If you would like to join our mailing list and receive updates on upcoming events / opportunities go here. If you are a venture capitalist or investor interested in learning about the amazing innovation on campus, please write to the President Purvi Sehgal at psehgal@caltech.edu
About the Club
The Caltech Entrepreneurship Club aims to develop Caltech's startup ecosystem through educational speaker series, networking events, and working with administration to establish a founder friendly environment. We connect students with resources to explore career options outside of academia.
We bring in speakers from various backgrounds including venture capital, startup co-founders, consultants, industry scientists, incubators/accelerators, and large biotech and tech companies in LA. Our goal is provide a range of guests to discuss their transition from academia to industry, what a day in the life at their firm is like, and tips for students to succeed in their careers.
As Caltech is a small school, it is vital to take steps to increase entrepreneurial visibility within our community. The Entrepreneurship Club hosts multiple happy hour and networking events throughout the year to allow students to meet their peers who are interested in industry and startups.
Programming and Events
Nucleate: Nucleate is a student run non-profit organization that educates current academic trainees by helping them to translate their technologies out of their labs into a startup. The program pairs scientists with Intellectual Property (patents) with MBA students then puts the teams through a mentorship and expert workshop program to refine their strategic startup plans. The program culminates in a Final Pitch Showcase, with last year's event co-hosted by the LA Mayor's Office at LA City Hall.
Rocket Fund: Caltech's Rocket Fund is a member supported granting pool that helps academic and garage innovators turn their technologies into commercial realities through financial support, entrepreneurial mentoring and education. The program offers $25,000 - $100,000 in non-equity grants for cleantech and sustainability startups. The Entrepreneurship Club helps write the Rocket Fund newsletter and participates in the Technology Advisory Committee.
Plug and Play: Each year the Entrepreneurship Club sends 4 Caltech students to work virtually part time in the SF based venture capital firm to review 500+ pitch decks and discuss exciting companies in Plug and Play's pipeline.