Blum Center for Developing Economies
Big Ideas
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Big Ideas Innovation Ambassadors Nurturing Ideas into Enterprises

Since its founding in 2005 at UC Berkeley, Big Ideas has grown into one of the nation’s largest and most diverse student innovation competitions. Supporting early-stage social entrepreneurship, the contest offers mentorship, training, and resources. In 2017, Big Ideas launched the Innovation Ambassador program to expand accessibility across all ten UC campuses.
Lisa Bauer
February 1, 2019
1 min

Founded in 2005 at UC Berkeley, Big Ideas has become one of the largest and most diverse student innovation competitions in the country. The contest supports the next generation of social entrepreneurs–providing mentorship, training, and the diverse resources required to support big ideas from their earliest stages. In 2017, to ensure the contest remains accessible to the widest number of students across UC’s ten campuses, the Big Ideas team designed an Innovation Ambassador program.

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Host and Fellow Responsibilities

Host Organizations

  • Identify staff supervisor to manage I&E Climate Action Fellow
  • Submit fellowship description and tasks
  • Engage in the matching process
  • Mentor and advise students
  • Communicate with Berkeley program director and give feedback on the program.

Berkeley Program Director​

  • Communicate with host organizations, students, and other university departments to ensure smooth program operations

Student Fellows

  • Complete application and cohort activities
  • Communicate with staff and host organizations
  • Successfully complete assignments from host organization during summer practicum
  • Summarize and report summer experience activities post-fellowship