CU Boulder hosts showcases highlighting breakthrough innovations and investment-ready ventures
Venture Partners at CU Boulder and its partners across the Intermountain West once again demonstrated the power of university innovations with back-to-back startup showcases for the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator and Destination Startup. Both provided a platform for cutting-edge startups, breakthrough research and high-growth potential ventures to connect university innovation with industry leaders and investors.
Entrepreneurs bring university innovations to market
Embark is CU Boulder's deep tech startup creator for matching entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations. With various CU Boulder technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks out motivated entrepreneurs in a competitive application process to join the Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) cohort. The program then provides IP rights, salary support, grant funds, startup acceleration resources and investor introductions to selected applicants.
“In just eight months,” said Amy Dodenhoff, director of venture development at Venture Partners, at the event, “these entrepreneurs have taken technologies invented in the lab and launched these companies. That’s incredible.”
The entrepreneurial community and investors gathered at the showcase to see these startups pitch for the first time. The groundbreaking innovations included new dietary ingredients that could fight inflammation and weight gain with beneficial bacteria (Kioga, pitched by EIR Justin Whiteley) and a new “secret sauce” for creating bioplastics that beats the competition by fully biodegrading in natural environments like oceans and landfills (Ecovaleric, pitched by EIR Roberta Leão).
The event ended with the pitch by Co-EIRs Makenna Morck and Alec Santiago, who walked away with a surprise $1,000 audience choice prize. Their company is developing a breakthrough solution for drug discovery, a “shape-shifting cyclic peptide,” that would allow drug makers to create new treatments for various, even untreatable, diseases.
“Like the other teams today,” Morck said while accepting the prize, “I want to thank the Venture Partners team for this opportunity and all of the [EIRs]; it’s been an honor working with everyone.”
This year’s showcase rounds out the second cohort of the new Embark program, and Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners, alluded to even more success to come.
“We are so excited to see the success of this year’s cohort today,” she said, “and to see international interest from universities looking to launch their own Embark or Embark-like programs.”
The application for the third cohort of Embark is expected to open in the fall of 2025.
Embark was presented with financial support from Cooley.
The best of the Intermountain West innovation ecosystem
Are you an investor or researcher looking to bring the next great breakthrough to market? Learn more about getting involved with Destination Startup, a collaboration among leading research universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West to showcase the best companies from our innovation ecosystem.
Destination Startup is a collaboration among leading research universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West to showcase the best companies from the innovation ecosystem. Hosted by Venture Partners, the showcase demonstrates a powerful way to invest in and get funding for innovative research to translate it into impactful business ventures.
“The startups that have come through Destination Startup have raised more than $1.2 billion to date,” Dodenhoff said. “This year’s showcase was invite-only to maximize networking opportunities, and all of this year’s companies are actively raising funding.”
Companies from CU Boulder included Darwin Biosciences—which emerged in 2020 with a COVID-19 saliva test—where CEO Nicholas Meyerson unveiled a new bedside, saliva-based diagnostic tool to detect sepsis, and PAGE Technologies—a recent recipient of one of the first translational research grants from the NSF CO-WY Climate Resilience Engine—where CEO Elliot Strand pitched a cost-effective soil sensor for agriculturalists and environmentalists to monitor and improve soil health.
As energy storage needs grow from consumer electronics to decarbonizing the energy grid, three companies—Flow Aluminum (University of New Mexico), Otoro Energy and Mana Battery (both from CU Boulder)—presented new battery technologies and Doug Campbell, former CEO and co-founder of CU Boulder battery spinout Solid Power, gave the showcase’s keynote address.
Over the past six years, Destination Startup has hosted over 100 startup companies, and nearly a thousand investors, business leaders and innovators have attended. It remains critical to CU Boulder’s expanding innovation ecosystem, providing early-stage ventures with the exposure and connections needed to scale.
The startup application for Destination Startup is expected to open in the fall of 2025.
Destination Startup was presented with financial support from Cooley, J.P. Morgan, Foley Hoag, Cozen O’Connor, NOD Law and TriNet Group.
