UC Santa Barbara has long been a hub of innovation and discovery. Every year, multiple startups form using UCSB technology, and companies are founded by UCSB alumni and faculty. Many of these startups maintain a footprint in Santa Barbara, bringing jobs and talent to the region. The Startup Database is designed to facilitate the discovery of new ventures emanating from the UCSB startup ecosystem. This tool allows university collaborators and potential investors to explore startups by sorting categories including industry, founding year, and company status. The goal of the database is to support TIA’s mission of creating productive and mutually beneficial relationships between UCSB and industry collaborators.
Take an in-depth look at featured UCSB startups on the Success Stories page including stories about Active Life Scientific, creator of a bone health assessment tool; LungLife AI, developer of a novel liquid biopsy platform; and NEXT Energy, designer of photovoltaic window technology.
Learn more about resources and the history of startups at UCSB on the Startup Support and Startup Resources pages.
Multiple companies utilizing UCSB technology are founded every year. These cutting-edge startups range across industries, demonstrating the creative mindset of the university’s researchers and faculty. Over the past several decades, UCSB startups* have been responsible for creating hundreds of jobs in the Santa Barbara area and beyond.
Company | About | Status | Website | Founding Year | Industry | Capital Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candense | Specialty shoe designer and manufacturer. | Active | https://cadense.com/ | 2021 | Healthcare | $1.69M |
Liquideon/Cage Bio/inTumo | Ionic liquid platform as a delivery system. | Active | https://cagebio.com/ | 2015 | Healthcare | $57.6M |
Cayuga | Faster blood clotting. | Active | https://cayugabiotech.com/ | 2015 | Healthcare | $1.5M |
Integrated Biosciences | Molecule therapeutic discovery. | Active | https://integratedbiosciences.com/ | 2022 | Healthcare | $17.2M |
Vector Free | Insect repellent. | Active | https://www.vectorfreeinc.com/ | 2025 | Healthcare | $0.0M |
Vine Medical | Intubation & endoscopic technology. | Active | https://www.vinemed.com/ | 2021 | Healthcare | $3.6M |
Pacific Optica | Optics, photonics & imaging. | Active | https://pacificoptica.com/ | 2025 | Business Products & Services | - |
SP2 Quantum | Quantum computing. | Active | - | 2024 | Information Technology | - |
Qudara | Integrated chip-scale technology. | Active | https://www.qudara.com/ | 2025 | Information Technology | - |
Nereid Biomaterials | Biodegrable plastics. | Active | https://nereidbio.org/ | 2024 | CleanTech | - |
Transphorm | Semiconductors. | Acquired | https://www.renesas.com/en | 2007 | Information Technology | $177.16M |
Sirigen | Polymeric materials. | Acquired | https://www.bd.com/en-us | 2003 | Materials & Resources | $17.59M |
Monde Wireless | Wireless communication circuits and devices. | Active | www.mondewireless.com | 2020 | Information Technology | $0.20M |
NEXT Energy | Transparent energy harvesting window technology. | Active | https://www.nextenergytech.com/ | 2010 | Energy | $36.76M |
Santa Barbara Nutrients | Compounds to treat kidney and metabolic diseases. | Active | https://santabarbaranutrients.com/ | 2020 | Healthcare | $1.23M |
Active Life Scientific | Bone health assessment. | Active | https://www.bonescore.com/ | 2010 | Healthcare | $8.24M |
Ingantec | MicroLED technology. | Active | https://www.ingantec.com/ | 2022 | Business Products & Services | $2.15M |
Celestial AI | AI computing platform. | Acquired | https://www.marvell.com/ | 2020 | Information Technology | $588.87M |
