Venture Partners News

Job Posting: Executive Assistant

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:36:34 +0000

Job Posting: Executive Assistant Daniel Corbin … Tue, 01/07/2025 - 15:36

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) is seeking applicants for the role of RIO Executive Assistant. This position provides essential administrative support to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Partnerships and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Development and Strategic Initiatives.

Off

Traditional

White

Application open for startups and teams to present at the 2025 Destination Startup Investor Showcase

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:26:04 +0000

Application open for startups and teams to present at the 2025 Destination Startup Investor Showcase Daniel Corbin … Tue, 12/10/2024 - 15:26

Destination Startup brings groundbreaking startups built on novel discoveries from top national labs and universities together with investors from throughout North America to catalyze real-world impact. This showcase demonstrates a powerful way to invest in and get funding for innovative research and translate it into impactful business ventures.

Off

Traditional

White

CU Boulder releases quantum workforce roadmap for economy’s next big thing

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:46:01 +0000

CU Boulder releases quantum workforce roadmap for economy’s next big thing Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/31/2024 - 12:46

CU Boulder Today—A new workforce roadmap released this week aims to train, prepare and inspire the next generation of quantum workers and the general public in Colorado and the Mountain West.

Off

Traditional

White

$1.25M awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:10:46 +0000

$1.25M awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/28/2024 - 15:10

Daniel Leonard

Fourteen teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Interested in the 2025 LVC?

LVC supports CU projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support.

Learn More

Through LVC, top innovators from CU Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants of up to $125,000. LVC supports projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners at CU Boulder and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. Ten awards were granted this year for a total of $1,250,000.

This culminating event for these groundbreaking teams showcased the university’s initiative to support innovators from discovery to economic success. LVC is run by Venture Partners at CU Boulder, the university’s commercialization arm and central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. As part of the LVC program, all the competitors worked with Venture Partners to protect their innovations and practice their funding pitches for business audiences. LVC awardees will continue to work and collaborate with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain,“ said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and senior licensing manager at Venture Partners. “All of these teams have promising innovations ready to launch new businesses. LVC is a unique opportunity for those innovators to receive that vital funding, and we’re proud to work with the State of Colorado to make it happen..”

To date, LVC has funded over 117 projects through 64 new deep-tech startup companies; collectively, these companies have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.

Applications for the next LVC will open in July 2025.

This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Wilson Sonsini, Cooley and Cozen O'Connor.

2024 Physical Sciences $125,000 Winners

Winners of the physical sciences competition from left to right: Gerry Conroy, Gregor P. Henze and Galen Williams of WHISPER Energy; Joshua Bennett, director of the Lab Venture Challenge (LVC); Roberta Leão of EcoValeric Innovations; Anthony Straub, Kian Lopez of OsmoPure Technologies; Gregory Whiting, Taylor Sharpe of Tierra Metrics; Thomas R. Schibli of Mode-Locked Laser Technology. Photo: Keanan Wilson.

EcoValeric Innovations

EcoValeric's invention is an electrochemical process that converts biomass-based levulinic acid into 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA), a versatile intermediate for producing biodegradable plastics, biofuels and green solvents. This scalable, renewable process reduces reliance on fossil fuels while enhancing sustainability. Visit EcoValeric's website

Roberta Leão (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Adam Holewinski (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): PI
Will Lucas: CTO

Mode-Locked Laser Technology

This groundbreaking mode-locked laser technology overcomes the limitations of existing systems and is suitable for harsh environments. These systems excel in applications that require the best phase noise performance in a small and efficient device. Applications include PNT and RF instrumentation.

Thomas R. Schibli (CU Boulder Physics): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Chris Singer (Alum: CU Boulder Business): Business Development
Christopher B. Oei: Product Design, Advanced Manufacturing

OsmoPure Technologies

OsmoPure is introducing a membrane for ultrapure water production tailored to the stringent demands of electronics, aerospace and green hydrogen sectors. The technology uses distillation driven by pressure, rather than heat, to produce high-purity product water with ten times higher energy efficiency. Visit the OsmoPure website

Kian Lopez (PhD student, CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Anthony Straub (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI)
Nadia Jorgenson (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Director of R&D

WHISPER Energy

WHISPER Energy is a wireless, battery-free sensor platform for smart buildings. It uses machine learning to cut energy consumption by 30%+, providing real-time data to optimize energy use and reduce emissions. Developed with a $2 million ARPA-E grant, it advances zero emissions economically and efficiently. Visit the WHISPER website

Galen Williams (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): Co-Founder and CEO
Gregor P. Henze (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, RASEI): PI and Co-Founder
Gerry Conroy: Technical Lead and Advisor

Tierra Metrics

Tierra Metrics' novel high-spatial density sensor innovation will enable real-time characterization of the soil nitrogen cycle which will help growers, land managers and others to improve efficiency and profitability, as well as improve soil health and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Visit the Tierra Metrics website

Gregory Whiting (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Taylor Sharpe (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) Chief Engineer
Whendee Silver: Co-Founder
Ana Claudia Arias: Co-Founder

2024 Biosciences $125,000 Winners

Winners of the biosciences competition from left to right: Emmalee Biesiada of Sterio3; Eva Yao of Flari Tech; Tanya Warnecke of Codebreaker; Jesse M. Sheppard of IntraLumenus; Makenna Morck, Alec Santiago, Michael Stowell of Kitsune Bio. Photo: Keanan Wilson.

