Opportunities and Events
Signature Venture Partners Programming
A partnership with top research universities across the Western U.S. to reduce the time and risk associated with translating promising ideas and technologies to the marketplace.
Applications Now Open
A campus-wide resource for both existing and aspiring university-originated startups seeking non-dilutive funding—to translate their university inventions into a startup company.
Accepting Support Requests
With myriad CU Boulder technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks motivated entrepreneurs ready to launch new companies.
A competition for CU Boulder's top innovations showing high commercial potential, a clear path to a compelling market and strong scientific support.
An accelerator for research teams building deep tech startups coming out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
A collaboration among the Intermountain West region's leading research universities and federal laboratories, showcasing the best companies from the region’s innovation ecosystem to investors and the business community.
Creative Futures Fellowship
The new CU Boulder Creative Futures Fellowship is designed for faculty researchers, inventors and creators in the arts, humanities and social sciences. This fellowship offers grants of $5,000-$25,000, along with support and community, to transform new ideas, creative works and social innovations into positive impact beyond CU Boulder. Eligible projects must be faculty-led and focused on delivering tangible outcomes that strengthen communities, advance positive social change or create economic opportunity.
Upcoming Opportunities and Events at the University of Colorado
CU Innovation Day
Monday, Sept. 14 Denver, CO All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required Register Now
CU Innovation Day brings together founders, researchers and creative leaders from across the University of Colorado system, alongside partners for a day of real conversations, big ideas and connection.
Offered by the CU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
CU Boulder Research & Innovation Week
Oct. 12-16 Various Venues All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required View Schedule
The eighth annual Research & Innovation Week is designed to elevate awareness across campus, build a sense of shared community, create opportunities for collaboration and recognize exceptional leadership and outcomes. Join us as we highlight and shape tomorrow's leaders, showcase some of our most compelling innovations and demonstrate CU Boulder's positive impact on humanity.
Research to Impact—Funding and Industry Partnership Strategies
Oct. 14, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CU Boulder Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Community (SEEC) Building For Researchers and Inventors at CU Boulder and Deep Tech Industry Representatives Register Now
Research funding requires a diversified approach. Join CU Boulder's Venture Partners, Industry Research Partnerships and Center for Translational Research to explore practical strategies to expand beyond traditional funding sources and position research for greater impact. Faculty and research teams will gain actionable funding insights, while industry participants can discover emerging innovations, explore collaboration opportunities and provide valuable feedback to help researchers communicate the potential of their work.
Lab Venture Challenge Showcases
Physical Sciences: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6-8:30 p.m. | Biosciences: Thursday, Oct. 22, 6-8:30 p.m. The Dairy Arts Center, Boulder All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required Get Tickets
Teams of top innovators from the University of Colorado will pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience for a share of more than $1 million in grants for their early-stage projects in bio- and physical sciences with compelling market potential. Past pitches have included everything from next-generation batteries to cancer treatments, and LVC has funded 117 projects that have gone on to launch 70 startups and raise more than $691 million, including Arkana Therapeutics, Mesa Quantum and Forge Nano—CU Boulder's 11th unicorn spinout.
Offered by Venture Partners
Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop
Application Deadline Thursday, Oct. 29 Nov. 5-19 Virtual Opportunity All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required Apply Now
Do you have an innovation that could make a difference? Whether a researcher, entrepreneur, inventor or problem solver, this workshop can help you transform your concept into a successful venture. Over three weeks, 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 anyone from a research or community institution—not just CU—motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
Offered by Venture Partners and NSF I-CorpsTM Hub West
Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
Application Deadline Tuesday, May 4 May 11-June 22 Virtual Opportunity All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required Apply Now
This four-week program helps teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation. Derived from the National Science Foundation's I-Corps™ program, R2M leverages the nationally recognized Lean LaunchPad and Business Model Canvas methodologies specifically designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers from any research or community institution.
