Events and Opportunities
Whether you're just curious to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship or even ready to launch your next business, we have events and opportunities throughout the year to help you make the real-world impact that you envision. Keep up to date on upcoming events, opportunities and deadlines with our newsletters: Sign Up Now
Signature Programs of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Connecting the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop innovative ideas and pitch for up to $50,000 in venture funding.
Student entrepreneurs with diverse perspectives who embrace the spirit of innovation and impact on campus and in the Boulder community.
A micro-funding opportunity for CU Boulder undergraduate and graduate students that provides up to $500 in funding for entrepreneurial ideas in the making.
A mini job fair that brings entrepreneurially-minded CU Boulder students and local Front Range startups together with a twist.
Join this collaborative event that's all about making positive changes in the world. Whether you have an idea or are someone eager to help those ideas become real, this is the event you don't want to miss.
CU Boulder's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Tuesday, Dec. 2: Boulder Open Coffee Club (BOCC)—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Thursday, Dec. 4: Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Certificate Reception—Discover how this online certificate program is designed to open doors for professionals in Colorado’s life science ecosystem by providing critical training in Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs.
Thursday, Dec. 4: Colorado Cleantech Community Impact Celebration—Join industry leaders and innovators for an evening recognizing excellence in Colorado’s cleantech community, celebrating the technologies and entrepreneurs shaping a cleaner energy future.
Thursday, Dec. 4: Thunderview CEO Dinner—A monthly dinner founded to introduce a diverse set of CEOs (across backgrounds, stages and markets) to one another to share their experiences and receive outside perspectives.
Tuesday, Dec. 9: RVC Pitch Academy—A half-day workshop to prepare founders to understand many of the terms and processes used by VCs and sharpen their venture strategy.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: CBSA's Finding Success in a Challenging Environment: Biotech & Medtech Symposium—A half-day symposium bringing together leaders, investors and innovators from across Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem, centered on the EY Biotech and Medtech Reports, cornerstone analyses that reveal the realities behind industry headlines.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: CBSA's Thought Leadership Series: Financing and Regulation—Bringing together leaders, investors and innovators from across Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem to discuss the current funding environment.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: One Million Cups Denver—An opportunity for entrepreneurs to practice giving presentations and get constructive feedback from the local startup community.
Thursday, Dec. 11: Welcome to Boulder Startup Happy Hour—Welcoming anyone new to the Boulder tech and startup scene. Colorado Startups will answer your questions, direct you to resources and help make introductions where appropriate. Plus you’ll meet other community members and individuals new to Boulder.
Thursday, Dec. 11: Boulder New Tech Meetup—For anyone interested in technologies.
Tuesday, Dec. 16: Boulder Open Coffee Club (BOCC)—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Wednesday, Dec. 17: Pitch Boulder—Offering local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, investors and peers.
Wednesday, Dec. 17: One Million Cups Denver—An opportunity for entrepreneurs to practice giving presentations and get constructive feedback from the local startup community.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Cooley Market Talks | Trends, Timing and the Tech IPO Opportunity, Featuring J.P. Morgan—Exploring the factors driving the tech initial public offering (IPO) revival, from macro shifts and regulatory developments to investor sentiment and sector trends. The conversation will take a forward-looking view of how companies are positioning for their next phase of growth and what to watch for heading into 2026.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Welcome to Denver Startup Happy Hour—Welcoming anyone new to the Denver tech and startup scene. Colorado Startups will answer your questions, direct you to resources and help make introductions where appropriate. Plus you’ll meet other community members and individuals new to Denver.
Friday, Dec. 12: Colorado Startup Ski Day—Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious.
Tuesday, Dec. 30: Boulder Open Coffee Club (BOCC)—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Friday, Jan. 16: Colorado Startup Ski Day—Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious. Upcoming Ski Days: Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 27 and April 17.
Applications
Monday, Nov. 25 (deadline): Elbow Grease—An 8-week in-person accelerator providing selected AI-centric startups with first-check investment, founder-led mentorship, weekly workshops and access to a lifelong founder community in New York City.
Monday, Dec. 1 (deadline): MedTech Innovator (MTI)—A a five-month virtual accelerator providing expert mentorship, investor exposure and hands-on commercialization support. Finalists compete live at major industry events for funding, awards,and visibility. Focus on medical technology, life science tools, diagnostics and digital health.
Monday, Dec. 1 (deadline): BioTools Innovator (BTI)—Seeking top early- and mid-stage startups in life sciences tools and enabling technologies.
Friday, Dec. 5 (deadline): Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator—An accelerator for research teams building deep tech startups coming out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
Monday, Dec. 15 (deadline): OEDIT Smart Energy WeekAdvanced Industry Export Grant : —The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is accepting applications for co-exhibitors from Colorado cleantech and renewable energy companies to attend Smart Energy Week (March 17-19, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan). Recipients will also receive a travel stipend.
Monday, Dec. 15 (deadline): OEDIT Mobile World Congress Trade Show Advanced Industry Export Grant—The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is accepting applications for co-exhibitors from Colorado cleantech and renewable energy companies to attend the Mobile World Congress Trade Show (March 2-5, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain). Recipients will also receive a travel stipend.
Sunday, Feb. 1 (deadline): Runway Startup Postdocs—Based at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, Runway ushers recent PhDs in digital technology fields from an academic mindset to an entrepreneurial outlook.
Applications open: EnergyTech University Prize–Student teams compete for more than $540,000 for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization.
Applications open: The Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—A free expert-led cohort to help sustainability ventures. Participants will receive expert-led training, committed mentorship and pitch coaching.
Rolling Application: Activator: 25-26 Cohort—An open-access, equity-free biotech accelerator for early-stage founders.
Rolling Application: Startup Colorado Community and Entrepreneurship Grants–Grants that support rural entrepreneurs who are eager to level up their businesses but need a financial boost to get there.and delivering results.
Rolling Application: OEDIT Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit—For investors and advanced industries businesses in the amount of 25% to 35% per investment up to $100,000.
Rolling Application: Global Business Development's 2025 Trade Shows–Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.