Lab Venture Challenge
Accelerating innovation through entrepreneurial training and funding of up to $125,000.
Through the Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), top innovations from University of Colorado Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants of up to $125,000. LVC supports projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. These grants are funded by Venture Partners at CU Boulder and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program.
LVC has funded more than 107 projects through 54 new deep-tech startup companies; collectively, these companies have raised over $349 million to date in follow-on financing. LVC demonstrates a powerful way to advance innovative research and translate it into impactful business ventures. Applications open in July each year, and in October, LVC culminates in two evening showcases where finalists will deliver pitches to a panel of business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. These final showcases are the can't-miss event of the year to see CU's next wave of breakthrough innovations!
LVC Showcases
Join Venture Partners at CU Boulder as we award up to $1.25 million to top CU innovators. Fourteen teams will each pitch for grants up to $125,000 to support projects with commercial potential in the Biosciences and the Physical Sciences Showcases. Lab Venture Challenge is the can't-miss event of the year to see CU's next wave of breakthrough innovations! Learn more about the 2024 finalists
Showcases Details
- Physical Sciences Showcase: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 5:30-8 p.m.
- Biosciences Showcase: Thursday, Oct. 24, 5:30-8 p.m.
Founder Central by Sweater, 2000 Central Ave #100, Boulder
The showcases are free with registration and open to all. Attendees must register in advance. Seating is limited, and at-the-door registration is not guaranteed. Doors open to attendees at 5 p.m.
2024 LVC Finalists
Physical Sciences Finalists
Colexible
Colexible's liquid metal printed circuit board technology offers deformable, stretchable and affordable electronic assemblies that address the challenges that current rigid PCBs face with emerging technologies, such as wearable electronics, virtual/augmented reality and collaborative robots.
- Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI
- C.J. Whelan (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO
- Kris Obernyer : Chief Product Officer
EcoValeric Innovations
EcoValeric's invention is an electrochemical process that converts biomass-based levulinic acid into 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA), a versatile intermediate for producing biodegradable plastics, biofuels and green solvents. This scalable, renewable process reduces reliance on fossil fuels while enhancing sustainability. Visit EcoValeric's website
- Roberta Leão (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Adam Holewinski (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): PI
- Will Lucas : CTO
InfraInform
I2M-B is an end-to-end AI-based software tool that integrates cutting-edge temporal deep learning techniques with novel operations research methodologies to address the lack of an optimized, predictive and proactive approach for cost-efficient bridge and culvert maintenance planning.
- Farnoush Banaei-Kashani (CU Denver Computer Science and Engineering): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Moatassem Abdalla (CU Denver Civil Engineering): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Kevin Rens: Co-Investigator, Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Mode-Locked Laser Technology
This groundbreaking mode-locked laser technology overcomes the limitations of existing systems and is suitable for harsh environments. These systems excel in applications that require the best phase noise performance in a small and efficient device. Applications include PNT and RF instrumentation.
- Thomas R. Schibli (CU Boulder Physics): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Chris Singer (Alum: CU Boulder Business): Business Development
- Christopher B. Oei: Product Design, Advanced Manufacturing
OsmoPure Technologies
OsmoPure is introducing a membrane for ultrapure water production tailored to the stringent demands of electronics, aerospace and green hydrogen sectors. The technology uses distillation driven by pressure, rather than heat, to produce high-purity product water with ten times higher energy efficiency. Visit the OsmoPure website
- Kian Lopez (PhD student, CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Anthony Straub (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI)
- Nadia Jorgenson (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Director of R&D
WHISPER Energy
WHISPER Energy is a wireless, battery-free sensor platform for smart buildings. It uses machine learning to cut energy consumption by 30%+, providing real-time data to optimize energy use and reduce emissions. Developed with a $2 million ARPA-E grant, it advances zero emissions economically and efficiently. Visit the WHISPER website
- Galen Williams (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): Co-Founder and CEO
- Gregor P. Henze (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, RASEI): PI and Co-Founder
- Gerry Conroy : Technical Lead and Advisor
Tierra Metrics
Tierra Metrics' novel high-spatial density sensor innovation will enable real-time characterization of the soil nitrogen cycle which will help growers, land managers and others to improve efficiency and profitability, as well as improve soil health and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
- Gregory Whiting (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Taylor Sharpe (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) Chief Engineer
- Whendee Silver : Co-Founder
- Ana Claudia Arias : Co-Founder
Biosciences Finalists
Aatxe Therapeutics
Aatxe Therapeutics enhances the structural adaptability of cyclic peptides, improving their ability to bind, inhibit and access challenging intracellular targets. This unique platform unlocks new opportunities for treating complex diseases and improving patient outcomes.
