SPARK
Spark CU is a new initiative designed for entrepreneurial students at the ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ. Hosted by the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business, Spark CU helps students transform early-stage ideas into real ventures. Join us at the Spark CU Community Kickoff to learn more and sign up!
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Who is it for?
Spark CU is open to students across all ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ schools and colleges and includes two components:
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Spark COMMUNITY
Spark COMMUNITY is open to everyone, consists of flagship programming from the Deming Center, including Startups & Sandwiches speaker series and Innovation Workshop Series skills workshops to address gaps in entrepreneurship knowledge identified by student need finding. Our goal is to build a community of entrepreneurship students across campus.
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Spark FOUNDERSÌý
Spark FOUNDERS is a select group (5-6) of student entrepreneurs within the community who participate in a student-run incubator to gain additional support and resources to help move their venture forward. The goal is to prepare these founders for the next step: NVC, Catalyze CU, Techstars, I-Corps, launch!
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Spark Student Opportunities and Events Calendar
Explore a dynamic lineup of programs designed to spark innovation, connect you with industry leaders, and empower your entrepreneurial journey! Whether you’re interested in startups, climate ventures, leadership, or hands-on workshops, there’s something for everyone.
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Spark FOUNDERS Program Highlights:Ìý
- Two Semesters – focused, immersive experience that fits within your academic schedule
- Curriculum & Coaching: workshops to address gaps in startup knowledge, expert mentorship, and applied learning
- Community of Builders – Join a cohort of ambitious peers working on ventures across industries
- Pitch Opportunities – Prep for campus-wide pitch competitions and funding opportunities
- What You'll Get:
- Customer Discovery, Prototyping, User Centered Design Support: test and validate with real usersÌý
→ Mentorship & Legal Guidance: get expert advice from legal advisors and startup mentorsÌý
→ Team & Co-founder Matching: find the right collaborators across campusÌý
→ Collaborative Co-Working Space: join a community of builders at the Deming CenterÌý
→ Connection to CU’s Startup Pipeline
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Why Join Spark CU?
Because you have a bold idea—and Spark CU gives you the tools, people, and momentum to launch it. Whether you’re building a climate tech solution, an app, a consumer product, or a social enterprise, Spark CU is here to help you go from concept to traction.
Ready to join Spark or do you have questions?
You can email us at SparkCU@colorado.eduor use the form to request information and join the Spark community.