The Insider: Researchers, Inventors and Creators Edition—January 2025

This monthly edition of The Insider from Venture Partners at CU Boulder delivers upcoming events, opportunities and top headlines for researchers, inventors and creators at the ��, Denver (Physical Sciences) and Colorado Springs.

View past editions��or��change your subscription. Have a news tip? Send it to vpnews@colorado.edu

Special Announcements

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Ventures putting people first at CU Boulder

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CU Startup News Venture Partners News

The �� actively incubates and supports nonprofit and for-profit ventures with broad societal impact, from far-reaching educational and wellness tools to vaccine accessibility and water security.

New fellowship for arts, humanities and social science faculty offers grants up to $25,000

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Venture Partners News

A new program providing funding, support and community for faculty teams in the arts, humanities and social sciences to transform their ideas and creative works into real-world impact.

Upcoming Opportunities and Events at the University

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Creative Futures Fellowship

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

The new CU Boulder Creative Futures Fellowship is designed for faculty researchers, inventors and creators in the��arts, humanities and social sciences. This fellowship offers grants of $5,000-$25,000, along with support and community, to��transform 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

Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop

��Application Deadline Thursday, Jan. 15
��Jan. 22-Feb. 5, Virtual Opportunity
��All 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-Corps^TM Hub West

New Venture Challenge

��Deadline Friday, Feb. 6
��Feb.-April
��For 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

More Opportunities and Events

Support for University Innovators

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Protect your discoveries before you publish them

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Venture Partners News

As a researcher, creator or inventor at the University of Colorado, your work has the potential to change the world. Protecting these innovations may be necessary to ensure that they reach their full potential, benefiting society while securing recognition and opportunities for you.

SBIR/STTR Reauthorization

Venture Partners is closely monitoring the congressional reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. If you have questions about the reauthorization, would like to share your experience or need support developing your 2026 strategy for translational funding, please contact Sarah Hughes, director of the Center for Translational Research.

More for University Innovators

Featured News

Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance

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CU Startup News CU Technology and Discovery News

Renewable And Sustainable Energy Institute—A startup team led by RASEI Fellow Oana Luca, called Agami Zero, has just secured seed funding after winning the 2025 CU Lab Venture Challenge. Their winning idea? A new way to produce hydrogen fuel more efficiently, a key mechanism for decarbonizing our energy economy.

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CU Boulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

Categories:

CU Technology and Discovery News

CU Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science—In 2025, CU Boulder celebrated its first awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports transformative health and biomedical breakthroughs. ARPA-H was founded in 2022 with a mission to fast-track “high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.”

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CU Boulder researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

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CU Technology and Discovery News

News-Medical.Net—�� researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.

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Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

Categories:

CU Technology and Discovery News

CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—The technology, published in the journal Arthroscopy Techniques, completely transforms arthroscopic procedures in the hip region, making them safer and more efficient than ever before.

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Opportunities Outside the University

Featured Opportunities

Tuesday, 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, Jan. 20, May 19 (deadlines) | —Supporting translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment.

More Opportunities

Thursday, Jan. 15 (deadline) | —Calling on innovators to develop and demonstrate the next generation of fiber-based systems that are responsive, tailorable and scalable.

Friday, Jan. 16 (deadline) | —A six-month cleantech startup incubation program offering intensive curriculum, founder coaching, networking, pilot support and investor readiness to accelerate commercialization and growth in Los Angeles and beyond.

Friday, Jan. 16 (deadline) | —Seeking technologies that measure, predict, mitigate or reduce workplace fatigue, with selected innovators showcasing at the NSC Spring Safety Congress & Expo.

March 30-April 3 | —A dynamic gathering of cleantech innovators, policy makers, corporate leaders, and investors driving actionable change.

More Opportunities Outside CU

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