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 campus-wide 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
Wednesday, June 11: Golden Startup Coffee—A morning meetup for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives, professionals, investors, and everyone to elevate the entrepreneurial community in Golden, Colorado.
Wednesday, June 11: Lunch & Learn: Best Practices When Pitching to Life Science Investors and Industry Partners—Learn how to better understand how to engage with industry investors and partners.
Wednesday, June 11: Pitch Boulder—A chance for local entrepreneurs to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, investors and peers.
Thursday, June 12: June Startup Hike at Garden of the Gods + Workshop—Start the day with a group hike through Garden of the Gods, followed by a hands-on session to help you transform your product idea into a non-functional demo.
Thursday, June 12: Empowered & Resilient: Thriving as a Woman Entrepreneur—A practical 20-minute talk designed to help rural women entrepreneurs cultivate resilience, confidence and well-being as keys to sustainable success.
Thursday, June 12: Welcome to Boulder-New Tech Boulder Edition —For anyone new to the Boulder tech and startup scene, a chance to network, ask questions and learn about resources.
Thursday, June 12: Boulder Startup Tech—Learn about the future of new tech in Colorado.
Tuesday, June 17: Boulder Open Coffee Club (BOCC)—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Tuesday, June 17: Colorado Startups | How to Launch Your Business: A Comprehensive Checklist—Learn what is required and the logistics of how to get your business up and running.
Friday, June 20: June Startup Hike in Sunshine Canyon—Meet at Mount Sanitas Trailhead for an early morning hike with entrepreneurs from the local startup ecosystem.
Wednesday, June 25: Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator—Bringing together researchers, investors and community supporters to highlight innovative deep tech startups spinning out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
Wednesday, June 25: Igniting the Rockies—Hear from a panel of experts on innovation in healthcare and how they are addressing challenges from market shifts to policy changes.
Thursday, June 26: Golden Startup Coffee Happy Hour—Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, network and spark new opportunities.
Friday, June 27:Colorado Startups Denver Happy Hour—Join entrepreneurs, investors and community members in Colorado's thriving startup ecosystem for a lively and fun event.
Wednesday, July 23-Thursday, July 24: Colorado Drive to Five: Life Sciences Innovation Tour—A two-day, multi-city experience providing a comprehensive view of Colorado’s thriving life sciences ecosystem.
Thursday, July 24: Breakfast & Networking | BioMed Realty—Gain insight into the companies shaping the future of health innovation, alongside leaders from Colorado’s other advanced industries, including quantum.
Sept. 16-18: Colorado Startup Week—Formerly Denver Startup Week, this event brings together entrepreneurs, investors and innovators from across Colorado for three days of inspiration, learning and networking.
Applications
Wednesday, June 18 (deadline): West Slope Startup Week—Apply to speak at West Slope Startup Week, a week-long conference for entrepreneurs, small business owners, makers, educators, agriculturalists, techies and more.
Friday, June 20 (deadline):DOE Boost: Building American Energy—An initiative that brings national labs, startups, academia, and DOE-developed technologies together to find solutions to regional energy and infrastructure challenges.
June 22 (priority application deadline): The Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—This fully-funded initiative supports both nonprofit and for-profit leaders whose businesses address critical environmental challenges in the Denver metro area. Supported by JPMorganChase Foundation and powered by Watson Institute.
Friday, July 25 (deadline): Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this workshop is for anyone from a research or community institution motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
Applications open: EnergyTech University Prize–Student teams compete for more than $540,000 for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization.
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: 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.