The UCLA Easton Technology Management Center (UCLA Anderson School of Management) partnered with UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, UCLA Health, and the Institute for Carbon Management invites UCLA students from all disciplines and backgrounds to collaborate on driving a positive change in society by solving real-world problems through technology. The Innovation Challenge initiative provides ample opportunities for students to learn from industry leaders at major technology companies, meet and collaborate with like-minded students across campus and receive guidance from subject matter experts to propel their venture to the next level.
There are two Innovation Challenge tracks:
Healthcare Track
- Prompt: Use technology (digital or otherwise) to create a solution that will significantly improve accessibility, affordability, health outcomes or care delivery in U.S. healthcare.
- Solution may have impact at the system level or the individual/consumer level, but it must be pragmatic and commercially viable in light of the business, social and political environments of the U.S. healthcare system.
- Teams will be evaluated on the following four criteria (see Healthcare Track website for more details):
- Impact
- Feasibility
- Innovation
- Persuasion
Please see Healthcare Track website for details about finding a research team, rules, contact information, and scheduling a 1:1. meeting.
Sustainability Track
- Prompt: Use technology (digital or otherwise) to create a sustainable solution that will significantly improve the sustainability of our environment in the following areas: water, energy, climate, transportation, and/or ecosystems.
- Solution must use technology to have impact at the system level or the individual/consumer level, but also be pragmatic and commercially viable in light of the business, social and political environments.
- Successful sustainability solutions will meaningfully consider the environment, economy, and equity.
- Teams will be evaluated on the following four criteria (see Sustainability track website for more details):
- Impact
- Feasibility
- Innovation
- Persuasion
- Note: Participation in the Innovation Challenge helps partially fulfill the IoES Leaders in Sustainability Certificate Program certificate requirement. For additional information, see opportunity's website.
- Please see Sustainability track website for details about finding a research team, rules, contact information, and scheduling a 1:1. meeting.
Award Amount and Details
Substantial cash prizes awarded to winners. See each opportunity website for more details.
Deadlines and Date Information
Healthcare Track Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 1/3/2023
- Registration Deadline: 2/3/2023
- Business Plan Submission Deadline: 2/17/2023
- Healthcare Track Final Round: 4/21/2023
Sustainability Track Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 1/3/2023
- Registration Deadline: 2/3/2023
- Business Plan Submission Deadline: 2/17/2023
- Sustainability Track Final Round: 4/28/2023
Eligibility Information
- You must be a UCLA student to participate in this competition. In this competition, “UCLA student” is defined as anyone pursuing an educational program at UCLA including UCLA Health residents, fellows, and post-docs.
- The Cross-Campus Innovation Challenge is for new, independent ventures in the seed, start-up or early stage. Business plans cannot be venture-backed, although investments from friends and family are acceptable.
- Teams must be composed of at least (1) MBA student and (1) non-MBA student.
- Teams are not allowed to change their registered team members after the submission of semi-final plans.
- All teams will adhere to the UCLA Anderson Honor Code.
- Please visit the Innovation Challenge Rules page for additional information pertaining to each track's competition rules.
