Calling all UC entrepreneurs: The University of California wants to shine a light on your story

The University of California launched today (Nov. 18) the “I am a UC Entrepreneur” campaign to highlight entrepreneurship across the ten-campus system.

Students, faculty, staff, postdocs and alumni are invited to submit a 30-second video sharing what makes them an entrepreneur to: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/entrepreneurs. The videos will be used to highlight and publicize individual stories, as well as the breadth and depth of entrepreneurial efforts across the ten-campus system.

Everyone who submits a video will receive a "UC Entrepreneur" T-shirt. In addition, one eligible student from each campus will be selected at random to attend a special lunch with Christine Gulbranson, senior vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship, and UC President Janet Napolitano.

“This campaign is about celebrating and recognizing the creativity and passion that makes UC an innovation powerhouse,” Gulbranson said. “Entrepreneurial activity is booming across the UC system. I can’t wait to see everyone’s stories.”

The campaign launches during Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 14-20), an annual celebration in over 160 countries that aims to inspire people around the world to explore their entrepreneurial potential. In the United States, GEW has fostered more than 2,000 local events. 

UC has a growing focus on entrepreneurship, with more than two dozen incubators and accelerators across the system and myriad student clubs devoted to the topic. Student entrepreneurship groups and clubs are encouraged to promote the campaign, host video parties and assist budding UC entrepreneurs in making their 30-second video.

Videos submitted as part of the campaign will be featured on the website. Participants who want to be in the drawing for lunch with Gulbranson and Napolitano must submit their video by 11:59 PST, Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The site will continue to accept and feature video submissions through 2017, however, with participants continuing to receive T-shirts.