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.
Information Session: Tuesday, June 10
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
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.
Venture Partners: Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop
In-person at CU Boulder, Aug. 1-15; application deadline Friday, July 25
Do you have an innovation that could make a difference? Whether a researcher, entrepreneur, inventor or problem solver, the Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop at Venture Partners at CU Boulder can help you transform your concept into a successful venture—even if you aren't a CU student or employee.
Venture Partners: Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
Virtually Sept. 3-Oct. 10; application deadline Wednesday, Aug. 27
This four-week program helps teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation. Derived from the National Science Foundation's I-Corps™ program, R2M leverages the nationally recognized Lean LaunchPad and Business Model Canvas methodologies specifically designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers from any research or community institution.
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.
Various Deadlines: American Made Challenges—Offers innovators and entrepreneurs from various backgrounds the tools and opportunities to contribute clean energy solutions.
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.
Rolling application: SBIR/STTR Funding—Funding is granted through many different agencies across the federal government and areas of innovation.
Thursday, May 22: Intro to NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Program—Eligible companies can submit one proposal for more than $2 million for a "Fast-Track" award to support research and development activities that may take up to three years to complete.
Friday, May 23: Mining Water Tech Pilot Pathway Program—Bringing together innovators and industry as well as guiding early-stage companies toward pilot readiness across resource recovery, water efficiency, mine water treatment and beyond.
Wednesday, May 28: Quantum Community Forum—Bringing the local quantum business community together in the spirit of collaboration.
Friday, May 30 (deadline): Critical Technology Challenge: Operational Energy & Logistics—Submit your transformative operational energy, logistics and cybersecurity of critical infrastructure technology or solution.
June 4-5: Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit—A four day global summit on climate change and human rights, alongside the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance.
June 9-11: TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo—Connecting top applied research and early stage innovations from universities, labs and startups with industry end users and scouts.
June 9-11: Nanotech 2025 Conference & Expo—Thousands of leading researchers, scientists, engineers and technology developers participate in Nanotech to identify new technology trends, development tools, product opportunities, R&D collaborations, and commercialization partners.
June 9-11:SBIR/STTR Spring Innovation Conference—Connect directly with over $4 billion in early stage funding, learn to compete effectively for those resources and network with leadership representing the nation's largest seed fund.
Friday, June 20: Colorado for All: Business Showcase & Resource Fair—A gathering of local business leaders and community members showcasing Colorado's vibrant business ecosystem.
Monday, June 22 (deadline): The Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—Empowering impact-driven, underserved entrepreneurs who are building ventures to solve critical environmental challenges.
Friday, June 20 (deadline): DOE Boost: Building American Energy—An initiative that brings national labs, startups, academia, and DOE-developed technologies together to find solutions to regional energy and infrastructure challenges.
Monday, July 7 (deadline): LabStart Innovations Fellowship—Empowering entrepreneurs to transform cutting-edge climate technologies from U.S. research labs into market-ready startups.
Employment Opportunities
Venture Partners: Director of the Center for Translational Research—Helping startup companies built around CU technologies find and win non-dilutive grant funding.
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.