The Student Creativity and Entrepreneurship Empowerment (SCEE) team at UC Santa Cruz successfully hosted their inaugural Demo Day on November 29, 2023. The event was marked by a significant turnout, with attendees showing their support for fostering a culture of innovation at the university.

During the event, five student teams presented their early-stage ideas and Minimum Viable Products. These projects covered a wide range of social and technical challenges, highlighting the diverse talents within the UCSC community. Attendees were given the opportunity to interact directly with these student teams, providing them with valuable feedback.

While the presence of each participant was greatly appreciated, the SCEE team acknowledged that some individuals were unable to attend due to various commitments. To ensure that these members of the community were not left out, a brief recap of the event was provided. This included highlights of the presentations and a link to more detailed information on each team's pitch, available on Notion.

Looking ahead, the SCEE team announced their next Demo Day, scheduled for the end of the Winter Quarter. They extended an invitation to all, hoping to welcome those who missed the first event and continue to showcase the growth and innovation of student entrepreneurs at UC Santa Cruz.

The team expressed their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the event and the entrepreneurial spirit at the university. They eagerly anticipate future gatherings, aiming to build on the success of their inaugural Demo Day.

Organizer: Smeet Mehta / President Student Creativity and Entrepreneurship Empowerment (SCEE)

Team Presentations

• Astral: Astral is creating AI-powered end-to-end testing tools that work at enterprise scale. Astral’s next-generation technology replaces your QA team for more extensive testing and faster shipping. Lino Le Van

• Motormates: MotorMates is an AI-powered P2P car and part marketplace where enthusiasts can buy, sell, and connect over their passion. Neel Asija

• Helperly: Helperly has information about many services including hot meals, shelters, medical and mental health help, substance use and recovery programs, free showers, and laundry. Services are ranked by distance and have details about the hours open, email address, phone numbers, directions, and locations that can be viewed on a map. Dishita Jhawar

• Studio 310: Studio 310, an 11,000 sqft multifunctional cinematic haven, strategically located just 3 minutes from the Holland Tunnel and 10 minutes to Soho, offers ADA accessibility and ample parking for thirty cars. With our 1st confirmed client insight and local franchise partnerships, we're set to revolutionize film production and multifaceted events in this expansive, adaptable space. Iman Yael Schaefer

• Cito Solutions: Bioremediation of marine ecosystems contaminated with low density plastics and micro-plastics through the use of microbial consortia. Santiago Morales Aguilar. Patricio Moysén