USC Viterbi Startup Garage

USC Viterbi Startup Garage

USC Viterbi Startup Garage is an initiative tied to the USC Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. It provides pre-seed and seed-stage support to engineering and technology ventures founded by students, alumni, and faculty. The program emphasizes hands-on building — offering workspace, technical mentorship, and connections to the broader Los Angeles innovation ecosystem. The Startup Garage invests in a range of technology verticals, including enterprise software, AI/ML, digital health, climate tech, and robotics. It typically takes no equity or a small equity stake, positioning itself as a non-dilutive or low-dilution resource. Portfolio companies have included ventures like Relectrify (battery management) and other hardware-software hybrids, though specific exits or later-stage outcomes are not broadly publicized. The initiative is led by USC Viterbi faculty and staff, with support from the school’s Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It maintains a physical location in Washington, D.C., with additional presence in Marina del Rey and Irvine, California. No recent operational events — such as a new fund close or leadership change — have been publicly reported in the last 24 months (as of mid-2026). What distinguishes USC Viterbi Startup Garage from traditional accelerators or venture studios is its exclusive focus on USC Viterbi-affiliated founders and its integration into a top engineering school’s curriculum. It functions as a pipeline from lab to market, often backing deep-tech projects that require longer development timelines and heavier technical validation before seeking external venture capital.