Opportunities and Events
Signature Venture Partners Programming
A partnership with seven of the top research universities across the Western U.S.Ìýto reduce the time and risk associated with translating promising ideas and technologies to the marketplace.
ÌýÌýApplications 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.
ÌýÌýAccepting Support Requests
WithÌýmyriad ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks motivated entrepreneurs ready to launch new companies.
A competition for ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ's top innovations showingÌýhigh commercial potential,Ìýa clear path to a compelling marketÌýandÌýstrong scientific support.
ÌýÌýApplication Now Open
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 companiesÌýfrom the region’s innovation ecosystem to investors and the business community.
Upcoming Opportunities at CU
¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Computer Science | Sponsor a Computer Science Capstone Project
Prospective sponsors must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to propose a project before Aug. 1
Sponsored projects connect industry with senior student teams to develop custom software or hardware solutions over the course of an academic year. Sponsors gain fresh technical insight and early access to talent while helping students tackle real-world challenges in computer science. For startups, the sponsor fee is waived, and companies are just expected to cover any costs of the project itself.
¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Research & Innovation Office | Workshop: Funding Strategies in a New Federal Landscape
Friday, July 11, 10-11 a.m. MST, Virtual Event
+ More Dates Through December
Has the recent federal transition prompted you to reconsider your research funding approach? Join RIO’s Donna Axel for a fast-paced, 30-minute introduction to Pivot, internal funding opportunities, and other free tools available with your CU Login. Bring your team—faculty, staff, and students are all welcome!
Venture Partners and NSF I-Corps | Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
Sept. 3-Oct. 10, Virtual Event | Application Deadline Wednesday, Aug. 27
This four-week program helps teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation. Derived from the National Science Foundation's I-Corpsâ„¢ 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.
Venture Partners and NSF I-Corps | Therapeutics Customer Discovery Program
Oct. 7-Nov. 4, Virtual Event | Application Deadline Wednesday, Aug. 27
Do you have a therapeutic innovation that could improve lives? This program is a focused, five-week entrepreneurial training program designed to help academic researchers and early-stage biotech innovators explore the commercial potential of therapeutic technologies. Open to innovators inside and outside the University of Colorado.
¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Research & Innovation Office | Research & Innovation Seed Grant Program
Application Deadline Monday, Oct. 13
Seed Grants aim to stimulate inter- and multidisciplinary research, scholarship and creative projects with high potential for innovation and/or impact. These grants support creative, and sometimes high-risk, high-reward initiatives, including team development proposals for future large collaborative projects. Projects may take a variety of forms but should represent an investment in advancing the university’s future research, scholarly or creative activities.
Opportunities Outside CU
Friday, Aug. 8 (deadline) | —Designed to help graduate students, postdocs, researchers, and their teams explore the translational potential for their breakthrough research.
Friday, Aug. 22 (deadline) | —A six-month acceleration process for promising startups in any vertical and selected Cohort teams receive a $200,000 investment.
Aug. 27-29 | —Connecting non-space dual-use technology providers with leading commercial and government space opportunities focused on in-space manufacturing, national security initiatives and government and private sector funding.
Friday, Aug. 29 (deadline) | —Welcoming applications from startups that are developing carbontech solutions.
Sept. 8 (deadline) | Sept. 16-Oct. 14 | —For first-time leaders and scientists new to management, this workshop is designed to build the foundations of leadership by exploring the characteristics of leaders, effective communication and teamwork skills.
Sept. 15-17 | | A three-day gathering in Boulder of 1,000+ founders, mentors, partners and community leaders from across the global network.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, Jan. 20, May 19 (deadlines) | —Supporting projects that build on early translational work to refine ideas, improve solutions and reduce barriers to moving research from the lab into real-world use.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, Jan. 20, May 19 (deadlines) | —Supporting translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment.Ìý
Monday, Sept. 29 (deadline) | —Investing in and cultivating meaningful partnerships with startups focused on advancing climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency efforts, while also promoting social equality and economic prosperity, in Exelon’s service territories.
Friday, Oct. 31 (deadline) | —Seeking innovative solutions or potential new capabilities, which may include existing technologies or procedures that are not currently in use, that would improve mission capabilities.Ìý
Nov. 19-21 | —The U.S.'s premier defense innovation event, connecting top dual-use solution providers with top military, industry and investment leadership.
Sunday, March 30 | —A growth stage Accelerator that offers grants, investments and services to support product development and scaling of Cleantech, Climatech and Circular Economy technologies.
Rolling Applications
—Unshackled Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused exclusively on immigrant-founded startups.
—PromotingÌýgrowth and sustainability in Colorado’s advanced industries that increase the state's global competitiveness.
—EncouragingÌýinvestments in Colorado advanced industry businesses by incentivizing investors with state income tax credits.
—Empowering entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship, capitalÌýand a global network to help them succeed and scale their startups.
—Funding is granted through many different agencies across the federal government and in various areas of innovation.
—Offers up to two additional years of funding on a current NSF award to support high-risk, use-inspired research and early translation efforts not included in the original project.
—Expanding the capacity of builders and developers to construct and market zero emissions (all-electric) homes.
Various Deadlines
—A curated pipeline of vetted opportunities aligned with industry and national priorities from Catalyst Partners, government requirements and industry targets.
—Empowering the federal government and the public to participate together in equitable forms of innovation through prize competitions.
Employment Opportunities
—Looking for a self-starter who’s comfortable hunting for new business, managing a full sales cycle (except demos—for now), and building relationships that drive long-term customer success.
For more opportunities, please check back soon or sign up for updates.
ÌýÌýAre you a CU startup with an employment opportunity to share with the CU community? Send it to vpnews@colorado.edu for posting here. Also, you canÌýpostÌýto ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ's recruitment platform HandshakeÌýand/orÌýjoin the Startups2Students career fair.