Programs
IGE HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO SUIT YOUR
ENTREPRENEURIAL NEEDS
Alumnus Launches Fund Focused on San Diego MedTech Startups
Garrett Smith knows a thing or two about medtech startups. He founded his first company as a bioengineering PhD student at the University of California San Diego (PhD ‘12). Since then he has stewarded several technologies through FDA approval; led multiple startups to successful acquisition; directed early innovation partnerships for massive players like Johnson and Johnson Innovation; and overseen a corporate venture capital fund for MedeonBIO. Smith has worked across nearly every stage of the healthcare innovation ecosystem, including as a founder, operator, corporate innovation leader, venture investor, and advisor. Read Full Article
Garrett Smith, Reef Haven Ventures
Aug 21, 2025
Deep-Tech Acceleration
Learn More about Accelerator
Entrepreneurship Education
Learn More about I-Corps
Technology Management and Entrepreneurism Training Program for Engineers
Read More about the Program Certificate
Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Read More about the ProgramGLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR (GEA)
Tailored International Technology/Business Accelerator Program for global collaboration–customized programs to expedite US entry.
IGE Technology Management Program
The Jacobs School of Engineering and the Rady School of Management are partnering with the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE) to bring a compelling business program to UC San Diego M.S. and Ph.D. engineering students. The program is designed to help students gain business acumen, build new ventures, and improve career preparedness. A second track focuses on product design and development for those engineering students looking to expand on their product development experience.
MedTech Accelerator
We support entrepreneurs working at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Our mandate: Make a significant impact by increasing the number of medical technologies translated to the marketplace. Would you like to learn how to launch your idea into the market?
NSF I-CORPS™
UC San Diego’s IGE partners with the NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region to offer I-Corps training.
Global Innovation Program
We offer innovation and entrepreneurship services to our industry and academic partners from around the world. Our programs can be tailored to meet your organization’s specific needs from educating entrepreneurial engineering leaders or launching innovative companies.
IGE is an international hub for innovative teams seeking to enter the US market. We offer entrepreneurship and business development services to industry and academic partners on a global scale.