Draft:UDAX Accelerator
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Comment: The best sourced parts here aren't about the article topic, but University Blockchain Research Initiative. For UDAX, we just have Ripple-affiliated sources and crypto sources - see WP:NCRYPTO for our general expectation that any sufficiently relevant crypto topic will get mainstream financial coverage, not just crypto news coverage. ~ A412 talk! 23:39, 24 September 2026 (UTC)
University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) is an international startup accelerator established by Ripple through its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). The program supports early-stage companies developing products in fintech, digital assets and financial infrastructure, with a particular focus on ventures building on, integrating with or connecting to the XRP Ledger.[1][2][3]
UDAX was launched in 2025 through a pilot program at the University of California, Berkeley.[1][4][5] In 2026 the program expanded to Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo and the University of Oxford, and returned to UC Berkeley in the fall.[6][7]
Background
[edit]UDAX originated from Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative, an academic partnership program established in 2018 to support research, education and technical development in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments.[8] Ripple launched UBRI with a commitment of more than US$50 million and 17 partner universities.[9][10] UC Berkeley was among the original participants.[11]
UDAX was introduced in 2025 as a program partnering with academic entrepreneurship programs to support blockchain startups.[3] The first cohort was conducted at UC Berkeley in the fall of 2025, and Ripple publicly announced the program in January 2026 after the cohort had finished.[1][12]
Program
[edit]UDAX is organized around fixed-term cohorts co-hosted with universities.[6] The inaugural Berkeley program lasted six weeks,[5] while the FGV and Oxford editions were eight-week programs.[13][2]
Programs combine workshops, individual mentoring, technical sessions and remote programming, covering topics such as product development, regulation, fundraising and go-to-market strategy.[2][13] Technical support is provided by Ripple engineers, while university partners contribute faculty and mentors.[1][13]
The Oxford edition invited applications from teams with a working prototype or minimum viable product, including ventures from other technology ecosystems whose products could benefit from the XRP Ledger. No affiliation with the University of Oxford was required.[2]
Cohorts conclude with a Demo Day at which founders present to investors, mentors and industry representatives.[1][13][7]
Cohorts
[edit]UC Berkeley, 2025
[edit]The inaugural cohort was held at UC Berkeley in the fall of 2025 and consisted of nine companies working in areas including tokenized capital markets, insurance, payments and the creator economy.[1][5] The participants were WaveTip, X-Card, BlockBima, CRX Digital Assets, Blockroll, WellArrive, Spout, EXFIL and Mintara Labs.[1][14][15]
The program began with a launch summit in Berkeley and concluded with a Demo Day at Ripple's San Francisco headquarters, attended by representatives of 13 venture capital firms.[1][5] According to Ripple, teams reported an average 67% increase in product maturity and a 92% increase in fundraising confidence; these figures are self-reported.[1]
São Paulo, 2026
[edit]The second cohort was hosted by the São Paulo School of Economics (FGV EESP) through its FGV Digital Finance center. Ten startups began the eight-week program,[16][17] which concluded with a Demo Day at FGV on 18 June 2026.[13][18][19] Around 100 people attended, including investors, academics and mentors.[20]
Nine companies presented: BillDo,[note 1] C9 Tech, Kapitale, Lendara, Levery, PixNow, Regolda, TrustBond and VS1, with founders from Brazil, France and Georgia.[13][21] Their projects included receivables tokenization, a gold-backed token, microcredit for family farming, donation traceability and tokenized corporate bonds.[20][22] According to Ripple, participants reported an average 83% increase in product maturity and a 53% increase in investment readiness; these figures are self-reported.[20]
Oxford, 2026
[edit]The third cohort was run with the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre at the Saïd Business School.[2][23] It opened with a launch in Oxford from 11 to 13 August 2026, followed by online workshops, mentoring and office hours in August and September. The program was scheduled to conclude from 29 September to 1 October 2026 with a Demo Day at Ripple's London office.[2]
Eleven startups took part: Agrify (Nigeria), AML Unfiltered (UK), BlockVault (Australia), Circles (UK), HerVoice (France), Lazo (UK), Mandla Money (South Africa), meCash (UK), OnRekord (UK), Straid (Poland) and Tezca (UK). Their products covered areas including agricultural trade, compliance, remittances, micro-lending, healthcare payments and music rights.[24]
UC Berkeley, 2026
[edit]UDAX returned to UC Berkeley for its fourth cohort in the fall of 2026.[6] The program began on 15 September 2026 and involves the UC Berkeley College of Engineering's Center for Digital Assets and the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology.[25]
Ten companies were selected: Cascrow, CoinFish, Credelit, Eos Loan, Kairo Vault, Mobile Wallet, NakaRobo, PayX, Trexx and x2xPro.[25] The cohort is scheduled to conclude with a Demo Day at Ripple's headquarters in San Francisco.[26]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ↑ Ripple refers to this company as BillPay.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Ripple and UC Berkeley Launch the University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) to Supercharge the XRP Ecosystem". Ripple. 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "University Digital Asset Xcelerator Oxford". Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 "University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI)". Ripple. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Introducing the University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX)". X. Ripple. 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 4 "Ripple and UC Berkeley Launch Accelerator to Scale XRP Startups". The Crypto Times. 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 "Supporting Innovation on the XRP Ledger: What's Changing in 2026". Ripple. 2026-02-26. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 "University Digital Asset Xcelerator". Ripple (via Luma). Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple Introduces the University Blockchain Research Initiative". Ripple. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple Pumps $50 Million Into Academic Research on Blockchain". CoinDesk. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Why Classes on Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and Bitcoin Are About to Boom at Colleges". Fortune. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "11 More Universities Join $50 Million Blockchain Research Program". Fortune. 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple, UC Berkeley Launch Blockchain Accelerator Focused on XRP Ledger Projects". Coin Edition. 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Blockchain and digital finance event brings startups together to present innovative solutions at FGV". Fundação Getulio Vargas. 2026-07-08. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple and UC Berkeley Introduce UDAX Program to Grow XRP Ledger Ecosystem". CryptoNinjas. 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ Mark Searle. "Post on the first UDAX UC Berkeley cohort". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple Expands Brazil Push With Fintech Accelerator and Broader Digital Asset Services". TipRanks. 2026-05-02. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ Mark Searle. "Post on the start of the UDAX FGV cohort". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Startups buscam investidores em programa da FGV e Ripple". Blocknews (in Portuguese). 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "UDAX FGV 2026 Demo Day". Ripple (via Luma). Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 3 "Ripple launches University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) in Brazil to boost the development of the XRP ecosystem". Ripple. 2026-07-13. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ Mark Searle. "Post on the UDAX FGV Demo Day". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Ripple Launches UDAX Accelerator in Brazil for XRP Ledger Startups". The Crypto Times. 2026-07-14. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre". Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Demo Day UDAX – Oxford 2026". Ripple (via Luma). Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- 1 2 Mark Searle (September 2026). "Post on the UDAX IV UC Berkeley cohort". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Demo Day UDAX – UC Berkeley 2026". Ripple (via Luma). Retrieved 2026-09-22.
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