UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator Welcomes AI-Powered Companies
UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator Summer Activate Program Includes Seven Artificial Intelligence-Powered Startups
Los Angeles (July 6, 2023) — The Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson School of Management announces the participants in its summer 2023 Activate program. In keeping with the Accelerator’s commitment to the latest entrepreneurial and technology trends, the new cohort includes seven artificial intelligence-powered startups, representing over a quarter of the participants.
The Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson hosts year-round cohort-based programs aimed at providing resources and support for industry-agnostic early-stage startups, helping them successfully commercialize their intellectual property (IP). The summer Activate program provides workshops and mentorship to help both idea-stage and prototype-stage companies validate problem-solution, determine customer segment and test product-market fit.
The Accelerator’s summer 2023 Activate program showcases a diverse cohort of 29 startups that encompass industries such as health care, edtech, proptech, cleantech, aerospace, consumer goods, consumer digital and finance. This group consists of 36% current UCLA Anderson students, 17% Anderson alumni, 17% founders from UCLA’s campus and 30% representing the greater Los Angeles community.
Since 2018, the Accelerator has provided support to 266 companies across three annual programs, resulting in cumulative funding of $228 million, over 1,200 jobs created and eight acquisitions. The program’s impressive 85% success rate can be attributed to its comprehensive mentoring and support structure. Notably, more than 60% of the founders identify as underrepresented, underscoring the program’s commitment to empowering historically excluded individuals in the startup ecosystem.
“As a team of early adopters, the Accelerator has witnessed first hand the profound impact of AI tools and technologies, empowering us in remarkable ways,” said Trish Halamandaris (’92), director of the Venture Accelerator at Anderson. “Even in their early stages, tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard have already made significant improvements to the work efficiency of the Accelerator team. This has strengthened our conviction that the world is heading in this direction and, as a result, we have evolved our program to wholeheartedly support these groundbreaking ventures.”
UCLA Anderson exhibits a strong dedication to nurturing transformative leaders, not only among its own students but also within the broader Los Angeles community. By acting as a catalyst for groundbreaking advancements, the Accelerator propels forward-thinking ventures into Southern California’s vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs.
Meet our newest AI startups (class years indicate founders’ UCLA Anderson graduation years, unless otherwise indicated):
- Bio Consulting LLC leverages AI-driven strategies to provide consulting services to biotech companies in the post-approval or commercialization phase. Founder: Toni Zhang (’25)
- Breadcrumbs is leveraging behavioral science to encourage a higher rate of savings. Founder: Margot Johnson (’23)
- Clearpath is a comprehensive database of open clinical trials in the U.S., empowering cancer patients to make informed treatment decisions. Founder: Jessica Daly (’24)
- Oscyllate creates tech products utilizing AI-controlled speech and text recognition to analyze, organize and present clinically relevant data in a user-friendly format. Founders: Kofi Agyeman (’25), Kwasi Agyeman and Yafet Woldegabriel
- Skan is a diagnostic tool designed to evaluate the overall condition of a home’s substrate. Founder: Steven Rogall
- Standard Draft is a two-sided platform for modular drafting and negotiation of contracts that accelerates the process of reaching an agreement. Founder: Ryan Samii (B.A. ’14)
- VOKQUE is a Gen-Z focused recruitment app that uses AI technology to connect businesses and talent through a modern 1:1 channel, akin to a dating app. Founder: Kate Dohaney
About the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson
The Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson is uniquely designed for UCLA startups to thrive. Boasting the breadth of expertise offered by the nation’s top public university and connections to the business and Anderson alumni communities, the Accelerator is where companies-in-residence succeed as a result of continuous co-working and networking. Our location in Los Angeles allows our companies access to the fastest growing venture capital market. With immersive and experiential programming and advisors provided by UCLA Anderson’s Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, these startups enjoy a steady stream of insights and support to promote performance beyond projections.
About UCLA Anderson School of Management
UCLA Anderson School of Management is among the leading business schools in the world, with faculty members globally renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Located in Los Angeles, gateway to the growing economies of Latin America and Asia and a city that personifies innovation in a diverse range of endeavors, UCLA Anderson’s MBA, Fully Employed MBA, Executive MBA, UCLA-NUS Executive MBA, Master of Financial Engineering, Master of Science in Business Analytics, doctoral and executive education programs embody the school’s Think in the Next ethos. Annually, some 1,800 students are trained to be global leaders seeking the business models and community solutions of tomorrow.