At the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center, we believe that innovation begins with curiosity. Every great idea starts with a simple question: What if? Our goal is to give students the space, tools, and confidence to explore those questions and turn them into action.
This fall, our AI Innovation Course has guided students through a ten-week journey into the world of entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. It is a beginner-friendly, non-technical program that welcomes students from every major and background. Over the quarter, participants learn what it takes to think like a founder. They form teams, generate ideas, conduct customer discovery, validate their market, and develop an early prototype or proof of concept.
The course culminates in the AI Innovation Demo Day, where students share what they have built, showcase their creative use of AI tools, and present their ventures to a panel of volunteer judges from the community.
A Learning Experience, Not a Competition
Unlike traditional startup competitions, Demo Day is not about prizes. It is about practice, feedback, and growth. Students stand proudly beside their booths and explain the product or service they have been building for the past ten weeks. They talk about what worked, what didn’t, and how they used AI to innovate.
Judges listen to short pitches and offer constructive feedback. The atmosphere is collaborative, encouraging, and full of energy. It is designed to help students gain confidence in presenting their ideas and learn from different perspectives.
Creating this kind of open and supportive environment is essential to the entrepreneurial process. For many students, this is their first time pitching an idea publicly or exploring how AI can be used to solve real-world problems. By sharing thoughtful feedback, judges help transform uncertainty into understanding and spark the next iteration of these early ideas.
What Students Learn
Throughout the course, students are exposed to a variety of AI tools and platforms that help them across every stage of building a startup. They explore ZotGPT, UC Irvine’s own AI chatbot platform, and experiment with tools such as Perplexity, Claude, ChatGPT, Canva, and others that support research, design, and marketing. They also learn about concepts like product-market fit, customer discovery, and business modeling.
By the time Demo Day arrives, students have not only created prototypes but have also learned to approach challenges with the mindset of founders. The feedback they receive from judges helps them see their ideas from new angles and prepares them for whatever comes next.
The Role of a Demo Day Judge
Serving as a Demo Day judge is one of the most rewarding ways to support student innovation at UC Irvine. Judges do not need to be experts in artificial intelligence. A general understanding of business or startups and a genuine curiosity about new ideas is more than enough. As a judge, you will visit student booths, listen to their ideas, and provide insight that helps them improve. The feedback can be about the clarity of their pitch, the potential of their market, or how their AI application could be refined. What matters most is showing up with curiosity and encouragement.
Many judges tell us that Demo Day is one of their favorite events of the year. It is inspiring to see what undergraduates can accomplish in such a short time. The creativity and ambition on display often lead to lasting connections and future mentorship opportunities.
Event Details
- AI Innovation Demo Day
- Date: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025
- Time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM
- Location: UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education, Yosemite Room
The event will feature student booths, live demonstrations, and light refreshments. It will be a high-energy evening that brings together students, mentors, and community members who are passionate about innovation and learning.
Join Us
If you are interested in serving as a judge, please complete the short interest form. You can also share this opportunity with colleagues, alumni, or friends who enjoy hearing new ideas and supporting student innovation.
By volunteering your time, you will help students gain the experience, confidence, and perspective they need to keep moving forward in their entrepreneurial journey. It is a simple yet powerful way to connect with the next generation of innovators and see firsthand the creative ideas emerging from UC Irvine.
Visit the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.