First place team CLD-9 poses for a photo

5 startups poised to make pitches a reality, thanks to annual New Venture Challenge

April 14, 2023

What if improving one’s athletic performance through supplements was simpler and more affordable? What if instead of producing emissions, airplanes could take carbon out of the air? And what if learning a new language was as fun as listening to music? New Venture Challenge judges awarded $100,000 to help see these innovations through.

Full Tilt Motion Labs entrepreneurs pose with their $5000 check at the 2022 New Venture Challenge championships at the Boulder Theater on April 12, 2022. Clockwise from bottom left: Jamie Voros, Christen Malloy, Robert Olson and Glenn Holzhauer. (Photo by Glenn Asakawa/University of Colorado)

New Venture Challenge finals set for April 12

March 30, 2023

CU Boulder’s top student and faculty startups will pitch their business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges and you, a live audience, at the 16th annual New Venture Challenge. Come support the next big innovation, and see which startups walk away with funding.

The peak of one of the Flatirons

New Buff Venture Fund makes landmark investments in CU Boulder startups

March 24, 2023

Five promising startups comprise the first cohort of companies to receive investments from the Buff Venture Fund. The fund is the newest opportunity for CU Boulder startups to access critical funding on the path to success.

Winning teams on stage

New Venture Challenge spotlight: Female founders and climate solutions

March 16, 2023

On two exciting nights of pitches and prizes, 10 startups brought a broad range of ideas to the stage, involving more sustainability in gardening, the downsides of social media, practical prosthetics for kids, sustainable water filters and hydroponic produce for all. Across the two events, eight teams took home a total of $20,000.

Researcher Jun Ye (University of Colorado Boulder)

New Embark program to pair entrepreneurs with CU Boulder technologies

March 13, 2023

The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator is a new program created by Venture Partners at CU Boulder to match business minds outside the university with breakthrough inventions created within the walls of the university—and to provide those ventures funding.

Two people stand near each other and look at a specimen.

Venture Partners report highlights groundbreaking innovation pipeline

March 6, 2023

CU Boulder has developed a groundbreaking pipeline to translate research into real-world impact, as highlighted in the 2022 annual report of Venture Partners at CU Boulder, the university’s commercialization arm.

Adelyn Dozier, right, shakes hands with one of the judges from Omni Interlocken

For hotel leadership, student perspectives on industry’s challenges offer something suite

Jan. 19, 2023

Putting students to work on a company project helps them apply their learning in meaningful ways. But it can also help companies consider innovative ideas.

faculty, researchers and graduate students pose with giant checks

CU Boulder innovators awarded $1.25M in commercialization funding

Nov. 11, 2022

Twelve teams of faculty, researchers and graduate students competed for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge. Judges heard Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and the other for physical sciences and engineering.

Johnny Hergert and Camila Uzcategui

$1.3M investment latest milestone for CU Boulder startup

Nov. 10, 2022

Vitro3D, a startup founded by CU Boulder doctoral students, just closed its first investment round of $1.3 million. The venture involves novel, high-speed volumetric 3D printing technology with potential applications in industries such as dental, medical and drug development.

Winners hold a large Lab Venture Challenge check.

Lab Venture Challenge final showcases set for Nov. 2–3

Oct. 28, 2022

Lab Venture Challenge culminates in two evening showcases, where finalists will deliver pitches to a panel of business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. These are the can't-miss events of the year to see CU Boulder's next wave of breakthrough innovations.

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