Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase

RipaLith is based on the research by Mija Hubler, an expert in concrete degradation and structural performance. RipaLith is developing a concrete preservation solution that can be applied to existing concrete infrastructure to repair cracks—extending lifespan without costly replacement.

Team Members:Mija Hubler  (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, Engineering Advisor; Elena Forchielli  (Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, elena.forchielli@colorado.edu*; Paolo Forchielli  , Co-Founder, COO;

Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Construction, Biotech

FlowPoint Bio is redefining cell engineering with its high-viability, continuous-flow microfluidic platform that enables delivery of gene-editing payloads directly into the nucleus, regardless of cell type or payload size. Visit the FlowPoint Bio Website

Team Members: Vineet Erasala, Co-Founder, CEO, vineet@flowpoint.bio*; Xiaoyun Ding  (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor

Industry Applications: Biotech, Manufacturing

Enlixa Bio is building an in vitro platform that quantifies transcription kinetics to help biopharma identify and validate drug candidates against transcriptional targets.

Team Members: Nik Chopra  (CU Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Founder, CEO, nik@enlixabio.com*; Dylan Taatje (CU Boulder Biochemistry), Scientific Advisor, dylan.taatjes@colorado.edu 

Industry Applications: Biotech, Genomics, Diagnostics

Synforce develops a synergistic catalytic technology to enable efficient clean-fuel generation and water treatment.

Team Members: Sarang Gosavi, Co-Entrepreneurial Lead; Dishan Chooi, Co-Entrepreneurial Lead; Yunxuan Zhu, Co-Technical Lead; Longji Cui (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), longji.cui@colorado.edu*, Advisor, Principal Investigator (PI); Anurag Chauhan, Co-Technical Lead

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech

Flari Tech Inc. is building a breath analysis platform powered by the 2005 Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb technology, based on cutting-edge innovations from Jun Ye's lab at JILA. Flari Tech aims to provide affordable, accessible disease detection solutions by revolutionizing breath diagnostics with quantum sensing. Visit the Flari Tech Website

Team Member:Eva Yao , Founder, CEO, info@flaritech.com*

Industry Applications: Medical Devices, Diagnostics

Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) rapidly inactivates microbes, allergens and volatile organic compounds in HVAC systems, keeping coils clean between seasonal maintenance. PEGI boosts energy efficiency, extends system life, improves indoor air quality, and is easily retrofitted into existing commercial and residential systems.

Team Members: Emma Biesiada  (CU Boulder Aerobiology and Disinfection Lab), Founder, CTO, emmalee.biesiada@gmail.com*; Mark Hernandez  (CU Boulder Environmental Engineering Program), Advisor

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Medical Devices

Synteric Robotics builds small, autonomous insect-inspired inspection robots designed to navigate tight, hazardous environments. Our technology combines novel micromechanics, sensing and autonomy to inspect infrastructure humans can’t easily reach.

Team Members:Rob Carpenter  (CU Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Founder, rob@frostrivercapital.com*

Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics

Arkana Therapeutics leverages animals with extreme physiology to discover novel therapeutic molecules and drug targets.

Team Members: Jack Gugel  (Alum: CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder, CEO, jack@arkanatx.com*; Thomas Martin , Co-Founder, CSO;  Jonathan Long (Stanford Medicine), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor; Leslie Leinwand (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, BioFrontiers Institute), Scientific Advisor

Industry Applications:Biotech

BoBoRobo (Boulder-Born Robotics) automates the design, validation and deployment of industrial robotic workcells from a simple English prompt, cutting integration costs by 50% and time-to-live from six months to 10 days. Visit the BoBoRobo Website

Team Members:Alessandro Roncone  (CU Boulder Computer Science), Co-Founder, CEO; Anuj Pasricha  (Alum: CU Boulder Computer Science), Co-Founder, CTO, anuj.pasricha@colorado.edu*

Industry Applications: Robotics

BioStamp synthesizes DNA barcodes for engineered microorganisms, enabling biological intellectual property protection, compliance and high-fidelity identification. BioStamp's technology reduces detection false positives and collision probability through deterministic sequences, improving upon core limitations of random barcoding.

Team Members:John Docter  (CU Boulder Environmental Engineering Program), Co-Founder, CEO, john.docter@colorado.edu*; Cresten Mansfeldt  (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Biotech, Genomics, Research and Exploration

LeTau Robotics develops AI foundation models to teach robots human-like dexterity with 100x less training data. LeTau Robotics enables rapid deployment (hours vs. months) for complex manipulation across manufacturing, logistics and labs—at a fraction of traditional costs.

Team Members: Zhengxiong Li  (CU Denver Computer Science and Engineering), CEO, Co-Founder, zhengxiong.li@ucdenver.edu*; Lingfeng Tao , Co-Founder, Advisor; Xinmin Fang (Student: CU Denver Engineering, Design and Computing), Co-Founder, Advisor; Fenglong Ma , Co-Founder, CTO

Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics

Games and Theory LLC applies game theory and AI to model adversaries' thinking, competition and adaptation. Our simulation platform serves defense wargaming and commercial strategic foresight, exploring hundreds of scenarios with statistical analysis to inform high-stakes decisions. Visit the Games and Theory Website

Team Members: Marcus Holzinger  (CU Boulder Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences), marcus@gamesandtheory.space*, Co-Founder, Principal Investigator (PI); Jay McMahon  (CU Boulder Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences), Co-Founder, Principal (PI)

Industry Applications: Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Civic Engagement and Government, Software

iMembrane Therapeutics develops AI-designed miniproteins that overcome limitations of conventional biologics. The iMembrane Therapeutics platform enables stable, tunable and precisely dosed cytokine modulators for treating severe inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.

Team Members: Jingshi Shen, Co-Founder, CSO; Suzhao Li, sli@imembranetherapeutics.com*, Co-Founder, CEO; Charles Dinarello, Advisor

Industry Applications: Therapeutics

VeriLocal Inc. is an AI platform that filters out non-local social media noise during fast-moving events. Using machine learning to identify geographically authentic content, it delivers real-time, high-signal local insight for crisis response, utilities, insurance, media and other decision-makers. Visit the VeriLocal Website

Team Members: Todd McGuire   (CU Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, todd@verilocal.ai*; Lise St. Denis  (Earth Lab), Co-Founder, CSO

Industry Applications: Information Technology, Software, Smart Cities

Team Members: Stephanie Bryant  (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder, CSO; Liz Scott , CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; Karin Payne , Co-Principal Investigator (PI); Laurie Goodrich, Co-PI; Kelly Santagelo , Senior Investigator; Mike Zuscik , Co-PI

Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Biotech, Therapeutics