Events and Opportunities

Events

Tuesday, June 9: Innosphere Lunch and Learn: Best Practices When Pitching to Life Science Investors and Industry Partners—Helping life science and digital health startups better understand how to position themselves for investors and industry partners.

Wednesday, June 10: Built to Last - Three Traits of Founders Building Great Companies and Great Lives—Join Chris Franks, CEO of Promptus, and learn what separates founders who scale from founders who stall, and the specific skills you can develop to build both a great company and a great life.

Thursday, June 11: LVC and OEDIT grants Information Session—Learn how to compete for up to $250,000 in translational funding through CU Boulder's Lab Venture Challenge and Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) grants. Program leaders and funding experts will share key timelines, eligibility criteria, best practices and direct Q&A to help attendees successfully compete for these opportunities.

Thursday, June 11: Welcome to Boulder—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, June 11: BioScience on Tap—The Colorado BioScience Institute brings people together to directly support the future of life sciences in Colorado—from classroom, to campus, to career.

Thursday, June 11: Let’s Vibe at XI—Whether you’re working on a startup, writing code, learning AI tools, or exploring a new idea, this is your space to connect with others who are doing the same.

Friday, June 12: Colorado Startup Hike—Do you like being outside? How about on a Friday morning when the trails aren’t packed? Startup Hikes is a series designed to help you meet and get to know other local startup founders, operators, investors, and community members. Whether you’ve been in Colorado forever or just moved here, see some familiar faces and meet new ones. Upcoming Hikes: July 31, Aug. 21, Sept. 18.

Tuesday, June 16: Silicon Flatirons Startup Variety Show–‘The Show’ stitches together the startup scene, CU Boulder, innovators from the Federal Labs and technologists from incumbent technology companies. This session features finalists from CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge and 1-minute lightning pitches from the Startup Summer cohort.

Tuesday, June 16: CBSA Thought Leadership Series: Intellectual Property—A panel of platform biotechnology companies representing different stages of a startup’s lifecycle will examine how platform strategies differ by stage, from early credibility building to public market valuation.

June 22-July 2, Virtual and in Telluride, CO | Telluride Venture Network's Climate Solutions Investment Bootcamp—Connect with investors, learn from founders and refine the skills and tools needed to kick off fundraising or complete a round.

Wednesday, June 24: Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase—Bringing together researchers, investors and community supporters to highlight innovative deep tech startups spinning out of the University of Colorado. Attendees will have a chance to see pitches from each of the Ascent 2026 cohort startups, followed by a networking happy hour to learn more.

Wednesday, June 24: What’s Next: A Roadmap for Bringing Your Creative Business to Life (virtual)—Explore how to get clear on your business direction and build momentum in a way that feels aligned with your creativity and capacity. Hosted by Startup Colorado.

Friday, June 26: Scaling Your Business Requires Scaling Your Mind (Virtual)—Discover a practical framework to address the root causes of founder burnout and learn to treat inner work as a true business growth strategy. Hosted by Startup Colorado.

Thursday, July 9: Welcome to Boulder—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.

July 20-22, Golden, CO | Colorado Cleantech's Colorado Fusion Week—From strengthening the industry’s foundation to tackling immediate workforce needs, this convening will focus on what it takes to move forward together.

Applications

Wednesday, June 10 (deadline): Techstars Boulder Accelerator—For founders seeking a deeply engaged network of investors and mentors committed to their growth.

Wednesday, June 10 (deadline): National Safety Council's Safety Innovation Challenge: Energy Control—Highlighting innovative technologies that can identify, secure and communicate hazardous energy risks in the workplace, to drive down rates of injuries and fatalities.

Wednesday, June 10 (deadline): U.S. Small Business Administration’s Freedom 250—A nationwide pitch competition for entrepreneurs building and scaling businesses within their communities. The quarter-final round will select one entrepreneur per state, and the final pitch competition in Washington, D.C. will culminate in a $1 million prize pool.

Monday, June 15 (deadline): Startup Prize: Health—This national, founder-first program is designed to support early-stage companies preparing for commercialization. Health, medical, and life sciences startups can compete for $10,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Saturday, June 20 (deadline) | De Nora's Edge Innovation Hub—Bridging the gap between innovation and industry, enabling startups to validate, industrialize and scale their technologies within a real industrial environment.

Sunday, June 21 (deadline): Environmental Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program—The Watson Institute's no-cost program supports both nonprofit and for-profit Denver metro area entrepreneurs. The comprehensive program provides award-winning training, dedicated mentorship, and sustained support to impact-driven entrepreneurs.

*Wednesday, June 24 (deadline) | U.S. Department of War (fmr. Defense) Solicitations—43 new topics in this 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) | Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) | Commercial Solutions Opening (CSOs)

Sunday, June 28 (deadline): Western Union Global Fellowship—Designed for entrepreneurs impacting refugees, highly marginalized, and displaced individuals globally. Supported by Western Union and powered by Watson Institute.

Sunday, June 28 (deadline): Watson Institute's Flagship Fellowship—For ventures in any sector based in Colorado.

Monday, June 29 (deadline) | Department of Education Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitations—Three solicitations are open for submission, offering up to $250,000 for 9-month Phase IA and IB projects to develop or enhance education technology prototypes, and up to $1,000,000 over two years for Direct to Phase II projects to scale evidence-based innovations and prepare for commercialization.

Wednesday, July 1 (deadline): Risk-A-Thon Denver—Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCUs) and risk management professionals will work directly with selected startups during an intensive six-hour risk analysis session, followed by a live pitch competition. Hosted by the Colorado and Pike's Peak chapters of the CPCU Society on the CU Denver campus.

Thursday, July 9 (program begins): Inclusive Impact Catalyst Program—A no-cost, three-month program is designed for traditionally underserved Denver tech founders who are preparing for funding and growth.

Sunday, July 12 (deadline): BMO Fellowship, powered by Watson Institute—Supporting economic development, financial inclusion or small business growth in your Denver community. 

Thursday, July 16 (deadline): Mining Cleantech Challenge—Connecting breakthrough technology companies with leading mining organizations seeking solutions to some of the industry's most pressing challenges. Selected finalists will have the opportunity to present directly to mining companies, investors, and industry leaders while receiving valuable feedback and partnership opportunities.

Friday, July 24 (deadline): Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Gain a deeper understanding of the commercialization process, test your ideas with real potential customers and accelerate your journey toward bringing your idea to market. This workshop is for for anyone from a research or community institution—not just CU—motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact. Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region.

July 27, Nov. 4, March 4 (deadlines) | U.S. National Science Foundation’s Pilot Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs—Supports startups and small businesses developing scientific tools and technologies that advance discovery and strengthen the U.S. research enterprise.

July 27, Nov. 4, March 4 (deadlines) | U.S. National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs—Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security: Supports startups and small businesses in transforming high-risk technologies into products and services that drive innovation, economic growth and jobs. Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation: Supports startups and small businesses developing scientific tools and technologies that advance discovery and strengthen the U.S. research enterprise.

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.