Events and Opportunities
Whether you're just curious to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship or even ready to launch your next business, we have events and opportunities throughout the year to help you make the real-world impact that you envision. Keep up to date on upcoming events, opportunities and deadlines with our newsletters:Ìý
Signature Programs of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Connecting the ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ campus with the Boulder community to developÌýinnovativeÌýideas and pitchÌýfor up toÌý$50,000 in venture funding.
Student entrepreneurs with diverse perspectives who embrace theÌýspirit of innovation and impact on campus and in the Boulder community.
A micro-funding opportunity for ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ undergraduate and graduate students that provides up to $500 in funding for entrepreneurial ideas in the making.
A mini job fair that brings entrepreneurially-minded ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ students and local Front Range startups together with a twist.
Join this collaborative event that's all about making positive changes in the world.ÌýWhether you haveÌýanÌýidea or are someone eager to help those ideas become real, this is the event you don't want to miss.
¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Oct. 27-30: ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Translational Funding Week: Unlock Funding to Move Your Research or Venture Forward—A series of engaging lunchtime sessions designed to demystify the landscape of non-dilutive funding opportunities that support the journey from lab to market.
Tuesday, Nov. 4: —A half-day workshop to prepare founders to understand many of the terms and processes used by VCs and sharpen their venture strategy.
Wednesday, Nov. 5: —A one-day innovation sprint where ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ students team up with Google professionals to tackle Colorado's most pressing climate and energy challenges.
Tuesday, Nov. 11: —A meetup for entrepreneurs, developers and investors with a focus on discussing startups, staffing, marketing and debating the hot topics of the day.
Wednesday, Nov. 12:Ìý—A monthly opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and community members to explore Colorado startup journeys.
Wednesday, Nov. 12: —Answering several key questions will helpÌýhighlight crucial considerations before you launch andÌýform the beginnings of a business plan. Hosted by Startup Colorado.
Thursday, Nov. 13: —Welcoming anyone new to the Boulder tech and startup scene. Colorado Startups will answer your questions, direct you to resources and help make introductions where appropriate. Plus you’ll meet other community members and individuals new to Boulder.
Thursday, Nov. 13: —Join Foley Hoag and the Colorado Bioscience Association for a high-energy Life Sciences Summit—an afternoon of insights, networking and practical strategies. Connect with innovators, founders and industry leaders shaping Colorado’s life sciences future.
Thursday, Nov. 13: —See the latest cohort of the XI Accelerator share demos and pitches followed by purposeful networking with founders, mentors, investors and community partners.
Thursday, Nov. 13: —Startup Colorado's virtual networking conversation focusing on current projects, story sharing and pooling resources Ìýto help reach the "next step" on the long entrepreneurial road ahead.
Monday, Nov. 17: —Learn about Startup Colorado's checklist of startup essentials from creating a simple business plan and legally registering your company to setting up your finances and landing your first customers.
Thursday, Nov. 20:Ìý—Engage with others in Colorado’s life sciences community and spark dynamic relationships with fellow innovators.
Thursday, Nov. 20: —Bringing together founders, entrepreneurs and anyone curious about the Denver (and Colorado) startup scene.
Thursday, Dec. 4: —Discover how this online certificate program is designed to open doors for professionals in Colorado’s life science ecosystem by providing critical training in Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs.
Thursday, Dec. 11: —Welcoming anyone new to the Boulder tech and startup scene. Colorado Startups will answer your questions, direct you to resources and help make introductions where appropriate. Plus you’ll meet other community members and individuals new to Boulder.
Friday, Dec. 12: —Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious.
Applications
Thursday, Oct. 30 (deadline): Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this workshop is for anyone from a research or community institution motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
Friday, Oct. 31 (deadline extended): —Participants gain access to our network of 2000+ industry leaders and partners across biotech, pharma and VC.
Friday, Oct. 31 (deadline): —Exponential Impact (XI), in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs will provide loans up to $50,000, along with mentorship and learning opportunities.Ìý
Friday, Nov. 7 (deadline): — Seeking scientists, engineers, inventors and founding entrepreneurs with promising technologies to commercialize and who are interested in embedding at NREL. The two-year program will support selected innovators with non-dilutive funding, resources and entrepreneurial mentorship.
Friday, Nov. 7 (deadline): —This two-year fellowship embeds early-stage startup founders at Argonne to help transform breakthrough science and energy technologies into impactful solutions.
Friday, Nov. 7 (deadline): —Innovation Crossroads supports and mentors entrepreneurial researchers whose early-stage innovations are presently too challenging or technically uncertain to pursue in a venture capital–financed start-up.
Applications open: –Student teams compete for more than $540,000 for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization.
Applications open: —A free expert-led cohort to help sustainability ventures. Participants will receive expert-led training, committed mentorship and pitch coaching.
Rolling Application: —A²Ô open-access, equity-free biotech accelerator for early-stage founders.
Rolling Application: –Grants that support rural entrepreneurs who are eager to level up their businesses but need a financial boost to get there.andÌýdelivering results.
Rolling Application: —ForÌýinvestors and advanced industries businesses in the amount of 25% toÌý35% per investment up to $100,000.
Rolling Application: –Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.