CA-BERKELEY-SKYDECK
Berkeley SkyDeck , the global hub for entrepreneurship and leading accelerator, today announced that applications are now open for its 15th cohort class, with a final deadline of August 31, 2022. Applications are available here . Batch 15 cohorts can take advantage of new tracks added in the last year, including the Aero-Astro Track, led by advisor Robin Riedel of McKinsey and Company, and the Blockchain/Crypto Track, led by advisor Linda Kreitzman. Berkeley SkyDeck’s Chip Track also named a new advisor, David Horsley of UC Davis. In addition, Berkeley SkyDeck will launch a CivTech Track in the coming year, in partnership with the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley, with former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano leading the track as a primary advisor. In addition to these new tracks, SkyDeck will continue to work with startups in industries that have always been an area of focus for venture investors, including consumer, enterprise software, biotech, greentech and more.
Berkeley SkyDeck accepts just over 1.5% of startups that apply and approximately 20 to 25 startups overall for each of its cohorts. Cohort companies receive $200,000 in funding, $750,000 worth of free and discounted resources, and access to SkyDeck’s unsurpassed network of UC Berkeley alumni, faculty, and advisors. Alumni of Berkeley SkyDeck have enjoyed great success in their respective industries, collectively raising more than $1.7 billion in funding. The recently launched Berkeley SkyDeck Europe is currently working with its first group of cohorts, who will present their own Demo Day on October 20, 2022.
“Our mission at Berkeley SkyDeck is to continue the tradition of excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation that makes UC Berkeley one of the top public universities in the world. Expanding our operations in Europe and opening additional tracks for our cohorts are just a couple examples of how we are striving to meet the needs of founders around the world,” said Caroline Winnett, Executive Director. “I am looking forward to seeing what these batch applicants have to offer – and how we can leverage the university’s vast resources to set them up for success.”
Berkeley SkyDeck’s newest tracks reflect trends in growth and investments. Last year, for example, aerospace startups raised $15.4 billion while US semiconductor and chip investment reached $2.6 billion in 2021 , nearly doubling in just three years. Civtech is also burgeoning, with the industry’s transaction volume rising to $14 billion total in 2021 .
“While Berkeley SkyDeck might be rooted here in Silicon Valley, our reach is global, and we’re excited to see how both homegrown and international startups tackle the issues in their industries across all of our tracks,” said Chon Tang, Founding Partner, Berkeley SkyDeck Fund. “As we evaluate, advise, and potentially invest, we are continually energized by these fresh ideas and new approaches. The SkyDeck Fund is ready and waiting to take these newest cohort companies to the next level.”
In March 2022, Berkeley SkyDeck recently announced the close of the $60 million SkyDeck Fund II, which continues to actively fund companies. The SkyDeck Fund has invested in 160 companies to date, representing a wide range of businesses and industries, from 30 countries around the world. Unlike other VC funds, the SkyDeck Fund shares half of its profits with UC Berkeley, helping to continue the university’s mission of delivering excellence in education.
Berkeley SkyDeck will conduct extensive research on applicants, and will hold interviews between September and October 2022. The six-month program will begin in November 2022, concluding at the end of April 2023. Berkeley SkyDeck will host the cohort’s Demo Day for investors on April 4, 2023.
