Opportunities and Events
Signature Venture Partners Programming
A partnership with 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
ÌýÌýLVC and OEDIT Info Session Thursday, June 11
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 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks motivated entrepreneurs ready to launch new companies.
A competition for ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ's top innovations showingÌýhigh commercial potential,Ìýa clear path to a compelling marketÌýandÌýstrong 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.
ÌýÌýCommunity ShowcaseWednesday, June 24, 2026
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.
New! Creative Futures Fellowship
The new ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Creative Futures Fellowship is designed for faculty researchers, inventors and creators in theÌýarts, humanities and social sciences. This fellowship offers grants of $5,000-$25,000, along with support and community, toÌýtransform new ideas, creative works and social innovations into positive impact beyond ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ. Eligible projects must be faculty-led and focused on delivering tangible outcomes that strengthen communities, advance positive social change or create economic opportunity.
ÌýÌýApplication Deadline: Monday, May 11
Upcoming Opportunities and Events at the University of Colorado
ÌýÌýMay 1-15 ÌýÌýÌýVirtual Opportunity ÌýÌýÌýCU Faculty, Students and Research Service Professionals ÌýÌýÌý
This workshop series provides an overview of why and how to engage the public—everyone from reporters to your neighbor—and even with the world on social media.
Offered by CU Anschutz Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
CU at Boulder Startup Week
ÌýÌýCU Faculty, Students and Research Service Professionals
ÌýÌýMonday, May 4, Noon-1 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýCU Brand Studios
ÌýÌýMonday, May 4, 1-2 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýBoulder Associates
ÌýÌýMonday, May 4, 5-8 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýCU Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom
ÌýÌýThursday, May 7, Noon-1 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýCU Brand Studios
ÌýÌýThursday, May 7, 2-4 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýBoulder Library Canyon Theater
Offered by Boulder Startup Week
Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
ÌýÌýApplication Deadline Tuesday, May 5 ÌýÌýÌýMay 12-June 23 ÌýÌýÌýVirtual Opportunity ÌýÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required ÌýÌýÌýApply 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-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.
Offered by Venture Partners and NSF I-CorpsTM Hub West
Creative Futures Fellowship
ÌýÌýApplication DeadlineMonday, May 11 ÌýÌýÌýProjects by Faculty, Staff or Students Eligible to Serve as Principal Investigators ÌýÌýÌýApply Now
The new ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Creative Futures Fellowship is designed for faculty researchers, inventors and creators in theÌýarts, humanities and social sciences. This fellowship offers grants of $5,000-$25,000, along with support and community, toÌýtransform new ideas, creative works and social innovations into positive impact beyond ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ. Eligible projects must be faculty-led and focused on delivering tangible outcomes that strengthen communities, advance positive social change or create economic opportunity.
Offered by Venture Partners
Techstars Boulder Accelerator
ÌýÌýApplication DeadlineWednesday, June 10 ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý
Techstars is all about the founders. As the original Techstars program that helped spark a global network nearly 20 years ago, Techstars Boulder rallies the community to help exceptional founders build impactful companies. Techstars is not focused on any single industry or vertical, and backs ambitious founders building companies with the potential to scale in a big way. Each company receives funding, access to the worldwide network of investors, hands-on mentorship, and over $4 million of perks.
Offered by Techstars Boulder in Partnership with ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ
Lab Venture Challenge and Colorado State Grants Information Session
ÌýÌýThursday, June 11, 2026, noon-2 p.m. MT ÌýÌýÌýÌýVirtual Opportunity ÌýÌýÌýÌýFor those commercializing technologies from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ, CU Denver and UCCS ÌýÌýÌýRegister Now
The University of Colorado’s Lab Venture Challenge and programs from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade offer up to $250,000 in translational funding to advance laboratory research and early-stage startups, with past awardees including Manifest Technologies, Arkana Therapeutics, and many other successful CU companies. This informational session will feature program leaders and provide key timelines, eligibility criteria, best practices and direct Q&A to help attendees successfully compete for these opportunities.