Acelot | Drug discovery. | Active | https://www.acelot.com/ | 2006 | Healthcare | $24.17M |
C-Zero (Graphitic Energy) | Natural gas decarbonizing. | Active | www.graphitic.com | 2020 | Energy | $65.57M |
ViQi | Image analysis software. | Active | www.viqiai.com | 2025 | Information Technology | $1.5M |
AppScale | Hybrid cloud software platform. | Active | www.appscale.com | 2012 | Information Technology | $2.9M |
CytomX Therapeutics | Oncology-focused biopharmaceuticals. | Active | www.cytomx.com | 2008 | Healthcare | $422.0M |
Xiretsa | Biotechnology for developing new antimicrobial agents. | Active | www.xiretsapharm.com | 2019 | Healthcare | $0.27M |
Mentium Technologies | High-efficiency AI chips. | Active | www.mentium.tech | 2016 | Information Technology | $1.05M |
Convoy Therapeutics | Peptide skin-penetration platform. | Acquired | https://ctxtechnology.com/ | 2011 | Consumer Products & Services | $7.0M |
Groundswell Technologies | Geospatial software tools that automate data collection. | Active | https://www.groundswelltech.com/ | 2004 | Business Products & Services | $3.72M |
LungLife AI | Clinical diagnostic solutions for lung cancer. | Active | https://lunglifeai.com/ | 2008 | Healthcare | $71.68M |
Serimmune | Immune intelligence platform. | Acquired | https://www.infinitybio.com/ | 2014 | Healthcare | $34.91M |
iFluidics | Electro-kinetic bioassay platform. | Active | https://www.ifluidics.com/ | 2010 | Healthcare | - |
SixPoint Materials | Semiconductor/LED materials. | Active | https://www.spmaterials.com/ssl/ | - | Information Technology | - |
PiMEMS | Titantium MEMS technology. | - | - | - | Information Technology | - |
Spero Renewables | Natural alternatives to petrochemical products. | Active | https://www.sperorenewables.com/ | 2013 | Energy | $0.73M |
Lucidean | Optical interconnects for fast data transfer. | Active | https://www.lucidean-inc.com/ | 2022 | Information Technology | $0.1M |
Fluency Lighting Technologies | Next-generation, energy-efficient light sources. | Inactive | - | 2014 | Energy | - |
ShadowMaps | Cloud-based enterprise software. | Acquired | https://www.uber.com/ | 2014 | Information Technology | - |
ACatechol | Biological-protein-based adhesives and biomimetic surface technology. | Active | https://www.acatechol.com/ | 2016 | Materials & Resources | $0.67M |
Alveo Technologies | Diagnostics technology. | Active | https://www.alveotechnologies.com/ | 2014 | Healthcare | $83.61M |
Macro Biologics | Prevention and treatment of life-threatening infections. | Active | https://www.macrobiologics.com/ | 2010 | Healthcare | $25.24M |
Diopter Corp. | Contact lenses that deliver drugs to treat ocular diseases. | - | - | - | Healthcare | - |
Dragonfly Technologies | Cyber security. | Acquired | https://www.dragonflytechnologies.com/ | 2005 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
Eccrine Systems | Electronic patch to measure electrolytes and stress levels. | Inactive | - | 2013 | Healthcare | $21.33M |
Eucalyptus | Cloud computing. | Acquired | https://www.hp.com/us-en/home.html | - | Business Products & Services | - |
InfoCoding Labs | Wireless headphone technology. | Active | http://www.infocodinglabs.com/ | - | Consumer Products & Services | - |
Lastline | Enterprise security platform. | Acquired | https://www.vmware.com/ | 2011 | Business Products & Services | $55.37M |
Regenerative Patch Technologies | Regenerative products for retinal diseases. | Active | https://regenerativepatch.com/ | 2010 | Healthcare | $12.37M |
Soraa | Lighting technologies. | Acquired | https://www.ecosenselighting.com/products/soraa/ | 2008 | Consumer Products & Services | $51.69M |
Spectradyne | Nanoparticle analyzer. | Active | http://www.nanoparticleanalyzer.com/ | 2013 | Healthcare | $0.82M |
