News
New Year, New Equipment: ANTrepreneur Center Expands Maker Room with 3D Printer Donation
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center expanded its Maker Room through an in-kind donation of two advanced 3D printers from Stuart McClure. The new equipment increases rapid prototyping capacity, supports hands-on learning, and strengthens product development resources for student innovators.
ANTrepreneur Center Earns Top Honors in Fourth Annual Winter Office Decorating Competition
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center earned top honors in the Fourth Annual Winter Office Decorating Competition, hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning. By taking its holiday spirit outdoors with upcycled decorations, festive music, and a special visit from Santa, the Center created a joyful, community-focused experience that blended creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Hosts Largest-Ever AI Innovation Course Demo Day
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center exists to support students who are curious about...
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Celebrates First Major Win from the New Santora Pitch Lab
Just weeks after opening, UC Irvine’s new Santora Pitch Lab has already delivered its first major win. Senior Tyler Maher took first place at the 2025 Titan Fast Pitch Competition, showcasing how focused pitch training and practice can help student founders stand out and succeed.
Chancellor’s Club Spotlights Student Founders at UC Irvine
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center partnered with University Advancement’s Chancellor’s Club to host Innovation & Illumination, a Shark Tank–style showcase connecting donors with student founders. The event highlighted student pitches, the Santora Pitch Lab, and the power of philanthropy in supporting early-stage entrepreneurship at UC Irvine.
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Launches First-Ever Product Development Office Hours in Collaboration with Invento Design
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center is launching Product Development Office Hours in collaboration with Invento Design to support students building physical products. This new offering gives student founders access to experienced product design guidance, helping them navigate early decisions and move ideas closer to reality.
How Startup Ideas Really Form: Lessons From Y Combinator (Part 1 of 3)
Early-stage startup ideas rarely come from brainstorming. They come from noticing real problems in your own life. This article breaks down how great founders spot insights, why small ideas can become huge, and how UCI students can use campus resources like the ANTrepreneur Center and the Santora Pitch Lab to begin their startup journey.
Innovation and Illumination: A New Shark Tank-Style Showcase Connects UC Irvine Donors and Student Innovators
Innovation and Illumination is a Shark Tank style showcase connecting UC Irvine donors with student innovators. This new collaboration between the ANTrepreneur Center and the Chancellor’s Club highlights student pitches, celebrates philanthropy, and spotlights the new Santora Pitch Lab as a resource for all students.
From UC Irvine to Rome: How the ANTrepreneur Center Helped Me Pitch My Startup Abroad
UC Irvine student Nicole Cordova shares how her experience at the ANTrepreneur Center helped her turn a classroom idea into an international startup journey. From building a travel wellness app to pitching in Rome, Nicole’s story shows how curiosity, creativity, and campus resources can launch global opportunities.
Announcing the Recipients of the 2025 Choi Endowed ANTrepreneur Scholarship
We are thrilled to announce that UC Irvine students Lisa Royer (Criminology and Psychology), Ella Le (Nursing Science), and Mariam Sayed (Biological Science) have received the inaugural Choi Endowed ANTrepreneur Scholarship. Learn more about the scholarship, this year’s winners, and how to apply for the 2026 award cycle.
UC Irvine’s ANTrepreneur Center Expands Access to Y Combinator’s Startup School for Student Founders
Y Combinator is one of the world’s most influential startup accelerators, known for supporting...
Calling All Venture Capitalists and Investors: Share Your Insights with the Next Generation of Innovators at UC Irvine
The UCI ANTrepreneur Center and the UC Irvine Venture Capital Club are calling for guest speakers and investors to share their expertise with students. This collaboration connects professionals with aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering insight into venture capital, startup funding, and investment readiness while shaping the next generation of innovators.
Call for Judges: Help UC Irvine Students Shine at the AI Innovation Demo Day
The UCI ANTrepreneur Center invites community members to serve as judges at the upcoming AI Innovation Demo Day on December 10, 2025. This event showcases student-led projects from the ten-week AI Innovation Course, where participants use tools like ZotGPT, ChatGPT, and Canva to turn creative ideas into prototypes. Judges will provide feedback and encouragement, helping students strengthen their entrepreneurial and communication skills in a collaborative, high-energy environment.
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Receives OCPA 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Award
UC Irvine’s ANTrepreneur Center continues to lead in sustainability and innovation through impactful student initiatives. From launching the SJF Repair Center with Sustainable and Just Future at UCI to earning recognition from the Orange County Power Authority, the Center empowers students to repair, reuse, and rethink consumption for a greener future.
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Unveils New Santora Pitch Lab
On October 2, 2025, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted its Fall Kickoff event and announced its newest expansion, the Santora Pitch Lab. Heralded as a transformative space equipped with modular studios and cutting-edge technology, learn how the Santora Pitch Lab rings in a new era of possibilities for UC Irvine students and community members.
Interview with ANTrepreneurs: Larry Le and Aadi Agrawal of Locus
At the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center, we are excited to highlight entrepreneurs and share their...
UCI Solar Car Team Wins Award at National Competition
The UC Irvine Solar Car Team won the Capacitance Award at the 2025 Formula Sun Grand Prix for SolEater, UCI’s first student-built solar car. Inspired by nature’s teardrop shape for aerodynamic efficiency, the team showcased innovation and adaptability, earning national recognition for their creativity and commitment to sustainable engineering.
Inspiring a New Generation of Entrepreneurs: Introducing the Junior Shark Tank Program
At the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center, our mission is to share our love of innovation and...
Side Hustler Stories: Interview with Aaditya Gulati of Rest Wing
During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the...
Meet Peter’s Helper: The ANTrepreneur Center Launches its First Custom AI Chatbot
Introduction: A Hub of Innovation At the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, innovation isn’t just a...
Where are They Now? Catching Up with the Opennote Team
We at the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center are excited to highlight student entrepreneurs and...
COMING FALL 2025 Career Flair Podcast Launch: Navigating the New World of Work
The New Career Landscape Navigating today’s job market is a whole new challenge. College...
UC Irvine Micro-Internships Hit 4,000 Student Milestone and $150,000+ in Paid Projects
At the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center, we believe real-world experience should be accessible to...
Unlocking Innovation: UC Irvine’s AI Innovation Course Equips the Next Generation of Founders, Creators, and Change-Makers
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center is the campus hub for student innovation and entrepreneurial...
Side Hustler Stories: Interview with Yuze Yang, Gianna Zhan, and Alex Cortes of Petch
We at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center are excited to highlight student entrepreneurs and share...
Side Hustler Stories: Interview with Aidan Stone-Walsh
During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the...
Side Hustler Stories: Interview with James Yee of UC, I Want Some Clothes
During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the...
Americans Are Side-Hustling Like We’re in a Recession
Does your friend with a second job know something you don’t? The share of working Americans...
Now Hiring: Program Lead at the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center
The UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center is hiring a Program Lead to help expand our student...
Student ANTrepreneur Receives Prestigious Korean National Startup Grant
Recently, second-year UC Irvine computer science major JeWan Youn was awarded a prestigious...