Berkeley SkyDeck

Berkeley SkyDeck is a prominent startup accelerator and incubator program established in 2012 as a joint venture between the Haas School of Business and the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. It serves as a global hub for entrepreneurship, offering a comprehensive suite of resources to early-stage companies. The accelerator provides participating startups with a $200,000 investment from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, access to a vast network of over 500 advisors and mentors, and connections to more than 510,000 UC Berkeley alumni. This support aims to prepare startups for significant funding rounds and successful market entry.

SkyDeck's program, known as the Berkeley Acceleration Method (BAM), is a six-month initiative designed to accelerate startups for success in Silicon Valley. The program includes expert-led workshops, personalized matching with key advisors, one-on-one office hours with experts, customer introductions through the UC Berkeley community, and curated introductions to hundreds of Seed and Series A investors. This holistic approach equips startups with the necessary tools and connections to thrive in the competitive startup ecosystem.

In addition to its accelerator program, Berkeley SkyDeck operates the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, a dedicated venture fund that invests $200,000 into each startup participating in the accelerator. The fund has made over 130 investments in three years, making it one of the most active seed investors in the Bay Area. Notably, 50% of the fund's profits are donated back to UC Berkeley, supporting the university's innovation ecosystem. This unique public-private partnership underscores SkyDeck's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the UC Berkeley community and beyond.