CITRIS Foundry Incubator 2026

About

The CITRIS Foundry offers a six-month incubator program for UC-affiliated innovators in deep tech, providing resources, mentorship, and a Demo Day to showcase ventures to potential investors while retaining full ownership.

Benefits

• 🚀No-cost, no-equity Model — Retain 100% ownership while accessing support
• 🛠️ Prototyping Support — Create a proof of concept using UC labs
• 🎤Demo Day — Present to investors and industry leaders for visibility and funding

Eligibility Criteria

• UC-affiliated innovators from UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC Santa Cruz
• Startups in deep tech fields like AI, health tech, sustainability, and robotics
• Teams must have a minimum of two founders

Participation Commitments

• ⏳ Six-month program duration — Two phases focusing on market validation and scaling
• 📅 Orientation required for accepted teams
• 🗣️ Finalists must participate in a 30-minute interview

Target Region

Open to innovators affiliated with UC campuses in California

Target Sector

Deep tech sectors including AI, health tech, sustainability, and robotics