Join our highly structured incubator that connects UC-affiliated startups with essential resources needed to launch, grow and succeed.
Wayfinder is a no-cost highly structured incubator that connects UC-affiliated startups with essential resources needed to launch, grow and succeed.
To be considered, your team must have at least one active team member who is a UC faculty, student, staff or alumnus*, or use UC-owned intellectual property as a core part of the startup’s business idea.
Workspace
Work the way you like, whether that’s in an open, collaborative workspace or a conference room
Office Hours
From lawyers to investors, regular office hours give you access to the expertise you need
Guidance and Mentorship
Gain insight and feedback through structured check-ins and from our Innovation Advisors
Workshops
Participate in exclusive discovery workshops on subjects related to your startup
Networking
Connect with entrepreneurial experts, business leaders, technology gurus, angel investors and venture capitalists
Key Applicant Characteristics:
- Understanding of current business model and the ability to communicate it
- Product/service addresses a real problem or need and is unique/hard to duplicate
- Startup has initiated testing of customer reactions to its current business model
- Startup members have sufficient bandwidth and the ability to commit the time necessary to actively participate
Prior to applying to Wayfinder, it is expected that your startup team has engaged with other entrepreneurial support resources available through UC schools, centers and programs. Your team will be evaluated for fit based on progress goals, program expectations and mentoring needs.
In some unique cases, exceptions may be made for non-UC students whose existing university’s entrepreneurial offerings are for some reason insufficient.
Learn more about how UCI Beall Applied Innovation is committed to Inclusive Entrepreneurship.
Applications for the next cycle are due October 3, 2022.