Venture Partners News

The University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator announces 2026 cohort

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:35:39 +0000

The University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator announces 2026 cohort Daniel Corbin … Thu, 02/12/2026 - 11:35

Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase

Attendees will have a chance to see pitches from each of the Ascent 2025 cohort startups, followed by a networking happy hour to learn more.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Byron R. White Stadium Club, Folsom Field

The University of Colorado's Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator has announced its 2026 startup teams. The selected companies span a wide range of disciplines, reflecting the depth and breadth of innovation emerging from С��’s research enterprise.

Launched in 2021 by Venture Partners at С�� Boulder, the Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator addresses the unique challenges faced by deep tech startups (companies based on groundbreaking science or engineering) that often require substantial time, research and capital to reach the market. The five-month program builds upon prerequisite customer-discovery training through the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps^TM Hub West —also offered through Venture Partners—and provides tailored support in business formation, market strategy and fundraising.

Now in its fifth year, Ascent has announced its largest cohorts to date. The 2026 cohort includes startups tackling critical challenges in physical and life sciences, from hydrogen-powered energy systems and wildfire detection to regenerative medicine, advanced materials and next-generation robotics.

Since its inception, Ascent has graduated 47 companies, which collectively have raised more than $20 million in non-dilutive grants and $47 million in seed funding from venture capital investors. Alumni have gone on to secure spots in nationally recognized incubators such as NREL’s West Gate, Creative Destruction Lab, Techstars and Activate, further validating the program’s role in accelerating С�� startups toward commercial success.

2026 Ascent Cohort

Agami Zero

Agami Zero Inc. develops hydrogen-powered, off-grid EV fast charging and clean power systems for grid-constrained and remote locations. Leveraging С��-licensed electrolysis technology, Agami Zero enables reliable EV charging and energy access without requiring utility upgrades, using cost-effective green hydrogen. Visit the Agami Zero Website

Team Members: Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder, CEO, jafar.makrani@agamizero.com*; Lyle Antieau, Co-Founder, CTO

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Hardware and Instrumentation

Arkana Therapeutics

Arkana Therapeutics leverages animals with extreme physiology to discover novel therapeutic molecules and drug targets.

Team Members: Jack Gugel, Co-Founder, CEO, jack@arkanatx.com*; Thomas Martin, Co-Founder, CSO; Jonathan Long (Stanford Medicine), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor; Leslie Leinwand (С�� Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, BioFrontiers Institute), Scientific Advisor

Industry Applications: Biotech

BioStamp

BioStamp synthesizes DNA barcodes for engineered microorganisms, enabling biological intellectual property protection, compliance and high-fidelity identification. BioStamp's technology reduces detection false positives and collision probability through deterministic sequences, improving upon core limitations of random barcoding.

Team Members: John Docter (С�� Boulder Environmental Engineering Program), Co-Founder, CEO, john.docter@colorado.edu*; Cresten Mansfeldt (С�� Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Biotech, Genomics, Research and Exploration

BoBoRobo

BoBoRobo (Boulder-Born Robotics) automates the design, validation and deployment of industrial robotic workcells from a simple English prompt, cutting integration costs by 50% and time-to-live from six months to 10 days. Visit the BoBoRobo Website

Team Members: Alessandro Roncone (С�� Boulder Computer Science), Co-Founder, CEO; Anuj Pasricha (Alum: С�� Boulder Computer Science), Co-Founder, CTO, anuj.pasricha@colorado.edu*

Industry Applications: Robotics

Enlixa Bio

Enlixa Bio helps biopharma precisely drug the “undruggable” world of transcription by turning complex transcriptional machinery into actionable, tractable targets.

