What's Your Big Idea?

Early-Stage Student-Led Social Innovation at UC Berkeley

More than a Contest

Big Ideas is an academic year-long program that provides training, networks, recognition and funding to interdisciplinary teams of UC Berkeley students who have creative solutions to pressing social challenges and real-world problems.

Big Ideas Impact

3500+
Proposals

10,000
Students

$1.2B
Additional Funding

50%
Registered Ventures

New FUNDING OpportunitIES

CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS

The CA Climate Action network is intended to spur innovative ideas to address California’s climate goals, ensure that local communities are prepared and resilient, and prevent future disasters. Student teams working on climate change solutions for vulnerable California communities are eligible to receive additional funding (up to $10K.)

FINTECH-EMPOWERED “BIG IDEAS”

The Lab for Inclusive FinTech (LIFT), in partnership with Big Ideas, has an exciting new funding opportunity for FinTech-empowered ideas to advance social change. Graduate or undergraduate students at UC Berkeley working on innovations to unlock the potential of digital financial technologies are eligible to receive additional funding (up to $5K.)

Latest News

Introducing the Berkeley Civic Engagement Challenge

A new initiative led by the UC Berkeley Big Ideas Contest will bring together teams of students to develop solutions to some of the city's most pressing issues. Visit the Civic Innovation Challenge page and subscribe to our newsletter.

Students and mentors smiling, holding their Big Ideas Grand Prize certificate and trophy with the Campanile in the background

AgriSolar

The team behind a mobile and affordable solar-powered irrigation system earned the 2025 Big Ideas Grand prize.

Ava

Revolutionizing how the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community understands the world.

FITE Film

Meet the team that taught film making in prisons

Accessible Financial Services

Undergrads explore financial inclusion in Berkeley Changemaker Big Ideas Class

BERKELEY CIVIC INNOVATION CHALLENGE

The Civic Innovation Challenge (CIC) pairs UC Berkeley students with City of Berkeley partners to co-design solutions that matter. A high-energy 7-day innovation sprint the CIC culminates in pitches to Berkeley leaders with awards (up to $4K per winning team). 

Big Ideas encourages students to propose innovative solutions across a broad range of social impact tracks. 

FAQs

The team lead on the Big Ideas application must be a currently matriculated (degree seeking) UC Berkeley student. All projects should also be early-stage and demonstrate a clear social impact.

Teams are required to produce the following documents:

  1. Problem Statement
  2. Landscape Analysis
  3. Proposed Innovation
  4. Team Bios

Teams will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. Innovation
  2. Social Impact
  3. Long Term Viability
  4. Proposal Quality