What We Do

Discover and explore entrepreneurship

USC’s early-stage programs spark curiosity, build skills, and connect aspiring innovators with the tools and community needed to begin their entrepreneurial journey.

An immersive three-day experience where Trojan students, faculty, and alumni form teams, build minimum viable products, and learn to think and operate like startup founders.

Recent Highlights

• Trojan innovators from 11 USC schools pitched ideas, formed teams, and developed startup concepts during USC + Techstars Startup Weekend. →
• Watch video highlights from the inaugural 2024 Startup Weekend. →

Connects USC students with USC-affiliated startups for hands-on experience, mentorship, and real-world exposure to venture building.

Recent Highlights

• USC welcomed the inaugural cohort of the Early Career Innovator Award Program, connecting students with Trojan startups for hands-on entrepreneurial experience and mentorship. →

Provides funding, mentorship, and support to help USC student teams explore, validate, and advance early-stage startup ideas.

Recent Highlights

• OORI-supported app Corresi surpassed 2,000 users after launching on the Apple App Store, demonstrating how the Innovation Empowerment Initiative helps transform student ideas into real-world platforms. →
• OORI’s Innovation Empowerment Awards support interdisciplinary USC student teams advancing early-stage research, entrepreneurship, and startup ideas with societal impact. →
• Innovation Empowerment Award-supported researchers at USC’s Schaeffer Center coauthored published studies advancing healthcare policy and medical affordability research alongside faculty mentors. →

Supports startup formation and early operational needs for USC-affiliated founders, including legal services, entity incorporation, intellectual property protection, and other foundational business services necessary to launch and sustain a new venture. By reducing early-stage legal and operational barriers, the initiative enables founders to focus on building and growing their ventures.

applications received for USC Techstars Startup Weekend

MVPs developed by USC student teams during Startup Weekend.

students placed with Trojan startups in 2025

Develop, validate, and prepare for launch

OORI’s funding programs, commercialization resources, and strategic partnerships help innovators refine ideas, secure funding, protect intellectual property, and advance technologies toward startup formation and real-world impact.

Supports innovators in forming teams, developing strategies, and preparing competitive SBIR/STTR proposals to pursue non-dilutive federal funding.

Recent Highlights

• USC startup AO Tech advanced from lab research toward commercialization with support from OORI’s SBIR/STTR planning initiatives→
• A USC faculty-led company forged a new NASA partnership with OORI support.→
• USC researchers received an NIH STTR award to advance an innovative ear imaging device. →
• OORI awarded its inaugural SBIR/STTR Planning Awards to four USC innovators building university–small business partnerships. →

The USC Stevens Center for Innovation supports invention disclosure, intellectual property protection, licensing, and commercialization to help transform USC discoveries into startups and real-world applications.

Learn more at stevens.usc.edu.

Recent Highlights

• USC Stevens advances technology commercialization and startup formation across the USC innovation ecosystem. →

A competitive 10-week pre-accelerator providing mentorship, masterclasses, pitch feedback, and peer networking to help Trojan founders strengthen and validate early-stage startups.

Learn more at techstars.com/usc-and-techstars-university-catalyst.

Recent highlights

• USC and Techstars celebrated the latest University Catalyst cohort, showcasing Trojan founders advancing early-stage ventures. →
• USC and Techstars welcomed a new University Catalyst cohort from across the Trojan community. →

USC + Small Business SBIR/STTR Planning Awards made

total applications received for the inaugural USC Techstars University Catalyst

Trojan startups selected for USC Techstars University Catalyst.

Scale ventures and accelerate growth

USC supports high-potential startups with capital, mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to networks that help founders grow, attract investment, and bring innovations to market.

A three-month, full-time accelerator that provides funding, mentorship, curated programming, and access to Techstars’ global network to help USC-affiliated startups scale.

Learn more at techstars.com/accelerators/usc-and-techstars.

Recent Highlights

• Applications opened for the 2026 USC + Techstars Accelerator, offering Trojan founders mentorship, investment, and access to Techstars’ global network. →
• USC-founded startup Native shared its journey from early-stage venture to growth company through the USC + Techstars ecosystem. →
• USC and Techstars celebrated Demo Day for the inaugural USC Techstars Accelerator cohort, showcasing Trojan founders to investors and ecosystem leaders. →

The USC Alfred E. Mann Institute provides capital, strategic guidance, and industry connections to help USC innovators launch and grow biomedical and healthcare companies.

For more information, email twarsi@usc.edu.

Recent highlights

• AMI investment supports Innata Bio’s next-generation biotechnology and therapeutic innovation. →
• AMI investment helps CpG Diagnostics advance diagnostic technologies with clinical impact. →
• AMI investment supports PluroCart’s cartilage regeneration technologies. →
• AMI’s innovation-driven investments support USC-affiliated biomedical and healthcare startups. →

applications received for USC Techstars Accelerator

Trojan startups selected for USC Techstars Accelerator

Nasdaq-listed Trojan startup as of 2026