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 CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder 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.
CU Boulder's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
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, Nov. 20: —Celebrating the collective progress of the ASCEND Engine’s innovation ecosystem—spanning research, commercialization, and workforce development efforts across Colorado and Wyoming.Ìý
Tuesday, Dec. 2:Ìý—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
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. 4: —Join industry leaders and innovators for an evening recognizing excellence in Colorado’s cleantech community, celebrating the technologies and entrepreneurs shaping a cleaner energy future.
Thursday, Dec. 4:Ìý—A monthly dinner founded to introduce a diverse set of CEOs (across backgrounds, stages and markets) to one another to share their experiences and receive outside perspectives.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: —A half-day symposium bringing together leaders, investors and innovators from across Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem, centered on the EY Biotech and Medtech Reports, cornerstone analyses that reveal the realities behind industry headlines.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: —An opportunity for entrepreneurs to practice giving presentations and get constructive feedback from the local startup community.
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.
Thursday, Dec. 11:Ìý—For anyone interested in technologies.
Tuesday, Dec. 16:Ìý—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Wednesday, Dec. 17: —Offering local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, investors and peers.Ìý
Wednesday, Dec. 17: —An opportunity for entrepreneurs to practice giving presentations and get constructive feedback from the local startup community.
Thursday, Dec. 18: —Welcoming anyone new to the Denver 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 Denver.
Friday, Dec. 12: —Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious.
Tuesday, Dec. 30:Ìý—This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Friday, Jan. 16: —Join the Colorado startup community on the mountain! Open to founders, operators, investors and the startup-curious. Upcoming Ski Days: Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 27 and April 17.
Applications
Monday, Nov. 25 (deadline): —A²Ô 8-week in-person accelerator providing selected AI-centric startups with first-check investment, founder-led mentorship, weekly workshops and access to a lifelong founder community in New York City.
Monday, Dec. 1 (deadline): —A a five-month virtual accelerator providing expert mentorship, investor exposure and hands-on commercialization support. Finalists compete live at major industry events for funding, awards,and visibility. Focus on medical technology, life science tools, diagnostics and digital health.Ìý
Monday, Dec. 1 (deadline): —Seeking top early- and mid-stage startups inÌýlife sciences tools and enabling technologies.Ìý
Friday, Dec. 5 (deadline): Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator—An accelerator for research teams building deep tech startups coming out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
Sunday, Feb. 1 (deadline): —Based at the , Runway ushers recent PhDs in digital technology fields from an academic mindset to an entrepreneurial outlook.
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.