About Berkeley SkyDeck
Berkeley SkyDeck is a leading accelerator and the global hub for entrepreneurship. As UC Berkeley’s largest and most prominent accelerator, SkyDeck combines hands-on mentorship with the vast resources of its research university. SkyDeck is the only accelerator of its kind that offers the value of a dedicated investment fund alongside the resources and network of a top university. To date, SkyDeck startups have raised more than $1.7 billion in aggregate. Participating startups have access to SkyDeck’s 420 advisors, 70 industry partners, and a network of more than 510,000 UC Berkeley alumni. For more information, see skydeck.berkeley.edu .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220802005245/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Klarna Launches Tap to Pay for In-Store Purchases Across 14 Markets2.12.2025 09:00:00 CET | Press release
Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, today launches the brand new feature Tap to Pay across 14 European markets, bringing flexible payments into physical retail at scale and transforming the Klarna app into an everyday contactless wallet. With more than 80% of European shopping still happening in physical stores, Tap to Pay brings consumers the ease of online shopping into the bricks and mortar stores. Instead of hunting for cards or juggling apps, everything sits in one place — the Klarna app — making every purchase smoother from start to finish. Utilising NFC technology, Tap to Pay turns the Klarna app into a contactless wallet, letting consumers set up a flexible payment plan and pay with a tap, all in one place – without adding their card to another wallet or switching apps at checkout. Tap to Pay builds on the rapid global uptake of the new debit-first Klarna Card, now used by more than 4 million consumers. The card is debit by default, with the option t
SkillOnNet Redefines RNG Gaming with World-First Launch of AI-Powered GAIA Roulette2.12.2025 09:00:00 CET | Press release
GAIA is the world’s first AI-driven roulette host now in commercial use. Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet has announced the launch of GAIA Roulette, a groundbreaking new roulette experience powered by artificial intelligence. The game – which is now live on PlayUZU Mexico, with plans to expand to additional markets across the SkillOnNet network in the coming months – blends the thrill of RNG gameplay with the 3D realism of a live dealer. It’s the world’s first AI-driven roulette host now in commercial use. Unlike traditional RNG tables, GAIA Roulette features an intelligent, interactive digital dealer that is personalized to each player. GAIA learns player preferences, adapts its communication style, and provides real-time assistance, helping users understand bets, game flow, and strategies. Players can discuss game events – asking questions about game results, previous numbers, their wins and losses, and review gameplay history – but they can also talk about everyday topics like
Expedition Growth Capital Raises $375 Million Fund III in First and Final Close2.12.2025 09:00:00 CET | Press release
Fund III is Expedition’s third consecutive fund closed at the hard cap The London and Boston-based firm specialises in minority growth equity investments in domain-expert software & AI companies with a use but not a need for capital Expedition Growth Capital (“Expedition”), a software-specialist growth equity firm, today announced that it has raised its third fund of $375 million, continuing its focus on partnering with rapidly growing companies from across Europe that have built high-quality products and customer bases, without venture capital. The oversubscribed raise was completed in four months, with more than half of commitments from US investors, including leading endowments and foundations. Since its founding in late 2020, Expedition has built a portfolio of 17 bootstrapped software leaders from nine European countries, the majority already operating in North America. Portfolio companies include Dougs, a Lyon-based AI-powered accounting solution used by over 30,000 businesses, e
Payments Modernisation: Gap Between Confidence and Readiness Among Industry Leaders Widens, ACI Worldwide Study Finds2.12.2025 08:00:00 CET | Press release
69% of payments executives see their organisations as leaders, yet fewer than half prioritise innovation as legacy systems and internal resistance slow progress Payments leaders remain confident about the pace of industry innovation, but many risk falling behind as expectations accelerate. New global research from ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) and Globant reveals a widening gap between confidence and readiness that could define industry leadership in 2026 and beyond. The report Payments in Transition: Leadership in an era of transformation, based on a survey of 500 industry leaders across North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific, shows that while 69% of executives consider their organisations to be payments leaders, fewer than half (44%) say payments innovation is a C-suite priority. This disconnect is driven by barriers that will become increasingly costly in the year ahead. More than half (55%) of executives admit they are not fully using the techno
Oulu Launches Its European Capital of Culture Year with a Three-day Opening Festival2.12.2025 07:00:00 CET | Press release
The Oulu2026 Opening Festival on 16–18 January 2026 transforms the city centre into a vibrant celebration of culture, community and northern creativity. It marks the beginning of a historic year and invites residents, visitors and partners from Finland, Europe and beyond to take part in a unique moment for Oulu and its 39 partner municipalities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251201071170/en/ In January, Oulu’s city centre will transform into the Oulu2026 Opening Festival area. Photo: Harri Tarvainen / City of Oulu image bank. “After years of preparation, Oulu2026 is finally here. The Opening Festival gives everyone a chance to be part of something that will only happen once, and it all begins in the heart of Oulu,” says Piia Rantala-Korhonen, CEO of Oulu2026. Almost 200 events, over 20 venues The Opening Festival presents a wide range of art and cultural experiences all over the city centre. From exhibitions
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom