Berkeley SkyDeck is expanding its support for founders in air, space, and quantum technology as it prepares to host Batch 22 Demo Day on September 30 at Zellerbach Hall. The accelerator has appointed Leah Walker and Claire Cramer as track chairs to bring specialized expertise and networks from UC Berkeley's growing research initiatives directly to startups. The event will close the five-month accelerator program and will be followed by the Startup Expo and Demo Night for additional investor engagement.
New Leadership for Air and Space Startups
Leah Walker joins SkyDeck as Air and Space Track Chair while serving as director of research and strategic initiatives at the Berkeley Air and Space Center. The center is developing a 36-acre campus at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field to advance aerospace research, instruction and entrepreneurship. Walker, whose background includes national security policy and defense analysis, said founders need access to capital, infrastructure, talent and market understanding, resources she sees concentrated at Berkeley.
Expanding the Quantum Commercialization Pipeline
Claire Cramer has joined SkyDeck as Quantum Track Co-Chair and serves as executive director of Berkeley Quantum, a new campus initiative designed to bridge quantum research and commercialization. She holds a doctorate in atomic physics and previously held scientific and policy roles at NIST, OMB, NSF and the U.S. Department of Energy. At the agency, she established its first quantum computing hardware program and grew the annual research portfolio she managed from $3 million to more than $75 million.
Executive Perspective on Founder Support
Caroline Winnett, executive director of UC Berkeley SkyDeck, said the accelerator thrives on connecting world-changing founders with the power of UC Berkeley's ecosystem. She described track chairs as force multipliers who bring deep networks and experience that help build industry-defining companies. The new appointments reflect SkyDeck's goal of giving founders more targeted guidance in fields where Berkeley is expanding research and commercialization activity.
Deepening Expertise in Strategic Fields
SkyDeck is deepening its expertise in air and space and quantum, two fields where UC Berkeley is expanding research and commercialization work. The Berkeley Air and Space Center and Berkeley Quantum are translating campus strengths into industry-facing opportunities for startups. These initiatives give founders access to infrastructure, scientific talent and policy insight that are often difficult to assemble in early-stage companies.
Demo Day and Academic Entrepreneurship Summit
Batch 22 Demo Day will take place on September 30 at Zellerbach Hall and is open to accredited investors. The event anchors the first day of SkyDeck's two-day Academic Entrepreneurship Summit, which will convene nearly 50 leaders from more than 30 universities across North America, Europe and Asia. Participants from Harvard, Stanford, Cornell and Johns Hopkins will discuss strengthening university innovation programs and moving more academic research to market.
Continued Momentum for Berkeley Startups
The new chair appointments and Demo Day arrive amid continued momentum for Berkeley's startup community. UC Berkeley retained its position as the world's leading university for producing venture-backed startup founders for the fourth consecutive year. SkyDeck's deeper focus on air, space and quantum aligns with broader university efforts to translate research strengths into startup growth in strategic industries.
With the additions of Leah Walker and Claire Cramer, Berkeley SkyDeck is pairing startup ambition with deep scientific and policy expertise in emerging technology sectors. The Batch 22 Demo Day and Academic Entrepreneurship Summit will offer founders and university leaders a platform to build stronger connections with investors and peers. By strengthening its support for air, space, and quantum ventures, SkyDeck aims to accelerate the commercialization of high-impact research and reinforce Berkeley's global leadership in startup creation.