- Makenna Morck (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Alec Santiago (CU Boulder Embark EIR): COO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Michael Stowell (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology): PI
Codebreaker
Codebreaker is building a platform for generating variant genomes at scale in an AI framework that drives variant genome design and machine learning to generate significance maps broadly across human disease and drug response.
- Ryan Layer (BioFrontiers Institute: PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Ryan T. GIll : CEO
- Tanya Warnecke : CTO
- Jordan Abbott: KOL-Collaborator
Entangl3d
Entangl3d is transforming spine surgery with a groundbreaking 3D printing platform that produces strong, bioadhesive hydrogels. Easily deployable without tissue damage, our hydrogels will reinforce intervertebral discs to prevent reherniation and degeneration.
- Matt Davidson (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): PI, Co-Founder, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Jason Burdick (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): Co-Founder
Flari Tech
Flari Tech is building a laser-based breathalyzer to detect lung cancer noninvasively and rapidly with high sensitivity. Powered by CU's Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb, it would empower healthcare providers, patients and researchers in lung cancer prevention, treatment and monitoring. Read more about Flari
- Eva Yao (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Jun Ye (CU Boulder Physics, JILA): PI
- Qizhong Liang (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Technical Lead
- Apoorva Bisht (PhD student, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Research Assistant
IntraLumenus
Let’s never cut open a patient again. IntraLumenus is a treaded robotic capsule endoscope that travels through the colon under its own power, provides localization and mapping, and dual channel tool access, enabling colorectal procedures to be performed intraluminally, or from within the colon.
- Jesse M. Sheppard (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Mark Rentschler (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI
SteriO3
Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) provides rapid, low-resource sterilization of microbial contaminants. With adaptable configuration capabilities, PEGI will be engineered into compact, portable units for low-temperature sterilization of surgical equipment, including 3D-printed implants. Visit the SteriO3 website
- Emmalee Biesiada (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI), LVC Pitch Presenter
- Steve Hughes : CEO
- Mark Hernandez (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Chief Scientific and Project Advisor
STAT3 Isoform-Selective Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO)
This team is developing a proprietary STAT3 isoform-selective antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) using novel thiomorpholino chemistry (TMO) for the treatment of head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer type, with a low survival rate due to poor responsiveness to treatments.
- Xuedong Liu (CU Boulder Biochemistry): PI
- Marvin H. Caruthers (CU Boulder Biochemistry)
- Antonio Jimeno (CU Anschutz)
- Jing Hong Wang
Past LVC Winners and Finalists
We are proud to honor the past winners and participants of LVC. Former funding recipients have used LVC to prepare for Destination Startup® and New Venture Challenge (NVC), as a springboard into leading accelerator programs such as Techstars and Innosphere, develop ideas through NSF I-CorpsTM Hub: West and Catalyze CU and raise investment rounds.
$132,505 Funding Awardees
- TorDan (previously MDS II) is developing a rotational nail system as an improved technique to correct rotational alignment for femoral surgery. Team: Jacob Segil (Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) and Omer Mei-Dan (Orthopedics, CU Anschutz Medical Campus).
$125,000 Funding Awardees
- Mycobacteria Therapeutics is working toward a new treatment for stress resilience and mental health with oral supplements of beneficial mycobacteria. Team: Christopher Lowry (Integrative Physiology), Adam Bohr and Chris Stamper (both, Mycobacteria Therapeutics).
- ImmunoLogic is developing first-of-their-kind, site-specific therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Team: Linda Watkins and Suzanne Fulgham (both Psychology and Neuroscience), Peter Grace (MD Anderson Cancer Center, ImmunoLogic), John Forsayeth and Raymond Chavez (both ImmunoLogic).
- Nausica Arnoult (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology) presented a new approach to treating HR-deficient cancer with targeted APE2 inhibitors. Her team also included Xiang Wang (Chemistry and Kerri Ball (MCDB).
- Meaghan Van Alstyne (Biochemistry) is working on a new treatment for dementia with peptide therapeutics targeting tau aggregation. Her team also included Roy Parker (BioFrontiers, Biochemistry) and Charles Hoeffer (Integrative Physiology).
- Corey Neu (Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) has developed a device for improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage structure and mechanical function, allowing for the early detection of arthritis and cartilage repair.
Finalists
- Coaterra—A self-healing pro-regenerative coating for vascular stents and grafts. Wei Tan (Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) and Brian Dao (Embark Deep Tech Accelerator).
- siRNA targeting of PRDX6 for cancer therapy. Xuedong Liu (Biochemistry) with Vesicle Therapeutics.
