Events and Opportunities
Signature Programs of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Connecting the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop innovative ideas and pitch for more than $200,000 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 series of mini job fairs that connect entrepreneurially-minded CU Boulder students to high growth companies in Colorado.
CU Boulder's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Want to promote your event?
If you’d like to promote your event in the feed below, please contact karen.reid@colorado.edu or simply tag your event using the Innovation & Entrepreneurship group in CU Boulder’s Localist event calendar.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Tuesday, Nov. 10: NCI SBIR Peer Learning and Networking (PLAN) Webinar—Gain insights on how training, mentorship and networks shape the company journey.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Golden Startup Coffee—A monthly opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and community members to explore Colorado startup journeys.
Thursday, Nov. 12: Second Annual Foley Hoag Colorado Life Sciences Summit—Join CBSA and Foley Hoag for an afternoon of insights, networking and practical strategies.
Thursday, Nov. 12: Welcome to Boulder – New to Boulder’s tech and startup scene? Meet fellow community members, get connected to local resources, and make introductions at this friendly monthly gathering.
Friday, Nov. 13: RVC Angel Accelerator: Financial Proformas & Capital Strategy Workshop—Build confidence in financial projections and fundraising strategy. This hands-on workshop covers pro formas, runway, milestones, capital needs and dilution, with practical discussion for both investors and founders.
Friday, Nov. 13: Rural Women in Entrepreneurship (virtual)—Startup Colorado's virtual networking conversation focusing on current projects, story sharing and pooling resources to help reach the "next step" on the long entrepreneurial road ahead.
Saturday, Nov. 14: YouthBiz Marketplace 2026—Startup Colorado's 3rd annual Southeast Colorado Marketplace invites entrepreneurs aged 6-21 years to share their product or service with the community.
Tuesday, Nov. 17: CBSA Coffee + Connect—Engage with others in Colorado’s life sciences community and spark dynamic relationships with fellow innovators.
Wednesday, Nov. 18: DARPAConnect Mission Connect: Colorado Event—Meet DARPA through technical panels and research spotlights for industry, academia and emerging businesses.
Wednesday, Nov. 18: RVC November 2026 Investor Forum & Happy Hour – Hear pitches from early-stage Colorado companies, discuss investment opportunities with fellow angels, and connect over a happy hour. Open to accredited investors; there is no requirement to invest.
Wednesday, Nov. 18: Startup Colorado Virtual Demo Day—Startup Colorado's quarterly virtual pitch opportunity for Colorado founders to present their businesses to a panel of judges and audience of community members.
Friday, Nov. 20: RVC Angel Accelerator: Valuations Workshop – Learn how to value early-stage companies through hands-on practice with five valuation methods, cap tables and exit scenarios. Designed for investors and founders learning side by side.
Wednesday, Dec. 2: CBSA's Thought Leadership Series: Financing—Exploring emerging trends, challenges and strategies for success in a changing environment.
Monday, Dec. 7: Startup Colorado’s Open Door Discovery Session (virtual)—A quarterly session will walk you through Startup Colorado’s current and upcoming programs, resources, and opportunities.
Wednesday, Dec. 9: RVC 2026 Investor Forum—Bringing together accredited angel investors interested in fast-growing, early-stage companies in Colorado.
Friday, Dec. 11: Colorado Startup Ski Days—Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious. Upcoming Ski Days: Jan. 15, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, March 26, April 16.
Applications
Friday, Nov. 13 (deadline): SXSW Pitch—A startup showcase event that highlights startups across selected categories, presenting them to a panel of industry experts, early adopters and investors.
Wednesday, Nov. 18 (deadline): Techstars' Spring 2027 Accelerators—$220,000 investment to fuel your growth, expert guidance and lifetime access to 11,000+ founders and investors worldwide.
Monday, Nov. 23 (deadline): Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation's (BIRD) General Program—Conditional grants up to $1.5 million for jointly developed, commercially promising technology projects between one U.S. company and one Israeli company across sectors including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, cleantech and life sciences.
Friday, Nov. 27 (deadline): XFoundry's Horizons Challenge Cohort—Explore emerging problem spaces from NASA and make the case for what real should be solved next, for Earth and for space. Open to current college students.
Dec. 4 (priority application deadline): IDEAcorps MBA Consulting Challenge—MBA students from universities across the country with Gulf South-based startups and growing businesses to develop robust SCALE-UP strategies. Sponsored by Loyola University.
January 24 (priority deadline): Watson Institute's Wells Fargo Small Business Fellowship—A fully funded program for established, growth-ready small business owners and entrepreneurs. Fellows receive expert-led entrepreneurship training, connections to capital, leadership development, committed mentorship, access to a strong peer network and long-term Alumni support.
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 2027 Trade Shows–Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.