Aptitude Medical Systems | Molecular recognition technology. | Active | https://www.aptitudemedical.com/ | 2011 | Healthcare | $0.18M |
Aurrion | Silicon photonic integrated circuits. | Acquired | https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.html | 2008 | Information Technology | - |
Elastec | Oil spill cleanup and surface water pollution. | Active | https://www.elastec.com/ | 1990 | Business Products & Services | - |
Reaction35 | Chemical waste management. | Active | https://www.reaction35.com/ | 1999 | Business Products & Services | $1.3M |
Wavestream | Solid-state power amplifiers. | Acquired | https://www.gilat.com/ | 2001 | Information Technology | - |
DataUnite | Designed to accelerate the market of medical products. | Active | https://dataunite.co/ | 2024 | Healthcare | - |
TiMEMS | Two-phase cooling devices. | Inactive | - | - | Information Technology | - |
Aerius Photonics | Thermal imaging infrared cameras. | Acquired | https://www.flir.com/home/ | 2004 | Information Technology | - |
Cue Health | Health technology. | Inactive | - | 2010 | Healthcare | - |
Diagnostic Biochips | Neural sensors. | Active | https://diagnosticbiochips.com/ | 2012 | Healthcare | $1.24M |
Ecorithm | Energy-efficiency software. | Acquired | https://www.pametan.ai/ | 2009 | Information Technology | $17.13M |
SBA Materials | Functional porous organic and inorganic hybrid materials. | Inactive | - | 2001 | Materials & Resources | - |
Clearista | Skin care products | Active | https://clearista.com/ | 2010 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
WorldViz | Virtual reality labs. | Active | https://www.worldviz.com/ | 2002 | Information Technology | $7.88M |
Innobright | Denoising software. | Inactive | - | 2014 | Information Technology | - |
Destination 2D | Chip design and nanotechnology equipment. | Active | https://destination2d.com/ | 2021 | Information Technology | - |
Entrega | Hydrogel technology. | Inactive | - | 2010 | Healthcare | - |
Konarka Technologies | Photovoltaic materials. | Inactive | - | 2001 | Energy | - |
Agility Communications | Laser solutions for the metro, switching, and long-haul markets. | Acquired | - | 1998 | Information Technology | - |
Remedyne | Biotechnology. | Inactive | - | 2001 | Healthcare | - |
Agile Materials | Variable integrated passive products. | Inactive | - | 1999 | Information Technology | - |
Uniax | Polymer products. | Acquired | - | - | Materials & Resources | - |
CBrite | Diode switches. | Inactive | - | 2002 | Information Technology | - |
SiNoptiq | Quantum technology components. | Acquired | https://infleqtion.com/ | 2022 | Information Technology | - |
UCSB alumni, faculty, and friends have been founding ground-breaking companies for decades. The technology developed by affiliated startups benefits society, rewards faculty and student entrepreneurs, and provides resources to enable further teaching and research. These inventive companies are tackling problems from reducing food waste to creating next generation materials to formulating recyclable plastics. No matter the industry, all UCSB affiliated startups** are grounded in the university’s mission to stimulate independent thought, critical reasoning, and creativity.
Company | About | Status | Website
| Founding Year | Industry | Capital Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apeel Sciences | Plant-based fruit coating material. | Active | https://www.apeel.com/ | 2012 | Business Products & Services | $809.60M
|
Quintessent
| Optical connectivity technology. | Active | www.quintessent.com | 2019 | Information Technology | $18.26M |
Leeta Materials | Chemical raw materials. | Active | https://www.leeta.co/ | 2023 | Materials & Resources | $6.6M |
BioZen Batteries | Redox-active electrolytes.
