Fall 2025 UCSC Startup Club Demo Day
Join Us for Fall 2025 Startup Demo Day – A Celebration of Student Innovation
The future of innovation in Santa Cruz is being built right now, one idea at a time — and on Saturday, November 22 from 5:30–8:30 PM, you’re invited to see it firsthand. In partnership with the UCSC Startup Club, Pie Fi, CIED, and Santa Cruz Works, Fall 2025 Startup Demo Day will bring together the region’s most driven student founders for an evening of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community.
Hosted on the 3rd Floor at 100 Panetta Avenue, this event offers one of the best views in Santa Cruz — both literally and figuratively. The space is designed for collaboration and conversation, making it the perfect backdrop for students to showcase the ventures they’ve been building throughout the quarter.
Attendees will experience presentations from 10–12 student-led startups representing a wide range of disciplines. From software and hardware to biotech, sustainability, consumer products, and social impact, these founders have spent months developing their ideas, refining their business models, and preparing to share their vision. Demo Day is their moment to shine, and your presence helps fuel the next generation of innovators.
To keep energy high, Pleasure Pizza will be providing food and libations throughout the evening. Whether you’re a community supporter, industry professional, mentor, investor, or simply curious about what the next wave of talent is creating, Demo Day offers an engaging, inspiring experience.
Registration is free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot today and be part of Santa Cruz’s growing innovation ecosystem. Reserve your seat.
Prepare to be Amazed!
TheBetterKey: TheBetterKey replaces outdated house keys and fragile smart locks with a simple, car-key-style fob. No apps, no WiFi, just secure local unlocking for seniors, kids, renters, and anyone who wants effortless, reliable home access.
Standby: Standby is an AI voice agent giving incarcerated people 24/7, plain-language legal guidance from any jail phone while streamlining prep for public defenders. It bridges critical gaps from custody to reentry, improving understanding, outcomes, and human dignity.
Frosh: Frosh is a national platform that helps incoming college students meet classmates, find roommates, and build community months before move-in. Through school hubs and a growing social app, Frosh reduces isolation and boosts confidence for a smoother transition into college life.
SlugSpot: SlugSpot centralizes UCSC’s hyperlocal info so students can easily find places to eat, study, and connect. It helps freshmen navigate a sprawling campus, supports first-generation students, and strengthens ties between students and local Santa Cruz businesses.
TimeSlicer: TimeSlicer helps Gen Z and knowledge workers fight digital distraction by breaking work into focused, manageable slices. Created by a student with ADHD, it gives users clearer control of their time so they can progress faster and live more intentionally.
Lenti: Lenti makes GPU access simple and affordable with a fixed-cost, unlimited-browsing model that removes usage anxiety. By lowering barriers for researchers and builders, Lenti accelerates AI development and ensures more people can access the hardware shaping the future.
RoboGrade: RoboGrade automatically grades assessments and delivers instant feedback for students and teachers, cutting burnout and improving learning. With 1,100 users and growing district partnerships, this student-built platform transforms grading from a weekend burden into minutes of meaningful insight.