“A massive societal impact”
The back-to-back showcases reaffirmed CU Boulder’s role as a national leader in deep tech startups. From the new approach of Embark to the investment-readiness of Destination Startup, these programs exemplify the university’s commitment to translating research into real-world impact.
“With deep tech, there’s a massive societal impact,” said Ajay Rayasam of Osage University Partners during the investor panel at Destination Startup. “Whether that’s a drug that cures disease or a technology that reduces emissions, that’s possible here. And we know that university spinouts from the 1940s to today have had a massive impact.”
2024-25 Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator Startups
TerraMan Technologies
CEO: Nick Manuzak (Alum: CU Boulder Business)
PI: Wil Srubar (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering College of Engineering and Applied Science)
TerraMan Technologies is developing a process to help bioorganic building materials cure at an accelerated rate while sequestering additional carbon, making green building more cost competitive.
Colexible Technologies
CEO: C.J. Whelan
PI: Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
Colexible Technologies specializes in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge flexible electronics. Our components and devices offer unparalleled stretching, bending and durability in wearable devices, automotive components and industrial electronics.
Ecovaleric
CEO: Roberta Leão
PI: Adam Holewinski (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering)
Ecovaleric is pioneering a breakthrough electrochemical process that converts plant-derived feedstocks into high-performance biodegradable polymers, bioplastics, green chemicals and biofuels. This replaces fossil-based alternatives, enabling a circular economy and accelerating the transition to sustainable manufacturing. Visit the Ecovaleric Website
EerDx
CEO: Bart Emery
PI: Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
EerDx is reinventing the sleep diagnostic experience for patients and physicians using earbud flexible biosensors that move full sleep lab capabilities to the home. EerDx is led by Bart Emery, a two-time CU alum and experienced venture capitalist passionate about improving healthcare for all.
Endios Bio
CEO: Wendy Overton
PI: Alexandra Whiteley (CU Boulder Biochemistry)
Endios Bio is developing breakthrough therapeutics for rare neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the newly discovered impacts of the gene peg10, which was recently linked to ALS and Angelmans and has druggable potential. Visit the Endios Website
IntraLumenus
CEO: Jesse M. Sheppard (Alum: CU Denver Business, CU Boulder Business)
PI: Mark Rentschler (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering)
IntraLumenus is revolutionizing interventional endoscopy with its flexible robotic endoscope. Offering unparalleled precision, stability and control, our device reduces technical complexity and procedure times, enabling more endoscopists to perform advanced procedures, all while improving patient outcomes.
WindSenseAI
CEO: Aoife Henry
PI: Lucy Pao (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering)
WindSenseAI* (formerly FOWTech) specializes in advanced control systems for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) and Floating Wind Farms. Our innovative technology manages seven degrees of freedom (DOFs) of floating platforms and AI to optimize the position of a fleet of turbines in a wind farm, improving power output and reducing maintenance costs.
*WindSenseAI was presented at the Embark Showcase by Embark EIR George Douaire
Kioga
CEO: Justin Whiteley
PI: Christopher A. Lowry (Integrative Physiology); Noah Fierer (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
Kioga is discovering and commercializing new dietary ingredients to "vaccinate" consumers against stress and metabolic disorders by targeting brain and body inflammation. CEO and Cofounder Justin Whiteley is cofounder of Meati Foods and served as chief science and technology officer. Visit the Kioga Website
Kitsune Bio
CEO: Makenna Morck (Alum: CU Boulder Biochemistry)
COO: Alec Santiago
Principal Investigator (PI): Michael Stowell (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology)
Kitsune Bio (previously Aatxe Therapeutics) is transforming drug discovery with shape-shifting cyclic peptides—dynamic molecules that reconfigure their structure to access and engage challenging disease targets. Our groundbreaking platform overcomes key barriers in medicine, unlocking new treatments for patients who currently have no effective options.
