The ANTrepreneur Center is an open door to any student on campus curious about entrepreneurship. Through an immersive and engaging experience, students are offered resources and support to guide them from ideation to creation to the building of an entrepreneurial mindset. The lifelong skills our students develop lead to success after graduation whether they join a startup, start their own business, or pursue a more traditional career.
But we can’t do it alone.
Consider becoming a partner and join our journey.
Founder’s Circle
Starting at $50,000
By becoming a member of the Founder’s Circle, you can help cultivate student leaders and share the transformative power of skilled, innovative, and prepared graduates with your community. As a Founder’s Circle member, you also deepen your impact and learning by joining our diverse ANTrepreneur Center students in engaging experiences throughout the year.
Corporate Circle
Starting at $25,000
Benefits of ANTrepreneur Center Corporate Circle Membership includes opportunities to engage as speakers, judges, and mentors, or participate in other exciting interactive experiences. It also affords the opportunity to name a student startup award and gets you access to UCI faculty and campus leadership.
External Committee
Starting at $10,000
Members support program engagement and the development of fundraising opportunities. Members are expected to actively participate in four full ACE Committee meetings per year + two subcommittee meetings and provide advice and input to ANTrepreneur Center leadership in key areas.
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 early-stage founders and helping launch companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit. Its approach emphasizes rapid experimentation, practical mentorship, and...
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 personal experiences, achievements, and brilliant insights. We invite you to join us as we celebrate these ANTrepreneurs and get inspired by their stories. As...
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.