Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Deming Center for Entrepreneurship—From the heart of Milwaukee to the entrepreneurial epicenter of Boulder, Kyle Larson’s journey is a story of ambition and innovation. Kyle's journey began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he spent his early years until age 12. His family then relocated to Boulder, Colorado, a city they felt deeply connected to: both his father and grandfather were alumni of the University of Colorado. The city’s vibrant community and entrepreneurial spirit greatly influenced Kyle's future.

CU Boulder Today—Elevate Quantum, of which CU Boulder is a key partner, announced today that it has received a Tech Hub Phase 2 implementation award from the Department of Commerce, unlocking more than $127 million in new federal and state funding.

College of Arts & Sciences—The Infleqtion Graduate Fellowships, awarded to outstanding first-year physics graduate students at CU Boulder, support the development of future quantum scientists. These prestigious fellowships, established by the quantum tech company Infleqtion, a CU Boulder spinout, help attract top talent and provide significant financial aid, enabling students to focus on their research and career development in quantum technology.

College of Media, Communication and Information—A CMCI graduate took second place in the university’s New Venture Challenge for a company aiming to digitize how youth sports leagues hire and schedule referees.

CU Boulder Today—Researchers at CU Boulder will soon begin working on what they call the “quantum machine shop” of the 21st century. The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a $20 million grant to CU Boulder to launch a facility known as the National Quantum Nanofab (NQN). In this facility, Colorado researchers and quantum specialists from around the country will be able to design and build incredibly small devices that tap into the world of atoms and photons—the tiny packets of energy that make up light.

Colorado Leadership Stories—Meet Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, a Boettcher Scholar and tech entrepreneur who solves large-scale problems leveraging frontier technology. Maithreyi talks about how her academic experiences in engineering physics and industrial management at CU Boulder and Stanford fueled her passion to innovate. Today she is the co-founder of two companies that actively promote gender diversity in STEM entrepreneurship, including PrecisionTerra, part of the 2023 CU Boulder Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator.

CU Boulder Today—Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ushered in a new bill to support the state’s rapidly growing quantum industry. Polis signed the bill from the top floor of the JILA Tower, one of the epicenters of quantum research on campus, with a view of the Flatirons in the background.

CU Boulder Today—While scientists are continuously exploring ways to reduce fossil fuel use in these sectors, Oana Luca, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at CU Boulder, explores technologies like recycling and carbon capture to prevent carbon from ending up in the environment.

Colorado Inno—A Boulder food-tech startup walked away with a $100,000 check after winning the New Venture Challenge Final Showcase, a multi-event entrepreneurial competition. FoodWise won the grand prize after going head-to-head against four other finalists last month. The startup, co-founded by four CU undergraduates, is a software platform designed to help restaurants save money and reduce waste.

Fierce Biotech—OnKure Therapeutics, a CU Boulder spinout, has merged with Reneo Pharmaceuticals, jumping onto Wall Street with $120 million and a lead breast cancer treatment challenging the likes of Eli Lilly, Relay and Scorpion. The merged biotech will retain OnKure's name and is set to trade under the ticker “OKUR.”