Berkeley SkyDeck is UC Berkeley's official startup accelerator, founded in 2012. Through the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, the accelerator's investment arm founded in 2018, every accepted startup receives a $210,000 investment for 7% equity. Roughly 20 to 25 teams are selected each cohort from around 3,000 applications, a less than 1% acceptance rate, for a six-month program with workshops, three dedicated key advisors, and access to a network of more than 700 advisors, culminating in Demo Day. The program is designed for startups that are almost ready to raise their first institutional round and want a structured push to sharpen product, go-to-market, and fundraising. Founders do not need to be affiliated with UC Berkeley to apply or be funded. SkyDeck invests in promising startups regardless of any university connection.
What sets SkyDeck apart is the network and the mission behind it. Backed by limited partners including Sequoia Capital, Sierra Ventures, Mayfield Fund, and Canvas Ventures, it became one of the world's most active seed funds within its first three years. Founders also gain access to the broader network of SkyDeck Fund investors through dedicated investor introductions to funds that lead at the seed stage. The program is industry-agnostic and global by design. Historically about two-thirds of participating startups were founded outside the US, and UC-affiliated and international founders are a continuing priority. Uniquely, half of the fund's carried interest is reinvested into the university to support education and research, so backing a SkyDeck company also means backing the next generation of founders and researchers.
Applications are now open for our 2027 cohort.
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