| Active | https://www.biozenbatteries.com/
| 2019 | Materials & Resources | - |
Capella | Private equity firm. | Active | https://www.capella.vc/ | 2016
| Financial Services | -
|
Delos Data | IT consulting firm. | Active | https://delosdata.com/ | - | Business Products & Services | - |
EyeClimate | AI and data analysis to fight climate change. | Active | https://eyeclimate.com/ | - | Information Technology | - |
FLO Materials | Recyclable plastics. | Active | https://www.flomaterials.co/ | 2020 | Materials & Resources | $0.1M |
GaNify | Semiconductors for transformative solutions in power electronics. | Active | https://www.linkedin.com/company/ganifyllc/ | 2022 | Information Technology | - |
Hikari Medical Technologies | Drug delivery. | Active | https://www.hikarimedical.com/ | 2023 | Healthcare | - |
Light Integration Technologies | Integrated photonic platforms. | Active | https://l-i-t.co/ | 2024 | Information Technology | - |
Phaeno | Biomedical research. | Active | https://phaenobiotech.com/ | 2018 | Healthcare | $0.6M |
Senseory | Custom-scented biotech houseplants. | Active | - | 2023 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
Starbot Inc. | AI-powered service robots. | Active | https://starbotusa.com/ | 2025 | Business Products & Services | - |
AviAI | Airline baggage prediction. | Inactive | - | - | Information Technology | - |
BioProtonics | MR-based diagnostic platform. | Active | https://www.bioprotonics.com/ | 2014 | Healthcare | $9.72M |
Dragon Q Energy | Battery energy storage. | Active | https://www.dragonqenergy.com/ | 2022 | Energy | $0.75M |
Fyg Bioscience | DNA nanotechnology. | Inactive | - | - | Healthcare | - |
In2Cell | Transfection technology for CRISPR/Cas 9 immunotherapy. | Active | https://in2cell.com/ | - | Healthcare | - |
Laxmi Therapeutic Devices | Diabetes treatment. | Active | https://www.laxmitherapeuticdevices.com/ | 2016 | Healthcare | $58.2M |
Luxe Scientific | Refillable makeup samples. | Inactive | www.luxescientific.com | - | Consumer Products & Services | - |
Milo Sensors | Digital health tech | Inactive | http://www.milosensor.com/ | 2016 | Healthcare | - |
Mirios | Silicon photonic systems. | Active | https://mirios.net/ | 2018 | Information Technology | $0.5M |
PseudolithIC | RF and millimeter-wave chipsets. | Active | https://www.pseudolithic.com/ | 2021 | Information Technology | $7.1M |
SciKare | Non-invasive kidney health monitor. | Active | https://scikare.com/ | 2018 | Healthcare | - |
Tesserol | Proprietary fuel-cell modules. | Inactive | www.tesserol.com | 2020 | Energy | - |
Ultra-Low Loss Technologies | Ultra-low loss photonics | Active | https://www.ultralowlosstechnologies.com/ | 2018 | Information Technology | $0.5M |
Wirefall | Software development. | - | - | Unavailable | Information Technology | - |
Nectir | Social platform. | Active | https://app.nectir.io/ | 2018 | Consumer Products & Services | $6.24M |
EVMatch | Connecting electric vehicles to underutilized charging stations. | Active | www.evmatch.com | 2016 | Consumer Products & Services | $0.27M |
Caugnate | Augmented reality tech for remote collaboration. | Acquired | https://www.ptc.com/en | 2014 | Information Technology | - |
BioIQ | Health platform. | Acquired | https://www.letsgetchecked.com/ | 2005 | Healthcare | - |
Inogen | Portable oxygen concentrators. | Active | https://www.inogen.com/ | 2001 | Healthcare | $196.12M |
Allthenticate | Passwordless authentication. | Active | https://www.allthenticate.com/ | 2019 | Information Technology | $8.4M |
Asylum Research | Atomic force microscopes. | Acquired | https://www.oxinst.com/ | 1999 | Business Products & Services | - |
Digital Instruments | Atomic force microscopes. | Acquired | https://www.veeco.com/ | - | Business Products & Services | - |
Sebacia | Acne treatment | Inactive | - | 2010 | Consumer Products & Services | $97.09M |
Velvet Therapeutics | Gene therapies for rare cancers and autoimmune diseases. | Active | https://www.velvettherapeutics.com/ | 2013 | Healthcare | $1.62M |
PayJunction | Simplify the process of making payments. | Active | https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ | 2000 | Financial Services | - |
