Hardware & Instrumentation
Rochester Business Journal—For deep-tech hardware startups, commercialization often requires an agile willingness to follow a technology wherever the market demands. When semiconductor manufacturers approached Modendo Inc. with the need to inspect microscopic, tightly confined spaces inside advanced electronics, the startup discovered a massive, unserved market.
R&D World—The CU Boulder-developed technology, Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulators (MOCHIs), has received a 2026 R&D 100 Special Recognition Award in Green Tech. Described as "frozen air," MOCHIs combine exceptional transparency with record-setting thermal insulation, transmitting more than 99.5% of visible light
CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—Chunmei Ban, a professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at CU Boulder, has received a Fulbright Global Scholar award to explore the future of energy storage through next-generation battery technologies.
Venture Partners capped off its fifth Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator with the 2026 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase, where research-based startup teams pitched innovations originating from CU to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs and fellow researchers. The showcase featured ventures developing breakthrough solutions in health, robotics, advanced materials and more.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced that eight CU Boulder researchers and four startups received funding through the latest round of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. The awards, granted through the Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention programs, represent one of the university's strongest performances to date.
CU Boulder Today—University of Colorado Boulder researchers have developed a method to activate and sustain glowing bioluminescent algae using simple chemical solutions, opening the door to future technologies such as living sensors and autonomous systems that operate in dark environments.
CU Boulder and Techstars, the global startup accelerator and investor, have announced a strategic partnership to expand opportunities for founders and strengthen Colorado’s innovation economy.
Commercialization activities through Venture Partners at CU Boulder had an economic impact of $8.7 billion nationally and $5.1 billion in the state of Colorado over the last five years, according to a report from the Leeds School of Business.
From agriculture to aerospace, NSF’s I-Corps is a launchpad at the University of Colorado Boulder, helping innovators in and out of the University of Colorado bring research and inventions to the people who need them most. By equipping scientists and inventors with entrepreneurial tools, the program transforms great ideas into startups that tackle real-world problems.
News-Medical.Net—University of Colorado Boulder researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.