Opportunities and Events

Discover opportunities and events that foster innovation and entrepreneurship. From the Lab Venture Challenge to Destination Startup, Venture Partners at CU Boulder offers valuable opportunities to connect, learn and grow. Plus, explore our curated list of opportunities and events outside of the University of Colorado. Join a vibrant community driving change through innovation.

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.

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The Insider is a series of newsletters from Venture Partners featuring the latest headlines, news, events, opportunities and emerging university innovations in three editions:

Inventors and Researchers (Monthly) | Community (Monthly) | Investors (Quarterly)

View the latest Insiders  Subscribe to The Insider

Upcoming Opportunities at CU

People work together around a table

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.


I-Corps Hub West

Venture Partners | Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program

Extended Deadline: Friday, May 9; 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.


Boulder Startup Week

Boulder Startup Week | Unlocking Innovation: Navigating University IP Licensing for Life Sciences Startups

Monday, May 12, 11 a.m.-noon, Boulder Library

For many life sciences startups, breakthroughs originate in university research labs. But securing the right to commercialize these innovations requires navigating complex licensing agreements with university tech transfer offices—an unfamiliar process for many entrepreneurs. Featuring Annalissa Philbin  (Venture Partners).


Boulder Startup Week

CU Boulder + Boulder Startup Week | Startup Variety Show

Monday, May 12, 5-8 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.


Boulder Startup Week

Boulder Startup Week | The VC Funding Landscape: Insights from Funders & Founders

Wednesday, May 14, noon-1 p.m., SOVRN

With the VC landscape shifting dramatically over the past year, our panelists will dissect how to navigate and pivot amidst these changes. Discover what it takes to become a VC-funded company—from the critical milestones VCs look for to the distinct expectations for pre-seed versus seed rounds. Featuring Sally Hatcher  and Tasso von Windheim  (both, Buff Gold Ventures); Tyler Evans  (Mana Battery).


Boulder Startup Week

Venture Partners + Boulder Startup Week | Innovation Unleashed: The Importance of Customer Discovery

Thursday, May 15, 1-2 p.m., Boulder Library

Highlighting the vital role customer discovery plays in truly understanding and shaping a successful business. Through insightful panel discussions, attendees will explore how customer discovery is essential for validating market fit, refining strategies, and driving sustainable growth. Featuring Sristy Agrawal (Mesa Quantum); Aoife Henry (WinSenseAI); Poolad Imany (Icarus Quantum); Susan Strong  (CU Boulder Research & Innovation Office External Advisory Board, The Strong Group)


Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator

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.

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.


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.

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, June 20: Colorado for All: Business Showcase & Resource Fair—A gathering of local business leaders and community members showcasing Colorado's vibrant business ecosystem.

Employment Opportunities

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.