Events and Opportunities
Whether you're just curious to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship or even ready to launch your next business, we have events and opportunities throughout the year to help you make the real-world impact that you envision. Keep up to date on upcoming events, opportunities and deadlines with our newsletters: Sign Up Now
Signature Programs of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Connecting the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop innovative ideas and pitch for up to $50,000 in venture funding.
Student entrepreneurs with diverse perspectives who embrace the spirit of innovation and impact on campus and in the Boulder community.
A micro-funding opportunity for CU Boulder undergraduate and graduate students that provides up to $500 in funding for entrepreneurial ideas in the making.
A mini job fair that brings entrepreneurially-minded CU Boulder students and local Front Range startups together with a twist.
Join this collaborative event that's all about making positive changes in the world. Whether you have an idea or are someone eager to help those ideas become real, this is the event you don't want to miss.
CU Boulder's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Thursday, April 30: 2026 CBSA All Member Meeting + Networking—This annual event brings together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to connect, celebrate member achievements, and explore the latest updates on Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem.
May 4-8: Boulder Startup Week—A free, five-day conference that brings together entrepreneurs from across the region for workshops and connections that actually matter. Don't miss your chance to be part of one of the country's most celebrated startup communities.
Tuesday, May 5: Bolder Young Professionals Networking event at Smash Padel—Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, this is a great opportunity to try something new, meet fellow young professionals and get moving.
Wednesday, May 6: Pitch Boulder—Offering local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, investors and peers.
Wednesday, May 6: Virtual Pitch Workshop—Startup Colorado's virtual workshop designed to help you help you refine your message and deliver it with clarity and impact.
Wednesday May 6: Welcome to Boulder (Boulder Startup Week Edition!)—For anyone new to the Boulder tech and startup scene, a monthly, in-person chance to ask questions, find resources and meet other community members and individuals new to Boulder.
Thursday, May 7: CU Boulder Founder Panel at Boulder Startup Week—Hosted by the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, a panel of student and alumni entrepreneurs share their journeys, challenges and the resources that helped them succeed. Don't miss this chance to connect with the local startup community and gain valuable insights from those who have successfully launched their own ventures.
Thursday, May 7: Not Your Average Networking Event - How the Boulder and Colorado Startup Community can support YOU!—Explore what’s working in the Boulder and Colorado startup scene — and where the gaps are. You’ll connect meaningfully with other founders, builders, and dreamers, and help shape the future of the community. Walk away with new ideas, real connections, and ways we can build what you want, together.
Thursday, May 7: Boulder Angels: Q2 Pitch Session & University Spinout Panel—Hear from deeptech investors, university licensing experts, IP attorneys and founders for a candid discussion on evaluating and investing in tech transfer startups, and the most common early-stage pitfalls facing university spinout founders.
Friday, May 8: Colorado Startups Coffee and Hike—A chance to meet and get to know other local startup founders, operators, investors and community members. Whether you’ve been in Colorado forever or just moved here, see some familiar faces and meet new ones.
Wednesday, May 13: Executive Leadership: Energy, Relationships, and Change—Designed to address the specific needs of leaders at growing Colorado life sciences companies. Hosted by Colorado BioScience Institute.
Thursday, May 14: The Leader Within: Fireside Chat with Medtronic's Women's Network—Hear from local bioscience leaders during a virtual conversation and learn about leadership values, and balancing life and career.
May 14-15: CU Boulder GoldLab Foundation GoldLab Symposium—Bringing together critical thinkers in bioscience, medicine, public policy and the humanities to discuss complexities and barriers for improving health care in a straightforward, understandable and approachable way.
Wednesday, May 20: Boulder Climate Happy Hour—A monthly opportunity to share ideas on solving the climate crisis, connect and learn from one another.
Wednesday, May 20: Colorado Global Export Summit—Learn how your company can utilize state export assistance programs to export to a new market or expand in a current market.
Thursday, May 21:Science City Summit '26—An inaugural showcase of new frontier technologies featuring CU Boulder faculty and startups across life sciences and quantum. Six speakers will present short-format lightning talks highlighting their transformative research and technologies in three thematic areas: quantum computing; quantum and life sciences convergence; and drug discovery, therapeutics and enabling technologies.
Friday, May 29: Chemical Engineering Research Symposium—A one-day joint symposium with CU Boulder and Colorado State University to connect Front Range chemical engineering graduate students with industry professionals in a collaborative and welcoming environment.
Tuesday, June 16: Thought Leadership Series: Intellectual Property—A panel of platform biotechnology companies representing different stages of a startup’s lifecycle will examine how platform strategies differ by stage, from early credibility building to public market valuation.
Applications
Friday, May 1 (deadline): AI Venture Velocity Challenge—With a top prize of $100K in non-dilutive funding, the challenge rewards how much teams learn, test, build and move forward from May through September. Open to undergraduate and graduate students at any U.S. degree-granting institution.
Tuesday, May 5 (deadline): Research-to-Market Customer Discovery Program—A four-week program for scientists and engineers that teaches the process of customer discovery and how to find a market for technology by getting out of the lab.
Monday, May 11 (deadline): AB Nexus 2026 Research Collaboration Grant Program—Designed to strengthen research collaborations and forge new research opportunities between the CU Anschutz and CU Boulder campuses, AB Nexus is requesting proposals for two mechanisms that differ in project scope, budget and award duration, and each have their own application and review processes.
Monday, June 15 (deadline): Startup Prize: Health—This national, founder-first program is designed to support early-stage companies preparing for commercialization. Health, medical, and life sciences startups can compete for $10,000 in non-dilutive funding.
Sunday, June 21 (deadline): Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—The Watson Institute's no-cost program supports both nonprofit and for-profit Denver metro area entrepreneurs. The comprehensive program provides award-winning training, dedicated mentorship, and sustained support to impact-driven entrepreneurs.
Rolling Application: Activator: 25-26 Cohort—An open-access, equity-free biotech accelerator for early-stage founders.
Rolling Application: Startup Colorado Community and Entrepreneurship Grants–Grants that support rural entrepreneurs who are eager to level up their businesses but need a financial boost to get there.and delivering results.
Rolling Application: OEDIT Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit—For investors and advanced industries businesses in the amount of 25% to 35% per investment up to $100,000.
Rolling Application: Global Business Development's 2025 Trade Shows–Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.