Offered by Venture Partners and NSF I-CorpsTM Hub West
Funding and Investment Opportunities
*Sept. 5, Jan. 5, April 5 (Deadlines) | U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Programs—NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Parent SBIR | NIH Parent STTR | SBIR Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award | SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program
*Thursday, Sept. 10 (Deadline) | Department of Energy (DOE) Phase I Genesis Mission Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation—Eligible small businesses may submit up to three pitches that align with one of four topics to receive an invite to submit a full proposal for an award up to $250,000.
*Friday, Sept. 25 (Deadline) | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II—Open to DOE SBIR Phase I awardees from fiscal years 2024 or 2025, and Phase II awards up to $2 million from one of six topics.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Vail | Colorado Bioscience Association (CBSA): Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor & Partnering Conference—Bringing the most promising life sciences companies from the Rocky Mountain West together with leading investors and strategic partners.
*Nov. 4; March 4; July 7, 2027 (Deadlines) | U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) 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.
*Nov. 17, May 18 (Deadlines) | U.S. National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) - Translate and Partner: Accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth, and preparing the American workforce for future high-wage jobs in STEM fields.
*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, June 4, 2027 (Deadline) | U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Multi X Office’s (MXO) Office-wide Innovative Solutions Opening—Funding to explore materials at the atomic, molecular and cellular scales to develop novel components, tools and processes with the potential to reshape the battlespace and economies of the future.
Rolling Deadlines
*U.S. National Science Foundation's Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) - Explore: A pilot translational funding track that is likely to be the first step for researchers seeking to translate their basic research to practice.
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade's (OEDIT) Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit: Encouraging third-party investments in Colorado advanced industries businesses by incentivizing investors with state income tax credits of 25% to 35% per investment up to $100,000.
Unshackled Ventures: Backing founders with outsized resilience and grit with capital, community and conviction—pre-product, pre-traction, pre-revenue, with the first check ($150,000-$750,000).
*Need support with your translational funding grant? Contact our Center for Translational Research.
Education and Development
Friday, Sept. 4 | Texas Tech Innovation Hub's Investment Readiness Program—Gain the knowledge and practical tools to successfully raise capital, build investor-ready startups and confidently navigate the startup investment ecosystem—from fundraising to angel investing.
Friday, Oct. 9 (Deadline) | LabStart—A nonprofit venture studio that matches diverse entrepreneurs with promising climate technologies from research laboratories, providing support to launch deep-tech startups.
Sunday, Oct. 18 (Registration Deadline) | Nov. 2-4, Chicago, Illinois | U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Multi X Office (MXO) Spark Tank—For prospective proposers, including overview presentations by DARPA and MXO and an opportunity for engagement with MXO managers and leadership.
Friday, Oct. 30 (Deadline) | Activate Fellowship—For entrepreneurial scientists, providing the mindsets, skills, networks and support needed to turn breakthrough hard tech into real-world impact.
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.
No Deadline
HAX Venture Fellowship—A one-year, part-time (remote) program offering hands-on experience for the next generation of hard tech founders and investors.
Networking and Showcases
Sept. 14–18, Denver, CO | Colorado Startup Week—A community-driven weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Denver, bringing together founders, investors, creatives and changemakers for hundreds of sessions, panels, workshops and networking events designed to connect and inspire Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sept. 15-17, Denver, CO | HOPE2Women's Annual Founder Summit—A three-day event to map the next twelve months, pressure-test it with women building alongside you and leave knowing exactly what you do next.
Monday, Sept. 21 (Deadline) | IEEE Photonics Society Invites Startups to Showcase Their Technologies—Open to startups developing products and solutions based on optical and photonic integrated circuits technologies.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Vail | Colorado Bioscience Association: Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor & Partnering Conference—Bringing the most promising life sciences companies from the Rocky Mountain West together with leading investors and strategic partners.
Employment Opportunities
Check back soon for opportunities.
Are you a CU startup with an employment opportunity to share with the CU community?
- Send it to vpnews@colorado.edu to reach Venture Partners audiences.
- Post to CU Boulder's recruitment platform Handshake to reach CU Boulder students and alumni.
- Join the Startups2Students career fair to reach CU Boulder students eager to join a startup.
- Send it to Wil V. Srubar, associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship, to reach CU Boulder engineering students.