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 ÌÒÉ«ÊÓÆµ 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 ÌÒÉ«ÊÓÆµ 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 ÌÒÉ«ÊÓÆµ 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.
ÌÒÉ«ÊÓÆµ's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Thursday, Aug. 7: —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.
Tuesday, Aug. 12: —This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Tuesday, Aug. 12: —A half-day workshop to prepare founders sharpen venture strategies and to understand many of the terms and processes used by VCs.
Thursday, Aug. 14: —The summer program concludes with a pitch competition, where students from the program pitch their unique startup ideas. Attend in-person or via virtual livestream.
Friday, Aug. 15:Ìý—Do you like being outside? How about on a Friday morning when the trails aren’t packed? Startup Hikes is a series designed to help you meet and get to know other local startup founders, operators, investors, and community members. Whether you’ve been in Colorado forever or just moved here, see some familiar faces and meet new ones.
Wednesday, Aug. 13: —A monthly opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and community members to explore Colorado startup journeys.
Wednesday, Aug. 13: —Discover new contracting opportunities and connect with local and national government agencies, national labs, corporate and advanced industries focused on certifications, registrations and the ins and outs of contracting.
Tuesday, Aug. 19:Ìý—A meetup for entrepreneurs, developers and investors with a focus on discussing startups, staffing, marketing and debating the hot topics of the day.
Thursday, Aug. 21:Ìý—For anyone interested in technologies.
Thursday, Aug. 21: —C´Ç²Ô²Ô±ð³¦³Ù with others in the Colorado Springs entrepreneurship community, hear innovative ideas, and give helpful feedback to pitching entrepreneurs!
Tuesday, Aug. 26: —This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Wednesday, Aug. 27: —F±ð²¹³Ù³Ü°ù¾±²Ô²µ a showcase of investment ready Colorado life sciences startups, a panel discussion from local VCs and valuable networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors and mentors.
Sept 3-Oct. 10: Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program—This virtual, four-week program is designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers to commercialize their innovations, helping teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation.
Sept. 15-17: —A three-day gathering in Boulder of 1,000+ founders, mentors, partners and community leaders from across the global network. It’s where new ideas are sparked, real conversations happen, and high-value connections accelerate what’s next.
Sept. 16-18: —Formerly Denver Startup Week, this event brings together entrepreneurs, investors and innovators from across Colorado for three days of inspiration, learning and networking.
Saturday, Oct. 25: —Bringing together search fund entrepreneurs, students, investors, service providers, faculty, and other participants in the ETA ecosystem to connect, learn and share best practices in a growing field. Hosted by hosted by the CU Leeds School of Business Ìýin collaboration with Denver ETA Meetup.
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Applications
Friday, Aug. 8 (deadline): —Designed to help graduate students, postdocs, researchers and their teams explore the translational potential for their breakthrough research.
Friday, Aug. 8 (deadline): Elevating Colorado Voices: Public Scholarship Workshop—For Researchers: Gain real-time feedback on a draft, advice on how to pitch to media outlets and a month of access to OpEd’s network of mentor-editors.
Wednesday, Aug. Ìý13 (deadline): —A technology-scouting competition that fast-tracks clean-tech solutions into the oil and natural-gas value chain. Finalists will pitch live to leading operators, service companies, and investors—gaining exposure, feedback and potential partnership opportunities.
Wednesday, Aug. 20 (deadline): —Open to in-revenue businesses with growth potential, this competition invites founders headquartered in rural Colorado to step into the spotlight and share what they’re building.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 (deadline): Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program—Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this four-week program is designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers to commercialize their innovations, helping teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation.
Thursday, Aug. 28 (deadline): —Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is offering funding to help Colorado research institutions speed up applied research in advanced industries and commercialize products and services with the private sector. Projects can receive up to $150,000 in grant money.
Thursday, Aug. 28 (deadline):—Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is offering funding to help Colorado-basedÌýadvanced industriesÌýtechnology businesses develop and commercialize advanced technologies that will be created or manufactured in Colorado. Projects can receive up to $250,000.
Friday, Aug. 29 (deadline): —A two-day immersive for postdocs, physician-scientists & faculty translating research into healthcare impact.
Friday, Aug. 29 (deadline): —A²Ô opportunity for early-stage device, diagnostic, digital health and imaging companies to display their technologies.
Monday, Sept. 8 (deadline):—A²Ô in-person workshop for first-time leaders and scientists new to management, designed to build the foundations of leadership by exploring the characteristics of leaders, effective communication and teamwork skills.
Monday, Sept. 15 (deadline): —Supporting multiple projects focused on regenerative medicines and cell/gene therapies. Individual project award amounts will vary based on funding needs. For investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the UCHealth System.
Monday, Oct. 13 (deadline): Research & Innovation Seed Grants—Grants of up to $60K for projects from all disciplines at ÌÒÉ«ÊÓÆµ, especially those involving inter- or multidisciplinary collaborationÌýand projects in emerging fields. Projects to establish or leverage external partnerships (e.g. industry, national labs, universities, community nonprofits, etc.) are also welcomed.
Thursday, Oct. 30 (deadline): Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this workshop is for anyone from a research or community institution motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
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: –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: –Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.