Team Members: Nik Chopra (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, chopranik@gmail.com*; Elie Maksoud (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CTO

Industry Applications: Biotech, Genomics, Diagnostics

Flari Tech

Flari Tech Inc. is building a breath analysis platform powered by the 2005 Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb technology, based on cutting-edge innovations from Jun Ye's lab at JILA. Flari Tech aims to provide affordable, accessible disease detection solutions by revolutionizing breath diagnostics with quantum sensing. Visit the Flari Tech Website

Team Member: Eva Yao, Founder, CEO, info@flaritech.com*

Industry Applications: Medical Devices, Diagnostics

FlowPoint Bio

FlowPoint Bio is redefining cell engineering with its high-viability, continuous-flow microfluidic platform that enables delivery of gene-editing payloads directly into the nucleus, regardless of cell type or payload size. Visit the FlowPoint Bio Website

Team Members: Vineet Erasala, Co-Founder, CEO, vineet@flowpoint.bio*; Xiaoyun Ding (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor

Industry Applications: Biotech, Manufacturing

iMembrane Therapeutics

iMembrane Therapeutics develops AI-designed miniproteins that overcome limitations of conventional biologics. The iMembrane Therapeutics platform enables stable, tunable and precisely dosed cytokine modulators for treating severe inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.

Team Members: Jingshi Shen, Co-Founder, CSO; Suzhao Li, sli@imembranetherapeutics.com*, Co-Founder, CEO; Charles Dinarello, Advisor

Industry Applications: Therapeutics

LeTau Robotics

LeTau Robotics develops AI foundation models to teach robots human-like dexterity with 100x less training data. LeTau Robotics enables rapid deployment (hours vs. months) for complex manipulation across manufacturing, logistics and labs—at a fraction of traditional costs.

Team Members: Zhengxiong Li (С�� Denver Computer Science and Engineering), CEO, Co-Founder, zhengxiong.li@ucdenver.edu*; Lingfeng Tao, Co-Founder, Advisor; Xinmin Fang (Student: С�� Denver Engineering, Design and Computing), Co-Founder, Advisor; Fenglong Ma, Co-Founder, CTO

Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics

PEGI LLC

Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) rapidly inactivates microbes, allergens and volatile organic compounds in HVAC systems, keeping coils clean between seasonal maintenance. PEGI boosts energy efficiency, extends system life, improves indoor air quality, and is easily retrofitted into existing commercial and residential systems.

Team Members: Emma Biesiada (С�� Boulder Aerobiology and Disinfection Lab), Founder, CTO, emmalee.biesiada@gmail.com*; Mark Hernandez (С�� Boulder Environmental Engineering Program), Advisor

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Medical Devices

Renovare Therapeutics

Renovare Therapeutics Inc. is developing regenerative therapeutics for osteoarthritis (OA). The Renovare Therapeutics portfolio of products can be customized to meet OA patients where they are, enabled through technologies including innovative biomaterials, gene therapies and controlled delivery of drugs and biologics that regenerate joint tissues.

Team Members: Stephanie Bryant (С�� Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder; Liz Scott, Fractional-CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; Karin Payne, Co-Principal Investigator (PI); Laurie Goodrich, Co-PI; Kelly Santagelo, Senior Investigator; Mike Zuscik, Co-PI

Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Biotech, Therapeutics

RipaLith

RipaLith is based on the research by Mija Hubler (С�� Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), an expert in concrete degradation and structural performance. RipaLith is developing a concrete preservation solution that can be applied to existing concrete infrastructure to repair cracks—extending lifespan without costly replacement.

Team Members: Mija Hubler (С�� Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, Engineering Advisor; Elena Forchielli (Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, elena.forchielli@colorado.edu*; Paolo Forchielli, Co-Founder, COO;

Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Construction, Biotech

NITRO mBMAT

A collaboration between С�� Boulder, AMC and Colorado State University, developing therapeutics to regenerate cartilage and bone in osteoarthritis. Founded by Stephanie Bryant, principal investigator (PI), they have $40 million in non-dilutive funding from ARPA-H and are raising funds to support IND-enabling studies and commercial plans.

