Irvine, Calif. — The University of California, Irvine will host its 12th annual Grad Slam competition on March 12 at the Verano 8 Community Center. Cie Digital Labs has been named the event’s Second Place sponsor.
Part of UC Irvine’s Graduate Division, Grad Slam is a systemwide competition that showcases and awards the best three-minute research presentations by graduate scholars. The competition highlights the excellence, importance, and relevance of graduate research while also strengthening participants’ communication and presentation skills.
“What an honor it is to continue our partnership with Cie,” said Jaymi Smith, Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Education at UC Irvine. “Cie and its founder, Anderee Berengian, have been valued partners of UCI for years. Their work aligns seamlessly with our mission, and we are excited to welcome them back as a Grad Slam sponsor.”
Cie Digital Labs is a venture studio that serves as both an innovation lab for internally generated ideas and an accelerator for bold entrepreneurs seeking to transform disruptive concepts into thriving ventures. In addition to serving as the Second Place sponsor, Anderee Berengian, founder and CEO of Cie Digital Labs, will return as a Grad Slam judge for the second consecutive year.
“I’ve been proud to support the UC Irvine Graduate Division and Grad Slam for several years,” said Berengian. “Serving as a judge has given me a firsthand look at the creativity and talent of these impressive scholars. I always leave this event feeling inspired and optimistic about the future.”
With more than 20 years of experience guiding corporate and product strategy, Berengian is an accomplished entrepreneur, technologist, and investor. At Cie Digital Labs, he leads a world-class, execution-focused team and drives the growth of digital transformation initiatives into sustainable, profitable companies.
Grad Slam winners receive cash prizes totaling up to $6,500, along with a competitive résumé credential. Judges place strong emphasis on presentation clarity, engagement, and effectiveness for a general university audience.
UC Irvine gratefully acknowledges the support of all 2026 Grad Slam sponsors, including Leidos, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Leonid Capital Partners, The Pacific Club, AbbVie, UC Irvine Foundation, OC Alliance, UC Irvine Chancellor’s Club, UC Irvine CEO Roundtable, UC Irvine Academic Personnel, UC Irvine’s Donald Bren School of Informatics and Computer Sciences, UC Irvine’s Samueli School of Engineering, UC Irvine’s School of Education, and UC Irvine’s Charlie Dunlap School of Biological Sciences.
For more information about the event, please contact Raslyn Rendon at rrendon@uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine
Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.