to be incorporated to receive the funds.
I’ve already done the I-Corps programming. Is StartBlue different?
Yes! The programs are intended to build upon the basics of I-Corps with tailored programming and workshops for the Blue Tech industry.
What can the TDC Awards be used for?
Technology & Commercialization Development Awards can be used for one or more of the following purposes. More conditions and provisions may apply.
- Further development of the product or service to align with identified customer needs or requirements.
- Support personnel to conduct work related to commercialization.
- Domestic travel to conduct customer discovery or marketing activity.
- TDC award funds may also be used to pay for program travel and accommodation costs. Since startups apply for funding at the end of the program, participants will cover these costs for the two in-person weeks upfront and can reimburse themselves with TDC funds.
Can we get feedback on our application before submission?
The StartBlue staff does not have the capacity to provide feedback on applications before submission. We are happy to answer general questions about the program.
For any further questions, watch this info session recording to learn more about the program or contact us at startblue@ucsd.edu.