Team Members: Liz Scott, CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; Stephanie Bryant (С�� Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder, CSO; Karin Payne, Co-Principal Investigator; Kelly Santangelo, Senior Investigator

Industry Applications: Biotech, Therapeutics

SureFire

SureFire employs breakthrough LLM and quantum information techniques to more quickly and accurately detect wildfire ignitions from existing thermal camera images. SureFire is launching solutions for fire detection and risk management for customers such as fire agencies, power utilities, insurance companies, and sensor vendors.

Team Members: Gary Robert Dolsen (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, garydolsen@gmail.com*; Longji Cui (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO, Principal Investigator (PI); Kyle Kuczun, Co-Founder, CTO, CPO;

Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Sensors, Software

Synteric Robotics

Synteric Robotics builds small, autonomous insect-inspired inspection robots designed to navigate tight, hazardous environments. Our technology combines novel micromechanics, sensing and autonomy to inspect infrastructure humans can’t easily reach.

Team Members: Rob Carpenter (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Founder, rob@frostrivercapital.com*

Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics

VeriLocal

VeriLocal Inc. is an AI platform that filters out non-local social media noise during fast-moving events. Using machine learning to identify geographically authentic content, it delivers real-time, high-signal local insight for crisis response, utilities, insurance, media and other decision-makers. Visit the VeriLocal Website

Team Members: Todd McGuire (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, todd@verilocal.ai*; Lise St. Denis (Earth Lab), Co-Founder, CSO

Industry Applications: Information Technology, Software, Smart Cities

VersaMesh

VersaMesh develops software-designed, 3D-printed impact-absorbing metamaterials that outperform traditional foams. Our precisely tuned materials protect against repetitive low-energy hits and high-impact forces, enabling safer, customizable protection for helmets and other impact-critical applications.

Team Members: Teri Ham (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, hamteri@gmail.com*; Renee Sanchez (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, COO; Sloan Le, CTO

Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Software, Additive Manufacturing

YarraBio

Yarrabio develops technologies for cancer research, drug discovery and clinical oncology.

Team Members: Savanh Chantha-Phavong (С�� Boulder Embark Startup Founder), CEO, CSO, savanh.chantha1@gmail.com*

Industry Applications: Biotech

*Team's primary point of contact for inquiries.

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Destination Startup announces startups across the region to present at annual showcase

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:33:20 +0000

Destination Startup announces startups across the region to present at annual showcase Daniel Corbin … Thu, 01/29/2026 - 16:33

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.

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С�� Boulder joins Medtronic in strategic partnership to drive breakthrough health innovations

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:11:11 +0000

С�� Boulder joins Medtronic in strategic partnership to drive breakthrough health innovations Daniel Corbin … Thu, 01/22/2026 - 11:11

С�� Boulder Today—The University of Colorado (С��) and Medtronic, a global leader in health care technology, have entered into a strategic research agreement to accelerate the development of transformative health technologies. С�� was selected from a nationwide search for its strength in advancing disruptive innovation.

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Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem raised $3.2B in 2025

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:34:10 +0000

Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem raised $3.2B in 2025 Daniel Corbin … Mon, 01/12/2026 - 10:34

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA)—The state’s life sciences ecosystem raised $3.2 billion in 2025, a record driven by significant mergers and acquisitions. The results demonstrate the durability of Colorado’s life sciences community as companies, investors, and research institutions operate amid economic, regulatory, and policy uncertainty.

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Announcing the 2026 cohort of the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:28:24 +0000

Announcing the 2026 cohort of the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator Daniel Corbin … Mon, 01/12/2026 - 09:28

The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator pairs seasoned entrepreneurs with University of Colorado Boulder technologies to bring those breakthroughs to market to address urgent societal needs. Embark has launched its third cohort of Embark Startup Founders and will provide intellectual property rights, funding for the founders and their companies, startup accelerator programming support and investor introductions to launch startups with real-world impact.