Longevity Escape Velocity Labs
CEO: Kylen McClintock
PI: Tom LaRocca (CU Boulder Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Laboratory)
Longevity Escape Velocity Labs (LEVL) targets the biology of aging to create novel therapeutics and personalized protocols that help people live longer and healthier. LEVL's first formulation is a fasting mimetic shown to restore older mice to youthful biomarkers by inducing levels of autophagy comparable to rapamycin. Visit the LEVL Website
2025 Destination Startup Presenters
Avesta76 Therapeutics Inc.
Avesta76 is a revolutionary biotech company that is developing cancer medications that can treat over half of all cancers safely and effectively. To do that, we have found the key to bypassing p53 mutations and deletions. We will begin first in-human clinical trials in early 2026. Visit the Avesta76 Website
Team:Ian Akash Morrison *, Co-Founder, CEO; Sanjay Awasthi, M.D., Co-Founder, Chief Research Officer; Arjun Awasthi , Co-Founder, COO
Affiliation: Texas Tech University System
Cascade Biocatalysts Inc.
Cascade Bio empowers enzymes to change how molecules are made. Our product extends enzyme lifespans in chemical processes, lowering the cost of sustainable biomanufacturing. Over 20 companies have paid to try our product across pharmaceuticals, foods, recycling, specialty chemicals and biomining. Visit the Cascade Bio Website
Team:Alex Rosay *, Co-Founder, CEO; James Weltz (Alum: CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Darwin Biosciences Inc.
Darwin Biosciences develops saliva-based diagnostics for early infection detection. Our technology identifies immune response signatures before symptoms escalate, enabling faster intervention. We aim to revolutionize infectious disease diagnostics, starting with sepsis. Visit the Darwin Website
Team: Nicholas Meyerson *, CEO, Co-Founder; Sara Sawyer, Director, Co-Founder (CU Boulder BioFrontiers Institute)
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
EerDx Inc.
EerDx uses earbud sleep diagnostics to transform how we diagnose and treat the 100 million Americans with sleep disorders. By delivering advanced clinical-grade sensors in a consumer earbud factor that a patient can easily use at home, EerDx is making home sleep testing cool! Visit the EerDx website
Teams:Bart Emery *, CEO, Co-Founder; Samir Chabra , CTO, Co-Founder
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Flow Aluminum Inc.
Flow Aluminum develops Aluminum-CO2 batteries for grid storage, microgrids and defense, offering extreme temperature performance (-40°C to 170°C), enhanced safety and CO2 utilization. Safer and cheaper than lithium-ion, our rechargeable system enables carbon removal and sustainable energy storage at scale. Visit the Flow Website
Team: Chris Fetrow , Co-Founder, Chief Scientist; Tom Chepucavage , Co-Founder, CEO; Simit Shah , COO/CFO
Affiliation: University of New Mexico
Icarus Quantum Inc.
Quantum computers are yet to reach the size and scale required to unlock their true potential in exponential processing power. Icarus Quantum develops efficient and scalable quantum interconnects, providing scalability to quantum computers through modularity. Visit the Icarus Website
Team:Poolad Imany *, CEO, Founder; Fateme Mahdikhany , Photonics Engineer; Mohammad Habibur Rahaman , Device Engineer; Bradley Werner , Advisor; Shuo Sun , Advisor; Alisa Javadi , Advisor
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Illumen Therapeutics Inc.
Illumen Therapeutics is pursuing a p53 moonshot to transform cancer treatment by pioneering the development of PARN inhibitor drugs that increase functional p53, known as the 'Guardian of the Genome,' to treat aggressive cancers and improve patient survival. Visit the Illumen Website
Team: Bob Blomquist *, CEO, Co-Founder; Roy Parker (CU Boulder BioFrontiers Institute), Co-Founder, Advisor; Brian Williams , CFO; Jim Winkler , Interim CSO
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Latimer Controls Inc.
