For the 3rd consecutive year UM San Francisco has partnered with the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley to host “UM & Haas: Ensuring the Future of Innovation,” an effort to raise money for the 14th Annual UC Berkeley Startup Competition (Bplan). The UC Berkeley Startup Competition (Bplan) is one of the foremost events for budding entrepreneurs: a forum providing entrepreneurs with the best possible resources – including education, networking, team creation, mentorship and new venture financing – to help turn innovative ideas into real businesses.

In support of the Haas School of Business (and of course in the spirit of our curiosity that drives our desire to know more), UM San Francisco is hosting a celebration of the unique blend of media and innovation that exists in the San Francisco Bay Area.  State-wide budget cuts continue to put fiscal pressures on programs like the Bplan Competition, and we feel strongly about bringing together our community to support initiatives like this that help drive Silicon Valley’s innovation. With Jeff Bernstein, their EVP Global Managing Partner, at the helm of the team, the UMSF office is seeking to build and maintain a community comprised of our concept of “Mad Valley,” an obvious play of words referencing the integration and diminishing elements of our traditional Madison Avenue fundamentals to merge with the emerging principles of the Silicon Valley.  

There will be a variety of people attending including media owners, press, VCs, brand management, and startup communities to join the UM leadership team to celebrate – and foster – this very unique environment.  In addition to the opportunity to network with these attendees, you will be hearing pitches from select teams of this year’s Bplan Competition semi-finalists.  Past winners have included TubeMogul, a media buying platform for video advertising.