Every year, dozens of breakthrough inventions emerge from С�� Boulder’s research labs. While some are spun out by creators themselves, others are poised to partner with entrepreneurs beyond university walls, looking to launch the latest and greatest technologies.

Ready to embark on a new entrepreneurial journey?

Embark is С�� Boulder's deep tech startup creator for matching entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations. With myriad С�� Boulder technologies ready to make a real-world impact, Embark seeks motivated entrepreneurs ready to launch new companies.

Visit Embark Webpage

Embark bridges this gap by recruiting and matching entrepreneurs with promising university innovations. “Just because the university inventors didn’t create a startup company doesn’t mean the technology is not a really exciting startup opportunity,” said Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships.

“In our first two cohorts, the entrepreneurs went into high gear after being selected by the Venture Partners team and rose to every challenge,” said Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. “They do not rest; they take advantage of everything we suggest to them,” she said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach, how we support our startups,” added Zgagacz.

This year, Embark received more than 150 applications from entrepreneurs who explored a curated portfolio of more than 40 technologies across scientific and engineering fields, including biotechnology (biotech), quantum science, advanced materials and aerospace.

Candidates went through a rigorous ten-week interview process where they learned about the technologies for the first time, collaborated with the researchers, began customer discovery and pitched their business ideas in the final selection process.

"We were impressed with all of these entrepreneurs and how much progress they made to get to this point,” said Amy Dodenhoff, director of venture development at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. “We are excited to see what the new founders can do over the next six months with their new companies.”

The new Embark Startup Founders (previously known as Entrepreneurs in Residence) will launch their companies with an evaluation license from the university and will have access to the full suite of entrepreneurial support at С�� Boulder, including the National Science Foundation I-Corps^TM Hub West, Lab Venture Challenge and Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator.

To date, 20 companies have been founded through Embark, 12 of which have received follow-on funding. Embark’s emphasis on matching entrepreneurs with groundbreaking innovations holds the potential to unleash the full impact of С�� Boulder’s research into the world.

2026 Embark Startup Founders

Rob Carpenter

Rob Carpenter is a serial entrepreneur and technology executive with over 15 years of experience building and scaling software and artificial intelligence companies. He previously founded and led Valyant AI, raising $18 million and deploying enterprise AI systems at national scale, and AppIt Ventures, a global software firm he successfully exited. He holds an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver.

Rob is building a company around robotics technology developed in Kaushik Jayaram's lab (fmr. С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Savanh Chantha-Phavong

Savanh Chantha-Phavong is a translational pathology and spatial biology scientist and entrepreneur with leadership experience across academia, biopharma and CROs. Her expertise includes next-generation histopathology, multiplex imaging, assay and antibody optimization and digital pathology. She founded the STEM/Innovation Award and Women in Histology, Pathology and Spatial Informatics. She holds a PhD in anatomy, cell biology and neurobiology from the University of Melbourne.

Savanh is building a company around biotech developed in Corey Neu's lab (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Nikhil Chopra

Nikhil Chopra is a biotech executive and entrepreneur with more than 15 years advancing liquid biopsy applications in noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and therapy selection, changing care paradigms through assay development and global lab deployments at high-growth startups including Natera and Guardant Health.

Nikhil is building a company with fellow Embark Startup Founder Elie Maksoud around biotech developed in Dylan Taatjes's lab (С�� Boulder Biochemistry).

Gary Dolsen

Gary Dolsen is a five-time SaaS and software startup veteran with multiple exits. For the last eight years, he has been a coach and mentor for accelerator programs, including Venture Partners and Techstars. In addition to his startup work, he has served as a senior executive at two hypergrowth companies and a Fortune 500 company, leading teams in product, engineering, data analytics, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and sales.

