Viterbi Startup Garage
USC Viterbi's unique incubator for early-stage technology startups
One Year Residency Program
One Year Residency Program
Located in the heart of Silicon Beach in Marina Del Rey, the Viterbi Startup Garage is an incubator for early-stage technology startups. We focus on:
Located in the heart of Silicon Beach in Marina Del Rey, the Viterbi Startup Garage is an incubator for early-stage technology startups. We focus on:
Deep Technology, Machine Learning and AI-Enabled companies, and are very faculty-friendly.
Deep Technology, Machine Learning and AI-Enabled companies, and are very faculty-friendly.
We are supported by the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering and do not take equity or charge any fees. Any IP developed by the teams is theirs to keep!
We are supported by the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering and do not take equity or charge any fees. Any IP developed by the teams is theirs to keep!
Resident Benefits
Resident Benefits
place to call home
place to call home
Enjoy 24/7 access to co-working space. Our residents view our space as their primary office and regularly engage with colleagues, mentors, and staff.
Enjoy 24/7 access to co-working space. Our residents view our space as their primary office and regularly engage with colleagues, mentors, and staff.
the USC network
the USC network
Get dialed in to USC’s famed network of alumni, mentors, investors and potential partners, both here in Southern California and beyond.
Get dialed in to USC’s famed network of alumni, mentors, investors and potential partners, both here in Southern California and beyond.
Extensive Support
Extensive Support
With tactical assistance including Innovator-in-Residence coaching, topical workshops, and more, enjoy the resources you need to transform technology into a viable business
With tactical assistance including Innovator-in-Residence coaching, topical workshops, and more, enjoy the resources you need to transform technology into a viable business
Amazing Community
Amazing Community
Surround yourself by like-minded entrepreneurs, working under the same roof to bring ideas to life. Join a community where teams are supportive of one another, readily help each other, and cheer each other on as they seek to make their own dent in the universe.
Surround yourself by like-minded entrepreneurs, working under the same roof to bring ideas to life. Join a community where teams are supportive of one another, readily help each other, and cheer each other on as they seek to make their own dent in the universe.
Strategic guidance
Strategic guidance
Meet quarterly with VSG's mentoring team and guests (executives or VC's) to review your progress in achieving your goals during the previous quarter, discuss wins and losses, and set your goals and milestones for the upcoming quarter.
Meet quarterly with VSG's mentoring team and guests (executives or VC's) to review your progress in achieving your goals during the previous quarter, discuss wins and losses, and set your goals and milestones for the upcoming quarter.
Innovation Node - la
Innovation Node - la
The Innovation Node – Los Angeles (sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation) works closely with the Viterbi Startup Garage to help startups identify commercial opportunities and accelerate their understanding of the marketplace via the national I-Corps program.
The Innovation Node – Los Angeles (sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation) works closely with the Viterbi Startup Garage to help startups identify commercial opportunities and accelerate their understanding of the marketplace via the national I-Corps program.
*The Innovation Node – Los Angeles will accelerate the application process for VSG teams interested in the national I-Corps program.
Interested in becoming a resident?
Interested in becoming a resident?
Regular Events and Activities
Regular Events and Activities
Founder’s Circle
Founder’s Circle
VSG founders meet together weekly to share war stories, practice pitches, or ask advice over a casual lunch.
VSG founders meet together weekly to share war stories, practice pitches, or ask advice over a casual lunch.
Iir Office Hours
Iir Office Hours
Once a week, our founders benefit from a check-in with a seasoned business executive or venture guru (VSG Innovator-In-Residence).
Once a week, our founders benefit from a check-in with a seasoned business executive or venture guru (VSG Innovator-In-Residence).
Oceanside Chat Speaker Series
Oceanside Chat Speaker Series
Our speaker series invites investors, serial entrepreneurs, and topical experts to share advice and insight for entrepreneurs. Talks are open to the full VSG community. Sign-up on our mailing list below to stay informed.
Our speaker series invites investors, serial entrepreneurs, and topical experts to share advice and insight for entrepreneurs. Talks are open to the full VSG community. Sign-up on our mailing list below to stay informed.
VC/Angel Office Hours
VC/Angel Office Hours
Regularly meet with local area VCs and Angel investors for consultation. We run these panel style with 2-3 investors per room in 20 minute slots.
Regularly meet with local area VCs and Angel investors for consultation. We run these panel style with 2-3 investors per room in 20 minute slots.
Summer Intern Program
Summer Intern Program
The Summer Smasher is an eight week free internship program tapping into the talent pool of USC's undergraduate and graduate students.
The Summer Smasher is an eight week free internship program tapping into the talent pool of USC's undergraduate and graduate students.
Technology Innovation exchange
Technology Innovation exchange
In conjunction with the Information Sciences Institute, the Technology Innovation Exchange is an opportunity to get researchers and experts from USC to weigh-in on technical challenges.
