UCI Entrepreneurship: Best Programs, Clubs & Resources

UC Irvine has a growing entrepreneurship ecosystem that spans campus hubs, student organizations, competitions, courses, and programs that help you go from curiosity to action. What follows is a curated list of the most helpful places, who they are for, and what to do next.

Campus Startup Hubs

UCI ANTrepreneur Center

The ANTrepreneur Center is the main student entrepreneurship hub on campus. It exists so UCI students can develop ideas, meet other founders, find funding, connect with mentors, and learn how to launch and grow ventures. It offers workshops, networking events, coaching, and hands-on spaces like a maker room and podcast studio that students can use as they build projects and products.

Who it's for

Students with an idea they want to explore. Students who want coaching and practical support. Students who want access to tools and community.

What to do now

Sign up for a workshop or office hours. Stop by and use the maker space or podcast room even if your idea is early. Join a challenge like the $ide Hustle Challenge to grow a side project.

UCI Beall Applied Innovation

Beall Applied Innovation connects campus research and innovation with industry, investors, and commercialization pathways. It operates The Cove @ UCI, a community space with networking events and programming that brings together founders, students, investors, and companies. Beall also offers funding resources like POP Grants and programs like I-Corps that help teams turn inventions into ventures.

Who it's for

Students working with deep tech, lab research, intellectual property, or serious commercialization.

What to do now

Explore Cove events and Applied Innovation funding opportunities. If you have research with potential market impact, look into I-Corps or POP Grants.

Competitions and Structured Programs

Stella Zhang New Venture Competition

The Stella Zhang New Venture Competition is UCI's flagship startup competition with significant cash prizes, mentorship, and exposure to investors and industry. It's open to students, faculty, and community members and includes workshops and milestones that help teams iterate their idea and pitch.

Who it's for

Anyone who wants structure, deadlines, coaching, and a runway to build and launch a venture.

What to do now

Look up the submission timeline and attend kickoff or info sessions. Start forming a team and planning your first concept paper.

Student-Led Organizations

Sigma Eta Pi (ΣΗΠ) at UCI

Sigma Eta Pi is a coed entrepreneurship fraternity that helps students build startups through practice, iteration, and community rather than just events. UCI's Kappa Chapter runs a quarterly program called Founders Education where members form teams and take a startup from idea to launch. They validate problems with real customer conversations, build MVPs, iterate on feedback, and pitch to experienced founders and investors.

In three years, the chapter has grown to 40+ active members across 15+ majors, launched 20+ startups, and collectively raised $1M+ through VC funding, accelerators, and pitch competitions.

Who it's for

Students who want to learn by doing, build consistently with peers, and ship real products or ventures throughout the quarter.

What to do now

Watch for rush each quarter and join the next cohort so you can launch a team and ship a project.

Manifest at UCI

Manifest is a community-focused entrepreneurship club that fosters business education and supports members in building ventures and solving real-world problems.

Who it's for

Students who want a structured community with regular meetups, peer accountability, and skill building.

What to do now

Attend a general meeting or event to connect with other student builders.

Academic & Campus Programs

Entrepreneurship Courses

UCI offers courses that introduce the tools and techniques needed to define and develop products, build teams, and launch ventures. The ANTrepreneur Center also incorporates structured startup content into courses like "Anteater to ANTrepreneur", which teaches startup fundamentals using Y Combinator Startup School materials.

Who it's for

Students who want academic credit while building startup skills.

What to do now

Search the UCI course catalog for entrepreneurship or innovation courses and enroll.

Practical Next Steps for Any Student

1. Connect with the ANTrepreneur Center - Visit their website, follow them on social media, and drop in for office hours.

2. Join at least one student group - Sigma Eta Pi or Manifest are good places to start because they are active and hands-on.

3. Attend events and workshops regularly - Look for Cove talks, startup demos, pitch nights, and hackathons.

4. Pick a project and commit to weekly progress - Whether you're building a side hustle or exploring a research idea, make small weekly steps and get feedback.

5. Plan for a competition or demo day - Competitions like the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition force you to formalize your concept and get real feedback and prizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an entrepreneurship major at UCI?

UCI does not have a dedicated entrepreneurship major, but students can take entrepreneurship courses through the Paul Merage School of Business and the ANTrepreneur Center. Many students combine their primary major with entrepreneurship electives and hands-on programs like Founders Education.

How do I join the ANTrepreneur Center?

The ANTrepreneur Center is open to all UCI students. You can sign up for workshops, attend office hours, or use their maker space and podcast studio without any formal application. Just visit their website and start showing up.

What startup competitions does UCI have?

The main competition is the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition, which offers cash prizes and mentorship. The ANTrepreneur Center also runs the $ide Hustle Challenge for students building side projects.

Do I need a business background to start a startup at UCI?

No. Most successful student founders come from technical, design, or science backgrounds. What matters is willingness to build, talk to users, and iterate. Programs like Founders Education teach the business fundamentals as you go.

How do I find a cofounder at UCI?

Join Sigma Eta Pi where you'll be placed on a team to build a startup together. Attend ANTrepreneur Center events and Cove networking sessions. The best cofounders are people you've actually built something with, not just people you've met at events.