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A showcase of the top research-based ventures in the Intermountain West

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Home What We Do Funding Destination Startup®

Destination Startup®

A collaboration among leading research universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West to showcase the best companies from our innovation ecosystem.

Join hundreds of investors from throughout North America at Destination Startup^®. This showcase demonstrates a powerful way to advance innovative research and translate it into impactful business ventures. The February 2023 showcase returns as a fully in-person event.

Some results from Destination Startup^® 2018-2022:

900+ investors, business leaders and innovators from across the continent have attended Destination Startup^®
70+ new startup companies have been launched
$400+ million has been collectively raised (to date) by startups in venture, angel, strategic and grant funding

This year's participating institutions include the University of Arizona, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, Montana State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-UMC, the University of New Mexico, the University of Utah, the University of Wyoming, the University of Denver and the University of Colorado (Boulder, Anschutz, Denver and Colorado Springs).

Showcase Details

The 2023 showcase has passed. Please check back soon for information and deadlines for the February 2024 showcase. Sign Up for Updates

Apply to present your startup

Please check back soon for information and deadlines for the 2024 showcase. Sign Up for Updates

Intellectual Property (IP) Management
Entrepreneurial Training
Mentorship & Advising
Funding
Licensing & Industry Partnerships

Stephen S. Miller

Please contact Stephen S. Miller, Director of Venture Development

Contact

Destination Startup^® 2023 Ventures

Industry

Advanced Materials

Agriculture

Hardware & Instrumentation

Information Technology

Medical Devices

Software

Sustainability

Therapeutics

Institution

Colorado School of Mines

Colorado State University

University of Arizona

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Denver

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

University of Nebraska Medical Center

University of New Mexico

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Afference Inc.

Afference powers the feeling of touch in the digital world.

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Aqualung Therapeutics Corp.

Aqualung Therapeutics Corp. is an immunotherapy company focused on developing therapeutics for diseases of unchecked inflammation and fibrosis.

Aspero Medical Inc.

Aspero Medical is enabling intraluminal endoscopic surgery through novel devices that improve access, stability, traction and precision instrument manipulation as part of the overall shift toward less invasive procedures, which have historically moved from open surgery to laparoscopic surgery and now are moving to intraluminal surgery (accessed through natural orifices).

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Beryl Therapeutics Inc.

Beryl is an early-stage drug development company poised to revolutionize the bone market with an anticipated safety profile that will disrupt the osteoporosis market and unlock the pediatric bone market.

Blaze Energy Technologies LLC

We are developing catalytic reforming technology for the efficient production of H2/NH3 fuels that serve as carbon-free, drop-in replacements for hydrocarbons in combustion applications ranging from process heaters to internal combustion engines to turbines to accelerate deep de-carbonization of these industries.

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CarbeniumTec LLC

CarbeniumTec LLC is developing a new metal-free, all-organic battery for long-duration energy storage applications that will provide utility companies a solution to the urgent and growing need for electricity storage without the environmental impacts and safety issues of conventional batteries.

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Cardiost

Cardiost's mission is to improve the length and quality of life for patients suffering from Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). We are developing a fully implantable heart assist pump to treat patients with late-stage HFpEF, a chronic condition affecting 3.1M Americans and responsible for over 450K hospitalizations/year.

Cascade Biocatalysts

Cascade Biocatalysts makes enzymes rugged and reliable for widespread adoption in chemical manufacturing, reducing the cost and environmental impact of diverse manufacturing processes.

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Codelucida Inc.

Codelucida provides disruptive error-correction solutions supporting the next generation of densest NAND flash memory chips. As the memory densities are increased to enable higher storage capacities, the memories become more prone to errors, and their performance degrades. Codelucida’s solutions provide the strongest error correction with highly scalable performance and reduced power.

Curable Composites

Curable Composites is a company that produces revolutionary materials at the cutting edge of the composites industry, from 3D printing carbon fiber in mid-air to new breakthroughs in foam manufacturing, all possible by applying over a decade of research conducted by professor Mostafa Yourdkhani, PhD.

