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
Tuesday, Dec. 30: Boulder Open Coffee Club (BOCC)—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Wednesday, Jan. 7: Spring XI Accelerator Virtual Q&A Session—Learn how Exponential Impact (XI) helps founders build companies that scale with purpose.
Thursday, Jan. 8: CBSA Coffee + Connect—Engage with others in Colorado’s life sciences community and spark dynamic relationships with fellow innovators.
Thursday, Jan. 8: Tech Connect: Coffee & Community—Exponential Impact's weekly gathering for entrepreneurs, founders and tech enthusiasts shaping the future through emerging technologies.
Friday, Jan. 9: Rural Women in Entrepreneurship—Startup Colorado's virtual networking conversation focusing on current projects, story sharing and pooling resources to help reach the "next step" on the long entrepreneurial road ahead.
Wednesday, Jan. 14: Eliquent Life Sciences + Aon | Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Happy Hour—Bringing together leaders, innovators, and professional from life science organizations of all sizes for relaxed networking in a welcoming environment.
Thursday, Jan. 15: Belonging@Startup Colorado Info Session (virtual)—Learn about a community development and connection strategy capable of addressing socioeconomic challenges such as housing, workforce shortages, and economic mobility.
Friday, Jan. 16: Colorado Startup Ski Day—Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious. Upcoming Ski Days: Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 27 and April 17.
Jan. 22-Feb. 5: Venture Partners CU Boulder Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Over three weeks (virtual), gain a deeper understanding of the commercialization process, test your ideas with real potential customers and accelerate your journey toward bringing your idea to market.
Thursday, Feb. 12: Women in Tech—Exponential Impact brings together founders, technologists and emerging tech leaders for a powerful night of connection, conversation, and community.
Monday, Feb. 23: 2026 BizWomen Mentoring Monday & Cocktail Reception—An afternoon of speed mentoring designed to connect women across all stages of their professional journeys.
Applications
Monday, Jan. 12 (deadline): Mathers Foundation Grant Program (Biosciences)—Seeking innovative, novel proposals with scientific merit and established proof of concept, which may not be fundable at the federal level.
Saturday, Jan. 31 (deadline): Belonging @ Startup Colorado, a 12-month accelerator for entrepreneurs who see business as a bridge that connects people, strengthens communities and drives meaningful impact. Each founder receives the equivalent of up to $52,000 in direct support.
Sunday, Feb. 1 (deadline): Runway Startup Postdocs—Based at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, Runway ushers recent PhDs in digital technology fields from an academic mindset to an entrepreneurial outlook.
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.
Applications open: The Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—A free expert-led cohort to help sustainability ventures. Participants will receive expert-led training, committed mentorship and pitch coaching.
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.