Codebreaker

Codebreaker is building a platform for generating variant genomes at scale in an AI framework that drives variant genome design and machine learning to generate significance maps broadly across human disease and drug response.

Ryan Layer (BioFrontiers Institute: PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Ryan T. GIll: CEO
Tanya Warnecke: CTO
Jordan Abbott: KOL-Collaborator

Flari Tech

Flari Tech is building a laser-based breathalyzer to detect lung cancer noninvasively and rapidly with high sensitivity. Powered by CU's Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb, it would empower healthcare providers, patients and researchers in lung cancer prevention, treatment and monitoring. Read more about Flari

Eva Yao (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jun Ye (CU Boulder Physics, JILA): PI
Qizhong Liang (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Technical Lead
Apoorva Bisht (PhD student, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Research Assistant

Kitsune Bio

Kitsune Bio enhances the structural adaptability of cyclic peptides, improving their ability to bind, inhibit and access challenging intracellular targets. This unique platform unlocks new opportunities for treating complex diseases and improving patient outcomes.

Makenna Morck (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Alec Santiago (CU Boulder Embark EIR): COO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Michael Stowell (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology): PI

IntraLumenus

Let’s never cut open a patient again. IntraLumenus is a treaded robotic capsule endoscope that travels through the colon under its own power, provides localization and mapping, and dual channel tool access, enabling colorectal procedures to be performed intraluminally, or from within the colon.

Jesse M. Sheppard (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Mark Rentschler (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI

SteriO3

Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) provides rapid, low-resource sterilization of microbial contaminants. With adaptable configuration capabilities, PEGI will be engineered into compact, portable units for low-temperature sterilization of surgical equipment, including 3D-printed implants. Visit the SteriO3 website

Emmalee Biesiada (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI), LVC Pitch Presenter
Steve Hughes: CEO
Mark Hernandez (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Chief Scientific and Project Advisor

Vesicle Therapeutics

The Vesicle team is developing a proprietary STAT3 isoform-selective antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) using novel thiomorpholino chemistry (TMO) for the treatment of head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer type, with a low survival rate due to poor responsiveness to treatments.

Xuedong Liu (CU Boulder Biochemistry): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Donna Peak: CEO
Curtis Woodard: COO
Gan Zhang: CTO
Marvin H. Caruthers (CU Boulder Biochemistry): Collaborator

Fourteen teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC).

Off

Traditional

White

CU Boulder research funding more than doubled in the last decade

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:57:44 +0000

CU Boulder research funding more than doubled in the last decade Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/14/2024 - 11:57

Daily Camera—Research funding at the University of Colorado Boulder has more than doubled in the last decade, increasing by about $391 million. There were 35 CU Boulder-affiliated startup companies this last fiscal year compared to 10 the year before.

Off

Traditional

White

We went to a startup symposium at the University of Colorado. We saw these nine cool startups. We said “wow” a lot.

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:37:55 +0000

We went to a startup symposium at the University of Colorado. We saw these nine cool startups. We said “wow” a lot. Daniel Corbin … Fri, 10/11/2024 - 13:37

Colorado Public Radio—The pace of innovation and spin-off companies at the four-campus system is accelerating, particularly in the fields of health and bioscience, quantum, cybersecurity, aerospace, climate innovation, the outdoors and the food and beverage industries. The university system has 80 innovation and business accelerator programs that give patent legal, and financial support to budding entrepreneurs.

Off

Traditional

White

Colorado is on track to becoming the nation’s climate tech hub

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:01:57 +0000

Colorado is on track to becoming the nation’s climate tech hub Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/10/2024 - 16:01

CU Boulder Leeds School of Business—It’s common to think climate tech is synonymous with the Bay Area, however, Colorado is rapidly becoming a new hot spot. Why Colorado? Home to 24 federally funded scientific labs, like NOAA, NREL and NCAR, and major research institutions like CU, CSU and Colorado School of Mines, Colorado is a ‘hub of climate research and technical expertise.’

Off

Traditional

White

Be bolder: What leaders can learn from CU Boulder’s successes in research, innovation, and football

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:50:11 +0000

Be bolder: What leaders can learn from CU Boulder’s successes in research, innovation, and football Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:50

Fast Company—The University of Colorado system was recently ranked fifth in the nation in startup creation, launching more than 20 companies in a year. And the National Academy of Inventors also ranked CU 14th in the country for patent activity, reflecting “the strength of CU-led discoveries and their potential to be translated into society-benefiting technologies with the support of CU’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Off

Traditional

White

CU researchers to compete for share of $1.25M in grant funding to bring bio- and physical-sciences innovations to market

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:13:05 +0000

CU researchers to compete for share of $1.25M in grant funding to bring bio- and physical-sciences innovations to market Daniel Corbin … Wed, 10/02/2024 - 10:13

Fourteen teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases. Judges from Venture Partners at CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

2024 LVC Showcases

Physical Sciences Showcase: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 5:30-8 p.m.