Offered by Venture Partners
Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase
ÌýÌýWednesday, June 24, 2026, 4:30-7:30 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýByron R. White Stadium Club at Folsom Field, Boulder ÌýÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required ÌýÌýÌýRegister Now
The Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase brings together researchers, investors and community supporters to highlight innovative deep tech startups spinning out of the University of Colorado. Attendees will have a chance to see pitches from each of the Ascent 2026 cohort startups, followed by a networking happy hour to learn more.
Offered by Venture Partners
Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop
ÌýÌýApplication Deadline Friday, July 24 ÌýÌýÌýJuly 31-Aug. 14 ÌýÌýÌýIn Person, Boulder ÌýÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required ÌýÌýÌýApply 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
Opportunities Outside the University of Colorado
Featured Opportunities
*Wednesday, May 13 (deadline) | U.S. Department of War (fmr. Defense) Solicitations—24 topics now available for submission through this 2025 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). |
*Thursday, May 14 (deadline) | —Accepting proposals for up to $750,000 in funding for projects advancing environmental sensing and AI in Colorado and Wyoming.
*Tuesday, May 19, Sept. 15 (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, May 19, Sept. 15 (deadlines) | —Supporting translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment.Ìý
*Thursday, May 21 (deadline) | NASA Solicitations—49 SBIR Phase I subtopics and 11 STTR Phase I subtopics now available for submission through this 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Appendix A and Appendix B.
*Wednesday, June 3 (deadline) | U.S. Department of War (fmr. Defense) Solicitations—91 topics, spread across SBIR, STTR and Commercial Solutions Opening (CSOs) in this 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). | |
*(Rolling Deadline |—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.
Receiving Applications | —An incubation program to mature technologies in North American universities towards commercialization.
More Opportunities
Friday, April 17, Denver | —An opportunity to amplify your voice and showcase your brand in the evolving conversation about the future of photonics.
May 4-8, Boulder | —A conference-style event with sessions at local venues in downtown Boulder that educate attendees and provide professional networking opportunities.
Friday, May 8 (deadline) | —An annual executive immersion program that helps develop leaders ready to succeed in the advanced energy landscape.
May 12-14 | —A series of free, virtual events that connect entrepreneurs with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program, the country's largest source of early-stage research and development (R&D) funding.
Thursday, May 14, Virtual | —For entrepreneurs out of academic institutions, this session will demystify key concepts, highlight practical considerations and help you approach fundraising with greater confidence.
Monday, May 25 (deadline) | —Bringing together innovators and industry to guide early-stage companies toward pilot readiness.
Sept. 14–18, Denver | —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. 30-Oct. 2, Vail | —Bringing the most promising life sciences companies from the Rocky Mountain West together with leading investors and strategic partners.
Rolling Applications
*—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.Ìý
—Unshackled Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused exclusively on immigrant-founded startups.
—Evergreen Climate Innovations' 501vc® Investment Fund invests $250,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region of the United States.
—Expanding the capacity of builders and developers to construct and market zero emissions (all-electric) homes.
*—Funding is granted through many different agencies across the federal government and in various areas of innovation.
—Empowering entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship, capitalÌýand a global network to help them succeed and scale their startups.
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.
*Need support with your translational funding grant? Contact our Center for Translational Research.
Employment Opportunities
LumenAstra, CEO—LumenAstra is advancing a first-of-its-kind, non-invasive, real-time brain temperature sensing platform with initial applications in cardiac surgery and ICU trauma care, and future potential across human performance, defense and consumer wearables. Spun out of the University of Colorado Boulder and backed by a strong IP portfolio and promising preclinical validation, the company is seeking an experienced CEO to lead commercialization, secure FDA 510(k) clearance and translate recent technical progress into a focused commercial strategy, capital formation and early market adoption.
For more opportunities, please check back soon or subscribe 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 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ's recruitment platform HandshakeÌýand/orÌýjoin the Startups2Students career fair.