$132,505 Funding Awardees
- Mana Battery is developing sodium-ion batteries that are cheaper and safer than standard lithium-ion ones. Team: Chunmei Ban, Nick Singstock and Tyler Evans (all Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).
$125,000 Funding Awardees
- Mesa Quantum is commercializing more accurate chip-scale atomic clocks, targeting initial use in monitoring devices on the ocean floor. Team: Sristy Agrawal (NIST), Svenja Knappe (Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) and Juniper Pollock (NIST).
- Mach Electric Aerospace is fabricating carbon fibers from reclaimed carbon dioxide emissions using new energy-efficient and eco-friendly methods. Team: Spencer Dansereau (Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences) and Wesley Whitaker (College of Engineering and Applied Science) with Francisco López Jiménez (Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences).
- Green Steel Environmental will soon provide new products that sustainably improve wastewater treatment and biogas production. Team: Jon Teaford (Embark Entrepreneur in Residence) Jon Jonis, Mark Hernandez (all Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering).
- ZeroGap Energy is developing thermovoltaic cells with molten salt for high-efficiency thermal energy conversion to support energy storage essential to the green energy transition. Team: Longji Cui and Mohammad Habibi (both Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).
- ReviewerZero.ai is working with publishers to deploy an artificial intelligence technology suite to ensure research integrity in scientific publications. Team: Daniel Acuña (Computer Science).
Finalists
- BoldRF—Tunable circulators for simultaneous transmit and receive radio-frequency phased array applications. Zoya Popovic, Laila Marzall and Stefan Stroessner (all Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering).
- Icarus Quantum—Developing the first deterministic photon entanglement generator to drastically boost quantum repeater protocols for long-range quantum networking. Poolad Imany (NIST, Physics), Shuo Sun (JILA).
$125,000 Funding Awardees
- Sound Separations: A cell-based delivery system for drugs targeting solid tumors that do not respond well to existing cell therapies. Wyatt Shields, Katie Trese (both of Chemical and Biological Engineering); Alisa Lee-Sherick, MD (CU Anschutz).
- Graham Redweik, Principal Investigator Ding Xue (both of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology): A new derivative of resveratrol—a naturally occurring chemical compound in plants—to target mitochondrial endonuclease G to help treat both Parkinson’s disease and cancer.
- Nakul Sridhar, Principal Investigator Xiaoyun Ding (both of Mechanical Engineering): A penny-size device that can diagnose sickle cell disease and would dramatically broaden access to lifesaving treatments, especially in the developing world.
- Won Park (Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering): A novel force sensor with many applications for medical providers, such as monitoring changes in tumor growth, heart tissue and joint repair.
$62,500 Funding Awardees
- Randall Shearer (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)); Imma Ferrer, Michael Thurman (both of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): A new method of manufacturing cannabinoid acids to overcome key hurdles in commercializing cannabinoid-based (CBD) therapeutics.
- Xiang Wang (Chemistry): Antibiotic adjuvants to re-sensitize drug-resistant bacteria and combat the rising antibiotic resistance crisis in medical care.
$125,000 Funding Awardees
- Boulder Light Technologies: Air quality monitoring devices with rapid, on-site optical identification of toxics. Nazanin Hoghooghi (Mechanical Engineering)
- Envyro Sensors: A low-cost and disposable sensor—similar to diabetic test strips—for monitoring indoor horticulture and printed with special ink on a regular desktop printer. Greg Whiting (Mechanical Engineering); Elliot Strand (Materials Science & Engineering Program)
- Nanoplasmonics, LLC: A portable device that uses ultrasensitive fluorescent biochemical sensors to detect mycotoxins, enabling mobile, lab-quality food safety testing at every stage of food production. Anatoliy Pinchuk (Physics & Energy Science, UCCS)
- Twine: Data security, including internal fraud in the financial industry, with a novel blockchain-based protocol for distributed and immutable record keeping that “entwines” data sources for transparent and “unhackable” data authentication. Jasper Palfree (Physics); Krister Shalm (Physics; Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering)
$62,500 Funding Awardees
- Rishi Raj (Mechanical Engineering): A new 3D sintering process that will allow the same-day creation of dental implants straight from a device in the dentist’s office.
- Chembotix: A chemical-creating robot and an automated platform to dramatically speed up chemistry research and development. Kailey Shara (ATLAS Institute); Aditya Rengaswamy; Marshall Graybill (Mechanical Engineering); Carson Bruns (ATLAS Institute).