Biosciences Showcase: Thursday, Oct. 24, 5:30-8 p.m.

Founder Central by Sweater, 2000 Central Ave #100, Boulder

Learn More and Register

LVC is run by Venture Partners, one of the university’s commercialization arms and a central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. LVC finalists are working and collaborating with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

To date, LVC has funded 107 projects through 54 new deep-tech startup companies, which collectively have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.

Members of the entrepreneurial and university communities are invited to attend the LVC Showcases to enjoy good food, network and see which teams will walk away with $125,000 of funding.

This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Wilson Sonsini, Cooley and Cozen O'Connor.

2024 Physical Sciences Finalists

Colexible

Colexible's liquid metal printed circuit board technology offers deformable, stretchable and affordable electronic assemblies that address the challenges that current rigid PCBs face with emerging technologies, such as wearable electronics, virtual/augmented reality and collaborative robots.

Jianliang Xiao (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI
C.J. Whelan (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO
Kris Obernyer: Chief Product Officer

EcoValeric Innovations

Roberta Leão (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Adam Holewinski (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): PI
Will Lucas: CTO

InfraInform

I2M-B is an end-to-end AI-based software tool that integrates cutting-edge temporal deep learning techniques with novel operations research methodologies to address the lack of an optimized, predictive and proactive approach for cost-efficient bridge and culvert maintenance planning.

Farnoush Banaei-Kashani (CU Denver Computer Science and Engineering): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Moatassem Abdalla (CU Denver Civil Engineering): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Kevin Rens: Co-Investigator, Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Mode-Locked Laser Technology

Thomas R. Schibli (CU Boulder Physics): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Chris Singer (Alum: CU Boulder Business): Business Development
Christopher B. Oei: Product Design, Advanced Manufacturing

OsmoPure Technologies

Kian Lopez (PhD student, CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Anthony Straub (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI)
Nadia Jorgenson (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Director of R&D

WHISPER Energy

Galen Williams (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): Co-Founder and CEO
Gregor P. Henze (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, RASEI): PI and Co-Founder
Gerry Conroy: Technical Lead and Advisor

Tierra Metrics

Gregory Whiting (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Taylor Sharpe (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) Chief Engineer
Whendee Silver: Co-Founder
Ana Claudia Arias: Co-Founder

2024 Biosciences Finalists

Aatxe Therapeutics

Aatxe Therapeutics enhances the structural adaptability of cyclic peptides, improving their ability to bind, inhibit and access challenging intracellular targets. This unique platform unlocks new opportunities for treating complex diseases and improving patient outcomes.

Makenna Morck (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Alec Santiago (CU Boulder Embark EIR): COO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Michael Stowell (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology): PI

Codebreaker

Ryan Layer (BioFrontiers Institute: PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Ryan T. GIll: CEO
Tanya Warnecke: CTO
Jordan Abbott: KOL-Collaborator

Entangl3d

Entangl3d is transforming spine surgery with a groundbreaking 3D printing platform that produces strong, bioadhesive hydrogels. Easily deployable without tissue damage, our hydrogels will reinforce intervertebral discs to prevent reherniation and degeneration.

Matt Davidson (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): PI, Co-Founder, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jason Burdick (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): Co-Founder

Flari Tech

Eva Yao (CU Boulder 2023 Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jun Ye (CU Boulder Physics, JILA): PI
Qizhong Liang (PhD candidate, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Technical Lead
Apoorva Bisht (PhD student, CU Boulder Physics, JILA): Research Assistant

IntraLumenus

Jesse M. Sheppard (CU Boulder Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Mark Rentschler (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI

SteriO3

Emmalee Biesiada (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI), LVC Pitch Presenter
Steve Hughes: CEO
Mark Hernandez (CU Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Chief Scientific and Project Advisor

Vesicle Therapeutics

Xuedong Liu (CU Boulder Biochemistry): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Donna Peak: CEO
Curtis Woodard: COO
Gan Zhang: CTO
Marvin H. Caruthers (CU Boulder Biochemistry): Collaborator

Fourteen teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases. Judges from Venture Partners at CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Off

Traditional

White

New records set as momentum continues for CU Boulder research funding, initiatives

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:11:37 +0000

New records set as momentum continues for CU Boulder research funding, initiatives Daniel Corbin … Thu, 09/26/2024 - 13:11

CU Boulder Today—CU Boulder researchers attracted a record $742.2 million in fiscal year 2023–24 for studies and initiatives that, among other things, could lead to an end of osteoarthritis, better space weather predictions and a more climate-resilient American West.

Off

Traditional

White