Gary is building a company around sensors and AI technology developed in Longji Cui's lab (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Vineet Erasala

Vineet Erasala is an engineer with deep experience in life science startups, scaling complex medical systems from concept to successful exit. Most recently, he co-founded and ran Genetesis until its acquisition, building a 25-person team and raising more than $40 million to commercialize biomagnetic devices. A recognized innovator, Vineet enjoys scaling breakthrough technologies into scalable scientific solutions.

Vineet is building a company around biotech developed in Xiaoyun Ding's lab (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Elena Forchielli

Elena Forchielli is an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder focused on hard-tech and climate innovation. She has founded two businesses and supported early-stage infrastructure and industrial technology companies as a mentor and investor. Elena holds a PhD in microbial ecology from Boston University and a BS in molecular biology from С�� Boulder.

Elena is building a company around construction technology developed in Mija H. Hubler's lab (С�� Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering).

Teri Ham

Teri Ham is an entrepreneur and strategist with more than 15 years across early-stage ventures, global enterprises and international development. A speaker and published researcher, she has served as chief operations officer of a biotech startup in Korea, led IBM’s global leadership program, and delivered ICT programs with UNESCO, APEC and ASEAN across 14 countries. She holds an MA from University College London (UCL).

Teri is building a company with fellow Embark Startup Founder Renee Sanchez around advanced materials technology developed in Robert MacCurdy's lab (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Elie Maksoud

Elie Maksoud is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur and strategist with a PhD in neurobiology and an Executive MBA. He has over a decade of experience spanning academic research across leading institutions, including the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and innovation consulting at Sightglass Partners, working at the intersection of strategy, business and life science commercialization.

Elie is building a company with fellow Embark Startup Founder Nikhil Chopra around biotech developed in Dylan Taatjes's lab (С�� Boulder Biochemistry).

Todd McGuire

Todd McGuire is a technology and analytics leader with 25 years of experience founding and scaling SaaS and digital health platforms. He has led multiple 0-to-1 product launches, served as chief technology officer and head of product for high-growth ventures, and holds a U.S. patent for a remote patient monitoring system. He earned his BS from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Todd is building a company around AI technology developed in the Earth Lab by Lise St. Denis.

Renee Sanchez

Renee Sanchez's background spans early-stage startups, venture support and technology commercialization. She previously founded Olive Devices and has worked inside and alongside startups, leading intellectual property strategy, product development and execution. She holds a JD and a BS in industrial design and focuses on turning complex ideas into viable ventures.

Renee is building a company with fellow Embark Startup Founder Teri Ham around advanced materials technology developed in Robert MacCurdy's lab (С�� Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering).

Broder Schmidt

Broder Schmidt is a scientist and entrepreneur with more than a 15-year track record of translating biological insights into real-world outcomes. He is driven by a mission to facilitate better living through biology. Broder is co-founder of Prose Foods and holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Goettingen, Germany.

Broder is building a company around health and wellness technology developed in Min Han's lab (С�� Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology).

Andrew Zorn

Andrew Zorn is an entrepreneur and translational scientist working at the intersection of biology, computation and therapeutics. His background spans early-stage company formation, drug-discovery strategy, and life science business strategy. He previously launched GRIK Therapeutics. He focuses on building platforms that turn deep biological insight into scalable, real-world solutions.

Andrew is building a company around biotech developed in Aaron Whiteley's lab (С�� Boulder Biochemistry).

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С�� Boulder pre-seed investment fuels cancer ‘moonshot’ spinout Illumen Therapeutics

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:18:56 +0000

С�� Boulder pre-seed investment fuels cancer ‘moonshot’ spinout Illumen Therapeutics Daniel Corbin … Tue, 01/06/2026 - 14:18

Heather Hansen

In an ongoing effort to bridge a pervasive investment gap in innovation funding, the University of Colorado Boulder has awarded pre-seed funding to Illumen Therapeutics, developing cancer treatments based on discoveries from startup co-founder Roy Parker’s lab at С�� Boulder.

