UC Berkeley To Launch A Blockchain Accelerator Program

By Rishma Banerjee

As per recent reports and an official declaration that was distributed, University of California, Berkely, has initiated a twelve-week long simulator program for in order to facilitate development in primary blockchain set-up. The declaration accounted for this launch on the 28th of January. This organization will be an understudy-run association for advancement and innovation in the field of blockchain and will include more than 100 Berkeley students. Eminent figures from the scholarly community as well as the industry, along with seasoned investors and capable students will be dedicating their time to the development of this program and also act as mentors and advisors for those who are admitted.

The program, which is being called the Berkeley Blockchain Xcelerator, is still accepting applications until the 28th of this month for the Spring session. It is a collaborative effort between Berkeley Engineering’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Blockchain at Berkeley, and the Haas School of Business.

The teams who will be eligible and will be selected will be receiving funding up to 200k USD,  training from SCET Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship, Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship, and Blockchain at Berkeley, mentorship with notable blockchain and startup advisors and networking opportunities to Silicon Valley venture and funding experts

Professor Ikhlaq Sidhu, the founder, and director of the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology explained how the accelerator may be able to solve real-life problems in a conducive environment.

UC Berkeley, Silicon Valley, and the Bay Area have become the worldwide hub for the development of blockchain technology… Currently, there is a lot of hype in the space, but we believe that this new accelerator will give innovators the tools they need to separate hype from reality and pursue ideas that solve pressing business problems and create valuable new ventures.

His sentiments were echoed by Gloria Zhao, the President of Blockchain at the institution. She said,

With such a nascent technology as blockchain, we see that a lot of subject matter experts and people making an impact in the blockchain space are students.

Blockchain at Berkeley strives to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in our students, so we are excited to help lead this initiative and assist the next generation of blockchain innovators.