Latimer Controls provides a software solution that addresses the critical issue of solar power intermittency, enabling precise real-time control and optimization of solar output. This transforms standalone solar generation into a controllable, dispatchable and flexible resource for the power grid. Visit the Latimer Website
Team: Simon Julien * (NREL West Gate, Alum: CU Boulder Applied Mathematics) CEO, Co-Founder; Tristan Liu (Alum: CU Boulder Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences), Co-Founder; Zak Jacobs (Alum: CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-Founder.
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Mana Battery Inc.
Founded by experienced battery technologists and entrepreneurs, Mana Battery delivers on the promise of the sodium-ion battery with best-in-class cost and performance through a proprietary low-cost, fire-extinguishing electrolyte platform and a high-energy battery cell design that offers higher energy density than LFP Li-ion at half-the-cost. Visit the Mana Website
Team: Tyler Evans *, Co-Founder, CEO; Nicholas Singstock , Co-Founder, CTO; Chunmei Ban (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor; Douglas Campbell , Member of the Board of Directors; Heather A.S. Platt , Director of Materials Engineering and R&D; Peter Hosbein , Senior Cell Engineer; Salma Lira , Associate Cell Engineer; Ed Williams , Senior Business Advisor
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
OMC Thermochemistry
OMC Thermochemistry offers a low-cost, massively scalable route for the efficient, highly durable production of hydrogen or the transformation of CO2 back into useful fuels and chemicals using heat, a novel active material, and globally abundant resources within existing industrial formats and competencies. Visit the OMC Website
Team: Kent Warren (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO; Britt Boughey , Co-Founder, CEO; Patrick Vincent , Senior Process Engineer
Otoro Energy Inc.
Otoro Energy is revolutionizing long-duration energy storage with a high-efficiency, low-cost flow battery. Backed by the largest U.S. utility and over $6 million in DOE grants, our non-flammable, non-toxic technology enables safe, 10+ hour discharge, delivering reliable, scalable and cost-effective grid resilience. Visit the Otoro Website
Team: Michael Marshak (frm. CU Boulder Chemistry, RASEI)
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
PAGE Technologies Inc.
PAGE Technologies is redefining agricultural and environmental monitoring with a breakthrough analytics platform. Our proprietary printed electronics deliver real-time, ultra-low-cost data collection. With seamless API integration, PAGE enables strategic partners to scale impact and unlock new revenue opportunities. Visit the PAGE Website
Team: Elliot Strand * (CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), Co-Founder, CEO; Payton Goodrich , Co-Founder, CTO; Cameron Handeland, Lead Systems Engineer
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Paramium Technologies Inc.
Paramium is an aerospace telecom company focused on building a global network of advanced ground stations for multiband satellite connectivity. Its centralized system simplifies scheduling, connection, downloading and mission control, much like scheduling an online conference. Visit the Paramium Website
Team:Justin Hyatt , CEO, Co-Founder; Christian Davila *, CTO, Co-Founder; Ken Gyure (University of Arizona Eller College of Management), COO, Michael Martin , CFO
Affiliation: University of Arizona
TheraCea Pharma LC
TheraCea Pharma is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing a new generation of radiopharmaceutical compounds as theranostics, molecules that have both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and advanced diagnostics for detecting and treating cancers and neurological disorders. Visit the TheraCea Website
Team: Iman Daryaei *, CEO, Co-Founder; Pavel Rychetsky , Vice President of R&D; David Loynd , Fractional CFO; Justin Jeffery , Chief Business Officer; Rikki Waterhouse , Regulatory Affairs Consultant; Julian Dresler, Manager of R&D; Nathan Wright , Manager of Business Operations; Jacob Fussell, Scientist II; Caleb Brown , Business Intelligence Officer
Affiliation: University of Arizona
Tynt Technologies Inc.
Tynt’s platform technology enables real-time dynamic tinting through reversible metal electrodeposition (RME). It’s tunable by application, integrates into glass or plastic, has a wide dynamic range, neutral color, low cost and is flexible, unlocking new possibilities for smart materials. Visit the Tynt Website
Team: Ameen K. Saafir *, CEO; John Dwyer , COO; Tyler Hernandez , CTO; Michael McGehee , Chief Scientist
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
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