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Darwin Biosciences

Darwin Biosciences specializes in developing saliva-based diagnostics for the early detection of infectious diseases.

GelSana Therapeutics Inc.

For clinicians with patients who have wounds, particularly chronic wounds, GelSana is the hydrogel wound dressing company that provides products that improve wound healing by reducing inflammation and offering sustained drug delivery over time.

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LumenAstra

LumenAstra is commercializing a CU patent for a wearable, non-invasive sensor measuring core body temperature several centimeters below the skin with dramatic impact on cardiac surgery, brain protection after stroke and brain injury, increase efficacy of chemo-therapy by targeted tumor warming, and a new generation of consumer thermometers.

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Prometheus Materials Inc.

Prometheus Materials develops, manufactures and licenses the use of microalgae to reduce and eliminate CO2 from concrete building materials.

RaeSedo, Inc.

RaeSedo, a spin-out of the University of Arizona, is developing novel therapeutics for asthma based on an understanding of lung pathology.

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Reglagene Inc.

Reglagene is a preclinical-stage therapeutics company developing a breakthrough therapy for the safe and effective treatment of brain cancers.

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Sentinel Fertigation

Sentinel Fertigation provides image-based crop monitoring and digital nitrogen management solutions that improve farm profitability and preserve the environment by aligning nitrogen applications with crop nitrogen needs.

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TissueForm

TissueForm is passionate about improving life for people affected by volumetric tissue loss by harnessing the natural, restorative power of tissue extracellular matrix. TissueForm’s biomaterial fills volumetric defects, integrates with host tissue and promotes healing.

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Tynt Technologies Inc.

We are commercializing the next generation of dynamic windows to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of homes.

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uPetsia Inc.

uPetsia solves bad dog breath with a canine oral bacteria modified to produce mint aromas for hours and is used as a feed ingredient.

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Destination Startup^® Startup Works

Benefits of Destination Startup®
Eligibility Requirements
Destination Startup® Schedule & Key Dates
Requirements for Destination Startup® Finalists

Applying to Destination Startup® helps innovative researchers and faculty prepare for fundraising and the commercialization of their technology. All applicants will have the opportunity to have their pitch reviewed by multiple investors, with detailed feedback.

Those selected to present at the showcase will participate in one or more “pitch practices,” getting expert coaching from serial entrepreneurs and investors who are there to help you perfect your value proposition.

Destination Startup® will have hundreds of investors, entrepreneurs and fellow innovators in attendance, giving you the opportunity to showcase your unique innovation to the world.

The results from Destination Startup® 2018-2021:

Grant Funding (NSF/NIH SBIR; STTR; DOE ARPA-E; State): $28,042,517
Seed, Angel, Series A Venture Funding: $404,978,965

Watch the video below to hear from past winners about their LVC experience:

Any startup that is commercializing an innovation from, or in formal partnership with, one of the participating university research institutions or federal laboratories is eligible to apply.

A competitive, independent selection process will determine which applicants will be invited to showcase at the February showcase.

Please check back soon for information and deadlines for 2024. Sign Up for Update

Application and video deadline for Destination Startup is: September 2023
Teams are selected by a panel of almost 50 investors and serial entrepreneurs from October 2023
Pitch Practices (TBD) and advising for teams participating in the showcase will be held throughout November–December 2023 and in January 2024
Destination Startup® is a showcase to investors of research lab-based innovations over two days: February 2024

Produce a brief 1-3 page summary of your innovation/technology and team, which will be featured on Destination Startup® website and distributed to investors prior to the showcase in February 2023.
Participation in one or more pitch practices in front of live investor/coaches to fine-tune your presentation.
Submission of a video presentation that will be showcased to investors online over the 2-day event.
Attendance (optional) at an exclusive VIP Investor/Founder Happy Hour the week of Destination Startup® .