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 91´«Ã½ 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 91´«Ã½ 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 91´«Ã½ 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.
91´«Ã½'s entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Wednesday, April 15: —A monthly opportunity to share ideas on solving the climate crisis, connect and learn from one another.
Thursday, April 16: —A high-impact evening built specifically for early-stage and growth-minded entrepreneurs navigating capital, partnerships and long-term strategy in emerging tech.
Tuesday, April 21: â€ÖÀpotlighting the future of innovation and the many pathways to impact. Open to all CU faculty, staff and students. Advance registration required.
Tuesday, April 21: —Whether you’re working on a startup, writing code, learning AI tools, or exploring a new idea, this is your space to connect with others who are doing the same.
Thursday, April 23: —Innosphere in partnership with the Colorado BioScience Association, will convene Boulder’s biotech leaders to explore how Array BioPharma's success shaped the region's life science ecosystem.
Thursday, April 23: —Pitch Your Startup with HelpBnk (During Tech Connect). Selected pitches to be shared across HelpBnk’s platform (300,000+ users).
Tuesday, April 28: —Learn how foundational research at the University of Colorado Anschutz fuels breakthroughs like GLP-1s and how basic scientists are advancing the next wave of lab discoveries to treat cancer, autoimmune disease, arthritis, addiction and other conditions.
Wednesday, May 6: â€ÖÀtartup Colorado's virtual workshop designed to help you help you refine your message and deliver it with clarity and impact.
Thursday, May 13: —Designed to address the specific needs of leaders at growing Colorado life sciences companies. Hosted by Colorado BioScience Institute.
May 14-15: —Bringing together critical thinkers in bioscience, medicine, public policy and the humanities to discuss complexities and barriers for improving health care in a straightforward, understandable and approachable way.
Wednesday, May 20: —A monthly opportunity to share ideas on solving the climate crisis, connect and learn from one another.
Wednesday, May 20: —Learn how your company can utilize state export assistance programs to export to a new market or expand in a current market.
Friday, May 29: —A one-day joint symposium with 91´«Ã½ and Colorado State University to connect Front Range chemical engineering graduate students with industry professionals in a collaborative and welcoming environment.
Tuesday, June 16: —A panel of platform biotechnology companies representing different stages of a startup’s lifecycle will examine how platform strategies differ by stage, from early credibility building to public market valuation.
Applications
Friday, May 1 (deadline): —With a top prize of $100K in non-dilutive funding, the challenge rewards how much teams learn, test, build and move forward from May through September. Open to undergraduate and graduate students at any U.S. degree-granting institution.
Tuesday, May 5 (deadline): Research-to-Market Customer Discovery Program—A four-week program for scientists and engineers that teaches the process of customer discovery and how to find a market for technology by getting out of the lab.
Monday, May 11 (deadline): AB Nexus 2026 Research Collaboration Grant Program—Designed to strengthen research collaborations and forge new research opportunities between the CU Anschutz and 91´«Ã½ campuses, AB Nexus is requesting proposals for two mechanisms that differ in project scope, budget and award duration, and each have their own application and review processes.
Monday, June 15 (deadline): —This national, founder-first program is designed to support early-stage companies preparing for commercialization. Health, medical, and life sciences startups can compete for $10,000 in non-dilutive funding.
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: —A²Ô open-access, equity-free biotech accelerator for early-stage founders.
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: —ForÌýinvestors and advanced industries businesses in the amount of 25% toÌý35% per investment up to $100,000.
Rolling Application: –Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.