Opportunities and Events
Signature Venture Partners Programming
A partnership with seven of the top research universities across the Western U.S. to reduce the time and risk associated with translating promising ideas and technologies to the marketplace.
Applications now open
A campus-wide resource for both existing and aspiring university-originated startups seeking non-dilutive funding—to translate their university inventions into a startup company.
Accepting support requests
With myriad CU Boulder technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks motivated entrepreneurs ready to launch new companies.
A competition for CU Boulder's top innovations showing high commercial potential, a clear path to a compelling market and strong scientific support.
An accelerator for research teams building deep tech startups coming out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
Community Showcase: Wednesday, June 25
A collaboration among the Intermountain West region's leading research universities and federal laboratories, showcasing the best companies from the region’s innovation ecosystem to investors and the business community.
Upcoming Opportunities at CU
CU Boulder | New Venture Challenge Finals
Wednesday, April 23, 6-9 p.m., The Boulder Theater
The New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a launchpad for aspiring problem-solvers and creatives. At the finals, watch top entrepreneurs pitch their innovative business ventures live to a panel of judges and compete for a share of $325,000.
CU Anschutz | Drug Development: What Excites Investors
Tuesday, Aril 29, 11 a.m., Virtual event
Join an interactive panel discussion where top investors will explore their models for supporting early-stage companies, share the critical questions they ask when evaluating investment opportunities, and provide strategies to avoid the common pitfalls in faculty-VC interactions.
CU Boulder | ATLAS EXPO 2025
Thursday, May 1, 4-6:30 p.m., Roser ATLAS Center
Explore projects across three floors and get to know the students and faculty of The ATLAS Institute.
CU Denver | TechUp Incubator
Application Deadline: Friday, May 9
This nine-week hybrid summer program invites you to pursue your startup goals and entrepreneurial growth through weekly workshops, mentorship and financial support.
CU Boulder | Startup Variety Show
Monday, May 12, 5-5:45 p.m., Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom
Join Silicon Flatirons as they stitch together the startup scene, CU Boulder, innovators from the Federal Labs, as well as technologists from incumbent technology companies in a night of food, networking and entrepreneurship.
Venture Partners | Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
Deadline: Tuesday, May 6; Workshops: May 13-June 13, Virtual
This four-week program helps teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation. Specifically designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers commercializing their innovations.
Venture Partners: Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase
Wednesday, June 25, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Byron R. White Stadium Club, Folsom Field, CU Boulder Campus
Bringing together researchers, investors and community supporters to highlight innovative deep tech startups spinning out of the University of Colorado.
Opportunities Outside CU
Applications open: Advanced Industries Accelerator Programs—Promoting growth and sustainability in Colorado’s advanced industries that increase the state's global competitiveness.
Rolling application: Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit—Encouraging investments in Colorado advanced industries businesses by incentivizing investors with state income tax credits.
Rolling application: Techstars Accelerator Programs—Empowering entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship, capital and a global network to help them succeed and scale their startups.
Various Deadlines: American Made Challenges—Offers innovators and entrepreneurs from various backgrounds the tools and opportunities to contribute clean energy solutions.
Tuesday, May 6: Intro to America's Seed Fund at NSF—In this session, an NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program director will answer questions.
May 12-16: Boulder Startup Week—A free conference-style event with sessions at local venues in downtown Boulder that educate attendees and provide professional networking opportunities.
Monday, May 19 (deadline): Orbital Edge Accelerator—Providing business insights, technological guidance, crucial investment and possible space flight opportunities to support companies on their path to success.
Employment Opportunities
Venture Partners: Licensing Manager/Senior Licensing Manager—Responsible for managing innovations and their intellectual property (IP) from world-leading scientists and engineers and is a central figure in the CU Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem.
RayChill: Co-Founder/CEO—RayChill, a startup built on IP from CU Boulder, provides a passive radiative cooling material that cools structures without power and is seeking a Co-Founder/CEO.
For more opportunities, please check back soon or sign up for updates.
Are you a CU startup with an employment opportunity to share with the CU community? Send it to vpnews@colorado.edu for posting here. Also, you can post to CU Boulder's recruitment platform Handshake and/or join the Startups2Students career fair.