In conjunction with the Information Sciences Institute, the Technology Innovation Exchange is an opportunity to get researchers and experts from USC to weigh-in on technical challenges.
Startup Boot Camp
Startup Boot Camp
Learn the tactical side of setting up your company by diving into the deep end on topics including capitalization tables, incorporation, Boards of Directors, and other nuts and bolts, as well as emphasizing customer discovery.
Learn the tactical side of setting up your company by diving into the deep end on topics including capitalization tables, incorporation, Boards of Directors, and other nuts and bolts, as well as emphasizing customer discovery.
Technical Scouting Workshop
Technical Scouting Workshop
Gain an opportunity to participate to explore the intersection of technology development and commercial opportunity by joining other early stage technology startups/projects, investors, corporate scouts, and subject matter experts via quick fire round-table discussions and pitch presentations.
Gain an opportunity to participate to explore the intersection of technology development and commercial opportunity by joining other early stage technology startups/projects, investors, corporate scouts, and subject matter experts via quick fire round-table discussions and pitch presentations.
About Our Summer Program
About Our Summer Program
VSG’s Summer Smasher program is designed to give current USC students a crash course in entrepreneurship! It offers a strong experiential component where you join our community of fully operational tech startup companies as an Entrepreneur-in-Training.
VSG’s Summer Smasher program is designed to give current USC students a crash course in entrepreneurship! It offers a strong experiential component where you join our community of fully operational tech startup companies as an Entrepreneur-in-Training.
What do the Founders think?
What do the Founders think?
"First of all, all the companies there are made up of brilliant, kind people. We're all very generous with our time and expertise with each other. Second, starting a tech company (or any company) is hard, and having a community that is going through similar or identical problems is both practically helpful, and emotionally powerful. There's also access to great mentorship, activities, and the view is great, too. Finally, I've made some lifelong friends in the VSG."
"First of all, all the companies there are made up of brilliant, kind people. We're all very generous with our time and expertise with each other. Second, starting a tech company (or any company) is hard, and having a community that is going through similar or identical problems is both practically helpful, and emotionally powerful. There's also access to great mentorship, activities, and the view is great, too. Finally, I've made some lifelong friends in the VSG."
"We've expanded so much and have seen a direct impact on our business from the resources and experts VSG provides. Additionally, we've been welcomed into a community of founders who want to support one another- no questions asked. Startups are both challenging and exhilarating, but having a community to rely on, to ask all the questions that no one ever tells you you're going to have, is quite honestly priceless. We have been a part of many startup groups but there is nothing else out there in Los Angeles (or otherwise) like VSG. And we can't imagine where we would be without the support of its advisors, founders and staff."
"We've expanded so much and have seen a direct impact on our business from the resources and experts VSG provides. Additionally, we've been welcomed into a community of founders who want to support one another- no questions asked. Startups are both challenging and exhilarating, but having a community to rely on, to ask all the questions that no one ever tells you you're going to have, is quite honestly priceless. We have been a part of many startup groups but there is nothing else out there in Los Angeles (or otherwise) like VSG. And we can't imagine where we would be without the support of its advisors, founders and staff."
Learn About our Partnership with Amazon Alexa
Learn About our Partnership with Amazon Alexa
USC’s Viterbi Startup Garage, the Silicon Beach Accelerator, is excited to cultivate the next generation of voice startups with support from Amazon Alexa Fund and Alexa Fellowship.
USC’s Viterbi Startup Garage, the Silicon Beach Accelerator, is excited to cultivate the next generation of voice startups with support from Amazon Alexa Fund and Alexa Fellowship.
Is residency right for you?
Is residency right for you?
Community is paramount in our mission and vision for the space. Our "VSG community" is what makes us unique among all other incubators in Southern California. We bring real teams together and challenge them to participate, share, and cross-pollinate throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
Community is paramount in our mission and vision for the space. Our "VSG community" is what makes us unique among all other incubators in Southern California. We bring real teams together and challenge them to participate, share, and cross-pollinate throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
It is in our culture to pay it forward!
It is in our culture to pay it forward!
Residents are expected to:
Residents are expected to:
Work out of the space 3+ days/week
Work out of the space 3+ days/week
Participate in Founders' Circle + Innovators in Residence Office Hours weekly
Participate in Founders' Circle + Innovators in Residence Office Hours weekly
Contribute to VSG programs and activities regularly
Contribute to VSG programs and activities regularly
In other words, full-time entrepreneurs working under the same roof to bring their ideas to life!
In other words, full-time entrepreneurs working under the same roof to bring their ideas to life!
Think you have what it takes?
Think you have what it takes?
Meet the VSG Team
Meet the VSG Team
Current & Alumni VSG Teams
Current & Alumni VSG Teams
For more information or to schedule a tour:
For more information or to schedule a tour:
contact us via email at vsg@usc.edu.
contact us via email at vsg@usc.edu.