2024 cohort of CU Boulder’s Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator launches new startups
The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator pairs seasoned entrepreneurs with CU Boulder technologies to bring those breakthroughs to market in response to urgent societal needs. Embark has launched its second Entrepreneurs in Residence cohort and will provide Intellectual Property rights, salary support, grant funds and investor introductions to launch startups with real-world impact.
Every year, dozens of breakthrough inventions emerge from CU Boulder’s research labs. While some are spun out by creators themselves, others are poised to partner with entrepreneurs beyond university walls looking to launch the latest and greatest technologies. Enter Embark, the newest program offered by Venture Partners at CU Boulder.
Embark bridges this gap by recruiting and matching entrepreneurs with promising university innovations. “Just because the university inventors didn’t create a startup company doesn’t mean the technology is not a really exciting startup opportunity,” said Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and managing director of Venture Partners.
“The first cohort of entrepreneurs have been in high gear since they were selected by the Venture Partners team last year and have risen to each challenge,” said Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. “They do not rest; they take advantage of everything we suggest to them,” she said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach, how we support our startups,” added Zgagacz.
Last year’s Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) cohort saw notable success with their new startups in their first year. For example, PrecisionTerra, founded by EIR Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, is a software solution that improves the signal strength of GNSS receivers in urban environments. The company has raised over $130,000 and was accepted to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) NSIN Vector accelerator. Green Steel Environmental, founded by EIRs Jonathan Teaford and Jon Jonis, is developing sustainable additives to revolutionize the wastewater recovery industry. The company has raised over $350,000 and will exhibit at the Biogas Americas trade show in Savannah, GA, in October.
Now in its second year, over 114 entrepreneurs applied to Embark and explored a curated portfolio of more than 50 technologies from various scientific and engineering fields, including biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials and aerospace. The Venture Partners team then worked closely with the entrepreneurs and inventors to find the right matches and the greatest opportunities for impact.
Selected applicants went through a rigorous 8-week program where they learned about the technologies for the first time, collaborated with the researchers, began customer discovery and pitched their business ideas in the final EIR selection process. “We were impressed with all of these entrepreneurs and how much progress they made to get to this point,” said Amy Dodenhoff, director of venture development at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. “We are excited to see what the new EIRs can do over the next six months with their new companies.”
The selected entrepreneurs—founding ten new startups on university-owned technologies—will launch their companies with an option agreement from the university and receive funding for technology development plus a six-month part-time salary to jumpstart their ventures.
With funding from CU Boulder, the program aims to increase diversity in the startup community by supporting individuals who may not have the financial means to pursue entrepreneurship without salary support.
Embark’s emphasis on matching entrepreneurs with groundbreaking innovations holds the potential to unleash the full impact of CU Boulder’s research into the world.
Information about the 2025 Embark Showcase for investors and the business community is expected in January 2025. Sign Up for Updates
2024 Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence
Aatxe Therapeutics
Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR): Makenna Morck (Alum: CU Boulder Biochemistry) and Alec Santiago
Principal Investigator (PI): Michael Stowell (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology)
Aatxe Therapeutics is a cyclic peptide platform that maximizes structural adaptability to improve cell penetrance, accessing and targeting challenging proteins. With this unique value, Aatxe can target proteins previously thought undruggable, improving patient outcomes in complex diseases.
Industry Applications: Health and Wellness
Carbon-Storing Hempcrete
EIR: Nick Manuzak (Alum: CU Boulder Business)
PI: Wil Srubar (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering College of Engineering and Applied Science)
Carbon-Storing Hempcrete is a carbon-negative biocomposite building material that sequesters carbon dioxide (CO2) at an increased and accelerated rate. It also offers insulative properties, resulting in energy savings and a reduced building carbon footprint.
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Construction, Advanced Materials
Colexible Technologies
EIR: C.J. Whelan
PI: Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
Colexible Technologies specializes in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge flexible electronics. Our components and devices offer unparalleled stretching, bending and durability in wearable devices, automotive components and industrial electronics.
Industry Applications: Manufacturing, Hardware and Instrumentation, Medical Devices, Advanced Materials
EcoValeric Innovations
EIR: Roberta Leão
PI: Adam Holewinski (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering)
EcoValeric Innovations converts levulinic acid (LA) into 4-Hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA) and HVA-based derivatives, including biopolymers, bioplastics, green chemicals and biofuels, using a breakthrough electrochemical process. Our solutions have applications across diverse industries, delivering scalable, eco-friendly alternatives. Visit the EcoValeric Website
Industry Applications: Manufacturing, Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Food and Agriculture, Fashion and Design, Health and Wellness, Therapeutics, Hardware and Instrumentation, Medical Devices, Advanced Materials
Endios Bio
EIR: Wendy Overton
PI: Alexandra Whiteley (CU Boulder Biochemistry)
Endios Bio is developing breakthrough therapeutics for rare neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the newly discovered impacts of the gene peg10, which was recently linked to ALS and Angelmans and has druggable potential.
Industry Applications: Biotech, Health & Wellness, Therapeutics, Diagnostics
IntraLumenus
EIR: Jesse M. Sheppard (Alum: CU Denver Business, CU Boulder Business)
PI: Mark Rentschler (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
Endoculus' mission is to revolutionize how lower gastrointestinal endoscopies are performed by significantly improving access to the colon for gastroenterologists, eliminating mechanical constraints, reducing the number of procedures and reducing the time it takes to complete interventional endoscopies and screenings.
Industry Applications: Biotech, Health and Wellness, Robotics, Medical Devices, Hardware and Instrumentation
FOWTech
EIR: George Douaire
PI: Lucy Pao (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering)
FOWTech specializes in advanced control systems for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs), enhancing stability and power generation in deep-water environments. Our innovative technology manages seven degrees of freedom (DOFs) of floating platforms, improving power output and reducing maintenance costs.
Industry Applications: Manufacturing, Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Information Technology, Software, Civic Engagement and Government, Hardware and Instrumentatio
Longevity Escape Velocity Labs
EIR: Kylen McClintock
PI: Tom LaRocca (CU Boulder Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Laboratory)
LEVL targets the biology of aging to create novel therapeutics and personalized protocols that help people live longer and healthier. LEVL's first formulation is a fasting mimetic shown to restore older mice to youthful biomarkers by inducing levels of autophagy comparable to rapamycin. Visit the LEVL Website
Industry Applications: Biotech, Artificial Intelligence, Health and Wellness, Therapeutics
Serenity PSG
EIR: Bart Emery
PI: Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
Serenity PSG is reinventing the sleep diagnostic experience for patients and physicians using earbud flexible biosensors that move full sleep lab capabilities to the home. Serenity PSG is led by Bart Emery, a two-time CU alum and experienced venture capitalist passionate about improving healthcare for all.
Industry Applications: Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Health and Wellness, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
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