UC Irvine Grad Slam Sponsorship Opportunities

Invest in the Next Generation of Innovators, Communicators and Leaders

Each year, UC Irvine’s Grad Slam brings together our brightest master’s and doctoral scholars for a high-energy competition that challenges them to distill their research into a compelling 3-minute talk. From healthcare innovation and climate solutions to AI, education, and community impact, this showcase highlights the power of UCI research to shape the future.

Grad Slam is more than a competition, it is a celebration of discovery, a training ground for emerging leaders, and one of the most visible public-facing events hosted by UCI Graduate Division.

By becoming a Grad Slam sponsor, you help amplify the voices of exceptional scholars while aligning your organization with innovation, communication excellence, and workforce development.

For inquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Ellinger
Industry Partnerships
jolsenel@uci.edu

Why Sponsor Grad Slam?

Champion Student Success

Your support provides transformational training in communication, leadership, and professional development, skills essential for success in academia, industry, and beyond. Grad Slam empowers graduate scholars from every school at UC Irvine to translate complex research into compelling stories that inspire, educate and drive impact.

Strengthening the Talent Pipeline

Engage with top graduate researchers across all disciplines who are innovative thought leaders in engineering, technology, healthcare, sustainability, social sciences, arts and humanities, and education. Because graduate students from every discipline compete in Grad Slam, sponsors gain access to a uniquely diverse pipeline of emerging leaders, thinkers, and innovators. Many of our scholars ultimately pursue careers in Orange County industries, making Grad Slam a powerful strategic partnership opportunity.

Elevate Your Visibility

Sponsors receive high-visibility acknowledgement in front of campus leadership, faculty, alumni, industry and community partners, and a growing online audience. Grad Slam consistently attracts thousands of viewers across UC Irvine and the UC system.

Demonstrate Commitment to Innovation & Education

Your sponsorship directly supports communication coaching, student awards, event production, and outreach, helping us deliver a world-class program that advances UC Irvine’s mission of research excellence. Educational opportunity and public engagement.

Grad Slam 2026 Sponsorship Levels

Title Sponsor – $50,000 (Cost of goods and services =$1340)

Our exclusive partnership level with year-round recognition and impact.

  • Annual acknowledgement as Title Sponsor in Graduate Division materials
  • Grad Slam reserved seating and event access: Semi-Finals and Finals, including a VIP table, invitations to pre- and post-event receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event, and an option to host an activation corner aligned with event programming.
  • Industry Immersion Conference engagement, including acknowledgment as Title Sponsor throughout the conference and in the digital program. Sponsors may be invited to participate in educational sessions such as keynotes, panels, or fireside chats based on alignment with conference programming and availability. Includes a reserved table at the Industry Immersion Conference Career Mixer.
  • Year-round A2i on-campus engagement includes opportunities to contribute to case studies, panels, lunch and learns, information sessions, site visits, and quarterly Graduate Career Mixers, as appropriate for supporting graduate student professional development and experiential learning.

 

Leadership Sponsor – $25,000 (Cost of goods and services ≈ $1,140)
Our Leadership partnership level includes enhanced visibility, half-year engagement, and recognition as a Leadership Sponsor across UCI Graduate Division programming.

  • Half-year acknowledgement as Leadership Sponsor in Graduate Division event materials and communications.
  • Grad Slam reserved seating and event access, including a reserved table with premium placement at the Finals, invitations to Semi-Finals and post-event celebrations. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event. Leadership Sponsors also have the option to host an activation corner during the Grad Slam Finals pre-event reception, aligned with event programming.
  • Half-year Engagement opportunities, which may include hosted tables at Graduate Career Mixers (PhD and Master’s), one on-campus engagement activity (case study, panel, lunch & learn, or presentation), and an opportunity to participate in a graduate student site visit, based on program alignment and availability.
  • Invitations to select UCI Grad Division donor and campus leadership events, with acknowledgement in donor communications and curated social media highlights when appropriate.

 

Presenting Sponsor – $10,000 (Cost of goods and services = $940.00)

Strong visibility with quarterly engagement opportunities.

  • Acknowledgement as a Presenting Sponsor at Graduate Division professional development programs and communications.
  • Grad Slam event access, including a reserved table, invitations to Semi-Finals and associated receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event.
  • Industry Immersion Conference engagement including Presenting Sponsor acknowledgement in the digital program, a reserved table at the Career Mixer, and an invitation to contribute to one educational session (such as a keynote, panel, or case study), aligned with conference programming and availability.
  • Quarterly engagement (choose one academic quarter), which may include hosting a case study, fireside chat, company presentation, or one facilitated site visit for graduate students and postdocs. Also includes invitation to a Graduate Career Mixer.

 

First Place Award Sponsor – $6,000 (Cost of goods and services $940) RESERVED LEONID CAP

Provides acknowledgement as our Grad Slam First Place Award Sponsor in all Graduate Division Grad Slam communications and marketing materials

  • First Place Award Sponsor includes Grad Slam event access, including a reserved table, invitations to Semi-Finals and associated receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event.

 

Second Place Award Sponsor – $3500 (Cost of goods and services $940) RESERVED Cie Digital

Provides acknowledgement as our Grad Slam Second Place Award Sponsor in all Graduate Division Grad Slam communications and marketing materials

  • Second Place Award Sponsor includes Grad Slam event access, including a reserved table, invitations to Semi-Finals and associated receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event.

 

Third Place Award Sponsor – $2500 (Cost of goods and services $940)

Provides acknowledgement as our Grad Slam Third Place Award Sponsor in all Graduate Division Grad Slam communications and marketing materials

  • Third Place Award Sponsor includes Grad Slam event access, including a reserved table, invitations to Semi-Finals and associated receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event.

 

Fellowship Award Sponsor – $3500 (Cost of goods and services $940) RESERVED Actalent

Provides acknowledgement as our Grad Slam Fellowship Award Sponsor in all Graduate Division Grad Slam communications and marketing materials

  • Fellowship Award Sponsor includes Grad Slam event access, including a reserved table, invitations to Semi-Finals and associated receptions. Sponsors at this level may be invited to hold a seat at the judges’ table, subject to availability and program needs as appropriate for the event.

 

Table Sponsorships are available at $2000 per table, and seats are available at $250 per seat.

 

**Your contribution beyond the value of goods and services may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Please consult your tax advisor.

Previous Competitions

Below are links to livestreams that were recorded at the previous finals:

2025 UC Grad Slam Systemwide Finals
2025 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals
2024 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals
2023 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals
2022 UC Grad Slam Systemwide Finals
2022 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals
2021 UC Grad Slam Systemwide Finals
2020 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals
2019 UC Grad Slam Systemwide Finals
2018 UC Irvine Grad Slam Campus Finals