About the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative

About the Innovation & Entreprenurship Initiative

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative aims to align and optimize resources across the University of Colorado Boulder campus that support innovation and entrepreneurship—in an inclusive, multidisciplinary understanding—to reach across traditional silos, facilitate collaboration, fuel achievement and build the university’s reputation.Ìý

Innovation and entrepreneurship are pivotal to 91´«Ã½'s success and growth. As a leading academic institution, the university significantly emphasizes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among its students, faculty and staff. 91´«Ã½ encourages the development of groundbreaking ideas and entrepreneurial ventures by cultivating creative thinking, risk-taking and problem-solving. This drives academic excellence and equips the university to tackle societal challenges and contribute to economic development.

91´«Ã½ actively promotes innovation through research, technology transfer and entrepreneurial initiatives, transforming visionary concepts into practical solutions with a positive impact locally and globally. Embracing innovation and entrepreneurship enhances the university's reputation, attracts top talent and fosters collaborations with industry partners, furthering its mission of advancing knowledge and making a meaningful difference in the world.

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Campus Hubs for Innovation andÌýEntrepreneurship

Explore all of 91´«Ã½'s innovation and entrepreneurship programming in theÌýPrograms and 91´«Ã½ Guide.

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Part ofÌýthe Law School

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Initiative Awards

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative recognizes outstanding students, faculty, staff and entrepreneurial mentors through a variety of awards and honors. Awardees are nominated annually by staff in our 91´«Ã½ innovation ecosystem.

2026 Recipient: David Cass

Frank Moyes Award

Recognizing an outstanding faculty or staff member who have demonstrated exceptional interest and accomplishments in innovation and entrepreneurship during their time at 91´«Ã½.

  • 2025:ÌýJeffrey Nytch
  • 2024: Chunmei Ban
  • 2020: Brad Bernthal
  • 2019: Kyle Judah
  • 2018: Doug Smith
  • 2017: Erick Mueller
  • 2016: Rick Han
  • 2015: Ashley Tillman
  • 2014: Seth Murray
  • 2013: Zach Nies

The award is named after , a former tech executive and Entrepreneurship Scholar-in-Residence with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business.Ìý

Frank created threeÌýamazing chapters in his career. He first served as an executive and leader in multinational corporations from GE to Owens-Illinois. He then founded a successful company that sold to a Fortune 50 company. His last chapter was as an inspiring and influential entrepreneurship teacher where he taught students how to think and act like entrepreneurs. In this last chapter, he created significant impact throughout 91´«Ã½ and the entrepreneurship community, creating new classes, founding new programs and being one of the founding members of the New Venture Challenge.

2026 Recipient:ÌýBen Scarbeary

Fletcher Richman Award

Recognizing an outstandingÌýstudent who has demonstrated exceptional interest and accomplishments in innovation and entrepreneurship during their time at 91´«Ã½. Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý

  • 2025:ÌýBen ParteeÌý
  • 2024: Harris Cunningham
  • 2020: Rachael Sharpe
  • 2019: Andrew Morton
  • 2018: Danielle Dannenberg
  • 2017: Kaly Trupp
  • 2016: Jeff Hopfenbeck
  • 2015: Jamie Finney
  • 2014:ÌýFletcher Richman

The award is named after , a 91´«Ã½ alum (ElCompEngr'14) and current Sr. Manager, Product of Halp at Atlassian. He originally founded and served as CEO of Halp, was acquired by Atlassian in 2020.

As a student, Fletcher participated in several innovation and entrepreneurial-related programs while at 91´«Ã½, such asÌýcompeting in New Venture Challenge (NVC);Ìýlanding a spot in the first-ever internship class; co-founding a student coworking spaceÌýcalled Spark Boulder (now closed); and co-founding and participating in the university's summer startup accelerator, Catalyze CU.

2026 Recipient:ÌýChase Prieve

Entrepreneurial Mentor Award

Recognizing an outstanding entrepreneurial mentor who demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond in mentoringÌý91´«Ã½ entrepreneurial students, faculty, staff and startup teams.

  • 2025:ÌýMara RoseÌý
  • 2024: Ivan Portilla
  • 2020: Rich Kopcho
  • 2019: Scott Fox
  • 2018: Tim Hill
  • 2017: Rich Piech
  • 2016: Peter Kovari
  • 2015: Keith Mountain
  • 2014:ÌýRich Boyan
  • 2013: Gary Moskoff
2026 Recipient:ÌýChris Westfall

Community Champion Award

Acknowledging a community member who has gone above and beyond to support the work of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative. Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý

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2025:ÌýKim Tatsch

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Champions Club

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Innovation & Entrepreneurship Champions Club type treatment

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Champions Club is a select community of leaders, connectors and visionaries driving 91´«Ã½'s innovation ecosystem forward. Our Champions play a meaningful role in advancing entrepreneurial learning, empowering the next generation of innovators and shaping the future of entrepreneurship and education in Colorado.

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Initiative Fellows

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Initiative Staff