- Nick Bottenus: New method for improving the quality and speed of ultrasound imaging
- Camila Uzcategui (Audience Choice Award): Vitro3D—Biomimetic 3D printed lung cancer organoids for drug discovery
- Alexandra Whiteley: Novel therapeutic for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Corey Neu: NatruGel—3D Printing of tissue matrix for drug screening and discovery
- Simon Kalmus: Seedling Biosystems—Sprouting therapies from American farms
- Liang He: BAuth—Battery-enabled anti-theft vehicle immobilizer
- Marin Iliev: CANDi enabled ultrahigh speed and precision microscopy
- Dan Dessau: Low vibration cryogenic platform for quantum applications
- Kailey Shara(Audience Choice Award): A versatile robotic system for automating organic chemistry operations in the laboratory
- Cory Pecinovsky: Polaris Electro-Optics Inc.—Fast photonic switching with fluid ferroelectrics
- Andrew Goodwin: New biomass pretreatments to replace toxic petroleum additives in coatings and adhesives
- Brian DeDecker: Gene-Lock—A Novel Approach to Gene Assembly
- Xiaoyun Ding: Lab-on-a-Chip—Acousto Thermal Shift Assay for Fast and Label-free Protein Analysis
- Jerome Fox: Using Microbes to Drug the Undruggable
- Robert McLeod: Vitro3D—Biomimetic 3D Printed Scaffolds for Drug Discovery (recipient of Bioscience Audience Choice Award)
- Zoya Popovic: Non-invasive Compact Internal Body Thermometer
- Mark Rentschler: Disposable Robotic Endoscope for Deep Enteroscopy
- Jacob Segil: Hip Arthroscopy Surgical Instruments for Improved Patient Outcomes and Reduced Surgical Time
Winners
- Mahmoud Hussein: Resonant Inclusions — A New Technology for Efficient Thermoelectric Conversion in Bulk Silicon
- Michael Marshak: OTORO Energy — High Performance Battery Materials for Affordable Grid Scale Energy Storage (recipient of Physical Science Audience Choice Award)
- Michael McGehee: Dynamic Smart Windows
- Scott Palo: Hybrid Small Satellite Radio Frequency and Optical Communication System
- Wil Srubar: Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Building Materials
Finalists
- Moncef Krarti: Adjustable Building Insulation
- Bowen Li: Disrupting the Spectroscopy Market with Novel Bidirectional Fiber Laser
Winners
- Xuedong Liu: Programmable Gectosomes for Delivery of Therapeutic Nucleic Acids and Proteins
- Roy Parker: Exocure Therapeutics—PARN as a Target for Treatment of Specific Human Cancers
- Rafael Piestun: Ultrathin Endoscopes
- Sara Sawyer: SickStick—A Saliva-Based Test for Infection (recipient of Bioscience Audience Choice Award)
Finalists
- Jerome Fox: Think Bioscience—Evolution-Guided Drug Discovery
- Wei Tan: Vascular Precision—Precision Prohealing Coating for Vascular Implants
Winners
- Zach Newman: Octave Photonics—A Tantala Photonics Platform
- Ivan Smalyukh: iFeather—Transparent Aerogels for Solar Heating and Greenhouse Applications (recipient of Physical Science Audience Choice Award)
- Alireza Vahid: Theia—Next Generation Wireless Systems Antenna
Finalists
- Chris Vargo: Socialcontext.ai—An AI-Powered Social Media Content Strategy Tool
- Tam Vu: DenyTheSky—Passive Drone Detection and Tracking
Winners
- Anushree Chatterjee—Therapies for Multidrug Resistant Bacterial Infections
- Svenja Knappe—A Magnetographic Imaging Device for Early Detection of Cancer
- Corey Neu—Next-Generation Dermal Fillers (recipient of Bioscience Audience Choice Award)
- Ding Xue—Therapies for Side Effects Caused by Radiation Therapy
Finalists
- Douglas Chapnick—Predicting Clinical Success and Failure of Therapeutic Drugs
- Xuedong Li—Programmable Designer Therapeutics
- Tin Tin Su—A High Throughput Screen for Identifying Cancer Therapies
- Wei Tan—Designing Personalized Vascular Devices
Winners
- Mark Hernandez—Corrosion Resistant Concrete Admixture
- Timothy Morrissey—Artificial Muscles for the Future of Robotics and Automation (recipient of Physical Science Audience Choice Award)
- Jeffrey Thayer—Discovering Shallow Water Hazards
- Jeffrey Beyle and Qin Lv—Affordable Digital Tools for Small and Medium Manufacturers
Finalists
- Donald David— Quantum Plating Solutions
- Aaron Palumbo—Cleaner, Cheaper Magnesium Production