Berkeley Startup Cluster updates for the new school year

Last spring, the Berkeley Public Schools Fund launched the Partnership to Close the Opportunity Gap in STEM Education with the support of Wareham Development and the Berkeley Unified School District Career Technical Education program. Every year, the Partnership makes it possible for 500 students from populations historically underrepresented in STEM fields to participate in STEM enrichment and exploration on weekends and over school breaks. This summer, 269 6th-12th graders, including high school mentors, enjoyed 4 weeks of free STEM/Maker Camps — click here to watch a brief video. Following the summer program success, the Berkeley Public Schools Fund is looking to sustain this work and scale its impact by bringing in more partners— these critical opportunities are made possible by the generosity of Berkeley residents and businesses. 

Donate to help the Schools Fund close the opportunity gap in STEM education and sign up here to volunteer in Berkeley middle schools to inspire the next generation.

Thursday September 14, 8:30pm
Uptown Station in Oakland (1955 Broadway)

Join the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (EDA) for East Bay Now, an evening celebrating East Bay innovation today and in the future. The culmination of the EDA's Meet the Innovators series, the event will bring together trailblazing companies and organizations from across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Register to attend next week.

Wednesday September 20, 3:00 to 6:00pm
Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall

Accredited investors - don't miss this opportunity to see pitches from the current Batch 16 startups and select alumni startups at Berkeley SkyDeck's Demo Day. Stay afterwards for the Startup Expo to experience product demos and network with fellow venture capitalists and angel investors. 

Accredited investors should request an invitation to attend.

Thursday September 21, 5:00 to 7:00pm
Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Berkeley

Join the Berkeley Chamber at Berkeley City Club for a cool, fun & inspiring event to unwind after your long workday. Mingle with other members of the business community while enjoying refreshing beverages and delicious snacks.

RSVP on Eventbrite. 

Nominations close Sept 15

In its eighth year, the Biocom California Life Science Catalyst Awards aim to celebrate the most inspiring and driven minds who are sparking meaningful change to human health through research, discovery, and entrepreneurship. The awards are open to accomplished as well as up-and-coming academics, entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and business advisers making their mark on the California life science industry before their 40th birthday. 

Nominate someone for a 2023 award. 

Nominations due Sept 29; the Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Fox Theater in Oakland

The East Bay is a world-class leader when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship. Presented by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, the East Bay Innovation Awards ceremony celebrates and honors the extraordinary companies and organizations that contribute to the East Bay’s legacy of innovation. 

Nominate a company before Sept 29th. Email iawards@eastbayeda.org with questions.

Applications due Oct. 13 

The CITRIS Seed Funding Program issues competitive awards that advance information technology research for societal benefit and catalyze proof-of-concept results that can lead to transformative solutions for industry and the public sector. 

Interdisciplinary proposals are invited from principal investigators at UC Berkeley, among other UC campuses. This program has accelerated more than 235 applied research projects led by over 400 UC innovators to date. Funded projects offer a glimpse at new frontiers of technology and have attracted more than $60 million in follow-on support.

Interested? Learn more or apply today.

Program Runs November 6-7 

The Equity Fluent Leadership Academy is an equity and inclusion training designed for business leaders who aspire to further equity and inclusion in their organizations and drive impactful change. Led by the Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership (EGAL) at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, participants will learn what it means to be an Equity Fluent Leader™, why diversity and inclusion matter, and research-driven methods to expanding equity within your company.

Register Today.

Forge Development has picked up a 10-acre industrial site in northwest Berkeley for nearly $49 million with plans to build a life science campus.

The Del Mar-based developer bought 16 parcels containing the former site of Pacific Steel Casting and Berkeley Forge and Tool bounded by Eastshore Highway, Gilman Street, Third Street and Page Street.

Read more in the The Real Deal, Berkeleyside, and The Registry. 

Bellwether Coffee, the technology company advancing electric coffee roasting to deliver the lowest carbon footprint in the industry, is announcing a partnership with Red Bay Coffee Roasters and Heirloom Coffee – thanks to a new $1.879MM grant from the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Food Production and Investment program that aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to help industries work towards a low-carbon future.

Read more in Sprudge.