RazeMath | Tailored tutoring experiences using cutting-edge AI technology. | Active | https://razemath.com/ | - | Consumer Products & Services | - |
Nexus Photonics | Integrated photonics. | Inactive | https://www.nexusphotonics.com/ | 2018 | Information Technology | $5M |
Akoustis Technologies | RF filter solutions for the wireless industry. | Acquired | https://www.spacex.com/ | 2013 | Information Technology | $80.72M |
Alvesta | Telecommunications. | Inactive | - | - | Business Products & Services | - |
Expertcity | Screen-sharing technology. | Acquired | https://www.citrix.com/ | 1997 | Business Products & Services | $225.00M |
Nitres | Radiofrequency GaN transistors. | Acquired | https://www.wolfspeed.com/ | 1996 | Information Technology | $233.00M |
CALIENT | Optical switching. | Acquired | https://www.chunxing-group.com/en/ | 1999 | Information Technology | $53.96M |
InTouch Health | Virtual care platform. | Acquired | https://www.teladochealth.com/ | 2002 | Healthcare | $114.64M |
Watermelon Apparel | Clothing brand. | Active | https://www.watermelonapparel.com/ | 2021 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
QAD | Flexible, cloud-based and on-premise enterprise software. | Active | https://www.qad.com/ | 1979 | Business Products & Services | - |
CJ | Online affiliate advertising. | Active | https://www.cj.com/ | 1998 | Business Products & Services | - |
Sonos | Home sound systems. | Active | https://www.sonos.com/en-us/home | 2002 | Consumer Products & Services | $421.85M |
RightScale | Enterprise cloud management platform. | Active | https://www.flexera.com/products/snow-commander | 2006 | Business Products & Services | |
AppFolio | Cloud-based property and practice management software. | Active | https://www.appfolio.com/ | 2006 | Business Products & Services | $136.22M |
Invoca | Revenue execution platform. | Active | https://www.invoca.com/?rr=1 | 2008 | Business Products & Services | $200.87M. |
Impact | Partnership management platform. | Active | https://impact.com/ | 2008 | Business Products & Services | $373.76M |
Phone Halo | Senses the distance between your cell phone, and another object. | Inactive | - | 2008 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
ProductPlan | Cloud-based product management platform. | Active | https://www.productplan.com/ | 2013 | Business Products & Services | - |
Cogi | Transcribes audio to text. | Inactive | https://gistify.ai/ | 2007 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
The Hurd Co. | Engineered man-made cellulosic fiber pulp from agricultural waste. | Active | https://www.thehurdco.com/ | 2019 | Materials & Resources | $0.9M |
Nutromics | Blood analysis. | Active | https://www.nutromics.com/our-story | 2017 | Healthcare | $7.4M |
ChipAgents | Artificial intelligence-driven tools for semiconductor design. | Active | https://chipagents.ai/ | 2024 | Information Technology | $24.09M |
Olaplex | Beauty company specializing in hair care products. | Acquired | https://olaplex.com/ | 2014 | Consumer Products & Services | - |
*UCSB Startup: 1) a legally organized/incorporated company that acquired rights to a UCSB technology under a license, option, or letter of intent and that this agreement was essential to the startup’s formation or 2) a legally organized/incorporated company that was founded to develop products and services based on a licensed UCSB technology.
**UCSB Affiliated Startup: a legally organized/incorporated company that was founded by UCSB faculty (current or former) or a student(s) (current or former) but that has not acquired any licensing rights to a UCSB technology.
Note: The startup must operate independently of any pre-existing company when it is formed. A subsidiary or spinoff does not count as a startup if its operations are integrated into the operations of a pre-existing company. This UCSB Startup Database is a subjective metric as it pertains to general technology licensing activity and the activities of current or former UCSB faculty and/or students. There are many nuances involved in evaluating a startup for inclusion in the dashboard as well as any given UCSB annual report count.