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.
Showcases Oct. 21 and 22
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 Boulder Sustainability Research Summit
Oct. 8-9 University Memorial Center (UMC), CU Boulder Campus All Are Welcome — CU Affiliation Is Not Required Get Free Tickets
The inaugural Sustainability Research Summit is a two‑day event highlighting the diversity and depth of our campus's sustainability research. Free and open to the public, the summit aims to foster connections among researchers and with external partners across the Front Range and beyond.
Offered by the CU Boulder Sustainability Research 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 Industry Research Partnerships, Venture Partners 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.
Dennis J. Pretti
Senior Member of Technical Staff
Micron Technology Inc.
Dennis Pretti received a BS in electrical engineering from CU Boulder in 1995. He began his career at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho, the same year as a parametric test device engineer in the company's high-volume manufacturing facility, a role he held until 2000. From 2000 to 2022, Dennis designed parametric test devices supporting process development within technology development. During this period, he developed and led a team of test device design engineers from 2000 to 2013. From 2013 to 2019, his work focused on CMOS automation, test device quality and optical design quality. Between 2019 and 2022, he led test device and optical design roadmap pathfinding initiatives. In 2022, Dennis shifted his focus to STEM outreach, K-12 education engagement, university technical partnerships, the co-development, ongoing support and communication of Micron's Educator Hub and the development of technical engagement and career pipeline opportunities for Micron team members.
Dennis joined the Technical Leadership Program (TLP) community in 2015 as a senior member of technical staff and has since served in a variety of leadership, mentoring, innovation and technical expert roles. In 2018, he became Micron's technical ambassador for CU Boulder, a role he still holds today. An active contributor to the university community, Dennis has served on the CU Boulder Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE) External Advisory Board since 2022 and on the Engineering Advisory Council since 2024. He holds one U.S. patent and has authored five publications. His contributions to industry and higher education engagement have been recognized through the CU Boulder ECEE Alumni Engagement Medal in 2025 and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2026.
His involvement in technical engagement and STEM outreach has provided some of the most meaningful experiences and cherished memories of his 31-year professional career.
Sarah Hughes
Director of the Center for Translational Research
CU Boulder
Kelly Fleming
Assistant Director for Industry Research Partnerships
CU Boulder
Kelly Fleming is assistant director for industry research partnerships at CU Boulder, where she works at the intersection of academic research and industry to build meaningful collaborations that move the needle on technology development. Her work focuses on advanced energy and sustainability.
Kelly brings deep expertise in clean energy and the energy transition, spanning power grid modernization, low-carbon fuels and the electrification of transportation. Her career has spanned academia, industry, government and nonprofit sectors, giving her experience in each and bringing diverse stakeholders to the table. She has held roles at the Federation of American Scientists, Boundary Stone Partners and the Policy Institute at the University of California, Davis, an affiliate of the Institute of Transportation Studies.
Kelly served as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, an experience that deepened her understanding of how policy, research and industry must work in concert to drive the energy transition forward.
Kelly holds a PhD and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and a BS in chemical and biochemical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
Research & Innovation Seed Grant Program
Application Deadline: Monday, Oct. 12 Team-Based Proposals of Two or More CU Boulder Faculty Investigators Apply Now
Funding bold, interdisciplinary projects with strong potential for intellectual advancement and societal impact. Awards of up to $60,000 over 18 months support innovative research and cross-disciplinary partnerships designed to catalyze new knowledge and attract follow-on funding.
Offered by the CU Boulder Research & Innovation Office
Lab Venture Challenge Showcases
Physical Sciences: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6-8:30 p.m. | Biosciences: Thursday, Oct. 22, 6-8:30 p.m. Dairy Arts Center, Boulder All Are Welcome — CU Affiliation Is Not Required Get Free 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 six-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
*Friday, Oct. 9 (Deadline) | March 12-18 | U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) CBRN-Capability Operational User Trial 2027 (SCOUT 27) — Seeking nominations of early-stage concepts and prototypes for warfighter evaluation.
*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.
*Sunday, Nov. 8 (Deadline) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2026 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation — Six-month, $100,000 proof-of-concept awards for small businesses tackling clean and safe water, air quality, circular economy and safer chemicals.
*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.
*Tuesday, Dec. 15 (Deadline) | University of Central Florida's (UCF) National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) — $1-3.75 million in milestone-based awards, mentoring and investor access for six to eight deep tech National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR/STTR Phase II/IIB awardees.
*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
*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
Mondays, Oct. 5-Nov. 9, Boulder, Colorado | Colorado BioScience Institute Foundations of Leadership — Six-week professional development program for emerging leaders in life sciences combining in-person and virtual sessions.
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.
Monday, Nov. 2 (Deadline) | Breakthrough Energy (BE) Fellows Cohort 7 — A full-time, one-year Innovator Fellowship accelerating early-stage technologies that could reduce or capture at least 500 million tons of greenhouse gases per year or meaningfully address climate adaptation.
Thursday, Nov. 5 (Monthly, first Thursday), Virtual Event |U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) I-Corps Teams Webinar — A recurring webinar covering eligibility, team composition, curriculum and the application process for the National I-Corps Teams program, open to researchers who have worked on an NSF grant in recent years.
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
Tuesday, Oct. 13, Boulder, Colorado | Boulder Chamber's Funding & Incentive Showcase: Supporting Your Deep Tech Business — The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) shares state incentives and funding for deep tech businesses, including Boulder's new CHIPS Zone.
Tuesday, Oct. 20, Chicago, Illinois | World Business Chicago's Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health — Bringing founders, investors, corporate leaders and health care organizations together for networking and deal flow across life sciences, digital health and medical devices. Apply for the Startup Portfolio
Nov. 14 (Deadline) | May 4, Cambridge, Massachusetts | Science2Startup (S2S) Symposium — Academic researchers can submit one-page therapeutic startup ideas for a chance to present to leading biotech investors and executives, with mentorship from matched advisors.
Nov. 14 (Deadline) | May 4, Cambridge, Massachusetts | Science2Startup (S2S) Symposium — Academic researchers can submit one-page overviews of therapeutic startup ideas for a chance to present to leading biotech investors, with mentorship from matched advisors.
Tuesday, Dec. 8, Denver, CO | Colorado Cleantech's Cleantech Innovation Celebration — Honoring Colorado's most innovative and impactful cleantech companies, entrepreneurs and industry champions, with a chance to connect with top executives, investors and policymakers.
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.