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From University Innovation to Real-World Impact

Venture Partners at CU BoulderÌýsupports university researchers, inventors and creators in translating theirÌýgroundbreaking discoveries into new solutions, businesses and partnerships that address the world's greatest challenges.

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ApplicationsÌýOpen:ÌýNSF I-Corps Hub West programs Ìý| ÌýRegistration Open: Creative Futures Fellowship

The Venture Partners Impact


2021 Innovation & Economic Prosperity AwardÌý
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU®)

Ranked No. 1 for Startup Creation

—2025, Read More

Launched a Record-Setting 36 Startups

—2024, Read More

Ranked No. 18 for Patent Activity

—2024,

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$Ìý8Ìýbillion

impact on national economy (from 2018-2022)


$Ìý5.2Ìýbillion

impact on statewide economy (from 2018-2022)


$Ìý3.5Ìýbillion

in capital funding raisedÌýby startups commercializing CU Boulder technology (since 2018)


798+

license and option agreements signed (since 2014)


220+

startup ventures spun out of university technology


1484+

inventions disclosed (since 2014)

Subscribe to E-Newsletters

The InsiderÌýis a series of newsletters from Venture Partners featuring theÌýlatest headlines, news, events, opportunities and emerging university innovations in three editions:

Inventors andÌýResearchers (Monthly) | Community (Monthly) | Investors (Quarterly)

View the latest InsidersÌýÌýSubscribe to The Insider

Latest News and Announcements

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

I-Corps Hub West

Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop

ÌýÌýApplication Deadline Thursday, Jan. 15
ÌýÌýJan. 22-Feb. 5, Virtual Opportunity
ÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required

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


Vibrant digital artwork of a lone figure walking through a glowing, multicolored landscape at sunset, with ribbon-like light trails extending from their body and mountains framing the horizon.

Creative Futures Fellowship

ÌýÌýInformation Session, Monday, Feb. 2, 11 a.m.-noon, Chamber Hall (S102), Imig Music Building
ÌýÌýMore dates Feb.-Sept.
ÌýÌýFor CU Boulder Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty

The new CU Boulder 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 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.

Offered by Venture Partners


New Venture Challenge

ÌýÌýDeadline Friday, Feb. 6
ÌýÌýFeb.-April
ÌýÌýFor CU Boulder Faculty, Staff and Students

During this multi-round, multi-event entrepreneurial competition, teams can win a share of more than $200,000 and pitch to a live audience at the Boulder Theater. Participants can compete in one of two NVC categories: Deep Tech Category, for ventures based on scientific or technological innovations developed using fundamental scientific disciplines or Open Category, for all other ventures.

Offered by the CU Boulder Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative


ÌýÌýTuesday, Feb. 17, 5-8 p.m.
ÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required

The Variety Show is one of the best ways to engage with Colorado’s Front Range entrepreneurial community, stitching together the startup scene, CU Boulder, innovators from the Federal Labs, as well as technologists from incumbent technology companies.

Offered by the CU Boulder Silicon Flatirons Center


Destination Startup

Destination Startup

ÌýÌýThursday, Feb. 26, 2026, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Boulder, CO
ÌýÌýFor Startup Investors

Launched in 2018, Destination Startup® connects investors with groundbreaking startups built on novel discoveries from leading national labs and universities in the Intermountain West. Designed for deal-flow, the showcase is for active investors, who can request an invitation here. Participating startups must be actively raising and are selected through a competitive review process and robust pitch preparation. With over $1.2 billion collectively raised to date by startups likeÌýVitriVax,ÌýArpeggio Biosciences andÌýManifest Technologies, Destination Startup is for investors and founders ready to catalyze real-world impact.

Hosted by Venture Partners


I-Corps Hub West

Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program

ÌýÌýApplication Deadline Tuesday, May 5
ÌýÌýMay 12-June 23, Virtual Opportunity
ÌýÌýAll Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required

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