The Young Tech Professionals (YTP) program develops the next generation technology workforce by educating undergraduate and graduate students on business and digital skills through a 10-week Spring quarter Design Thinking bootcamp culminating into a Demo Day MVP presentation to a group of industry judges.
Students will embark on a transformative journey to become a tech trailblazer! Whether an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative mind, or a problem solver from any academic discipline, our 10-week hands-on bootcamp is a student’s gateway to the exciting intersection of business, social impact, and technology. Eng170 provides the opportunity to augment academic prowess with real-world skills, setting the stage for success in the dynamic tech landscape. Students are mentored by industry field experts and coaches. It is a life-changing experience!
Key Focus Areas
– Digital Skills: Explore data-centered modeling, Artificial Intelligence, UI/UX, and cloud computing to develop agility in the tools shaping the future of technology.
– Business Skills: Develop a well-rounded skill set in project/product management, business development and market analysis, agile frameworks, and the art of pitching ideas that captivate stakeholders.
– Human Skills: Cultivate problem-solving abilities, social impact awareness, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution strategies to thrive in diverse and collaborative teams.
– Industry Connections: Forge valuable connections with thoughtfully selected industry experts, who serve as guest lecturers, coaches, field experts and advisors through the class. Leverage your access to these professionals to gain insights into the digital future, internship or full-time employment opportunities, or simply create a new professional connection.
Application Process
The YTP Tech Bootcamp welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students from various backgrounds, including STEM and non-STEM disciplines. Our application review process promotes diversity of thought and backgrounds and seeks to ensure a diverse cohort of innovative thinkers. We are excited about this year’s class!
2025 Theme
This year’s theme is Wildfires. Students accepted into the program will be assigned to and work with a team throughout the class.
Summary:
At the beginning of 2025, LA County was devastated by wildfires. You or your family or friends may have been impacted. Tens of thousands of homes and structures were destroyed. Lives were lost. The origin of the fires is still being investigated. This year’s Eng170 theme is dedicated to social innovation that presents technology that can address prevention, detection, community rebuilding, community engagement, or recovery efforts that can be implemented in LA County. Perhaps you have a smartcities or smartapp idea that should be considered.
2025 Key Dates
– Friday, February 7 – Applications open
– Friday, February 28 – Applications close (11:59 PM)
– March 3 through March 10 – Acceptance notifications
– April 4 – Class starts (Fridays, 10:00 AM – noon)
– June 6 – Demo Day
For an invite to Demo Day or additional questions, please contact ytp@ucla.edu.
The YTP program was developed in 2018 as a partnership with Innovate@UCLA, a collaborative partnership with SoCal tech companies and leadership to expose students to local industry leaders, innovation, mentorship, entrepreneurship, professional development, and knowledge of the tech industry.