Venture Partners at С�� Boulder recently created a pre-seed investment mechanism to help bridge the so-called “valley of death” between research and commercialization, where even high-potential start-ups can sometimes get lost, said Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships. “When somebody creates an innovation with broad potential to be translated out into a new venture, there is now funding to support the earliest stages of that new company,” said Rees. “This was a missing piece.”

The point of the pre-seed funding is “to bridge that gap between promise and follow-on investments,” he said. “We are building upon the brilliance of our faculty; they’re the ones who are saying, ‘I am trying to solve the hardest problems in the world’.”

What we do for university innovators

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators at С�� take their groundbreaking discoveries every step from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

Learn More

Pre-seed investments are made in promising companies translating С�� Boulder innovations through С�� Boulder License Equity Holdings (С��BLEH), a nonprofit entity separate from the university but run in partnership with it. Recognizing that a compelling startup could spin out from particular research or innovation is good for the university, researchers and society at-large, said Rees. “This is where the university really is stepping into opportunity and even responsibility to ensure that the products of its research are having that real-world impact,” he said. “This is why the pre-seed investment is so critical.”

The fund is intended to help energized, high-potential startups as they prepare for outside investment, a critical moment on their path to commercialization, said Hannah Nelson, associate director of licensing at Venture Partners. “Pre-seed funding gets placed in companies where we see momentum, an exciting commercial opportunity and a motivated founder, and I think that Illumen Therapeutics has shown all three of those things,” she said. “Another piece of what prioritizes companies for the pre-seed funding is that they’re already at that stage of development where we feel like this funding can unlock follow-on funds to get them to their next big inflection point.”

But what is "commercialization?"

The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.

Explore the Path to Commercialization

Arming the ‘guardian of the genome’

Illumen Therapeutics is focused on a cancer treatment ‘moonshot’ that pursues the long-sought ‘holy grail’ of drug development—but with an entirely new approach. That elusive goal revolves around a tumor suppressor gene called p53, dubbed the ‘guardian of the genome’ because it prevents damaged cells from multiplying, which blocks the formation and growth of tumors linked to a wide range of cancers.

“P53 is a key protein mutated in 85 to 95 percent of human cancers, and its loss allows cells to grow in an uncontrolled way,” explained Roy Parker, company co-founder, director of the BioFrontiers Institute and Cech-Leinwand Endowed Chair of С�� Boulder Biochemistry. “If you could restore p53 function, the hope is that would actually cause the tumors to either die or grow less.”

For several decades, popular strategies to target p53 have focused on blocking gene-inhibiting proteins. “There has been literally billions of dollars spent on this idea trying to target these inhibitors of p53,” said Parker, but all attempts have failed due to unexpected consequences like increased toxicity and a feedback loop that further suppresses p53. “The overall goal of increasing functional p53 is still a really important idea, and we just need ways to do that,” he said.

The leading-edge science behind Illumen Therapeutics, which emerged from the Parker Lab several years ago (including the work of postdoc fellow Siddharth Shukla), is based on a novel strategy to target PARN, an enzyme that affects p53. Inhibiting PARN to enhance functional p53 could potentially treat nearly half of all human tumors in aggressive cancers with limited therapeutic options like colorectal, triple-negative breast, pancreatic and others.“ That seems to be working, so that’s kind of proof of principle that if you could help p53, it might be really useful,” said Parker.

Parker envisions that any new therapeutic developed by Illumen will be used in combination with others to improve their effectiveness and could target subclasses of tumors that function differently than their broader tumor type. “A drug which even treats one subtype of cancer is still really important,” he said. “I’d be thrilled if we could reach that far.”

“We think it’s the key”

Despite the originality of the approach, the work was shelved until 2023, when Nelson connected with Bob Blomquist, a Boulder-based serial entrepreneur with biosciences expertise, who was looking for ideas with solid commercialization potential. One of the technologies Nelson thought might be a good fit was the PARN-p53 research from Parker’s lab.

Right away, Blomquist knew he wanted to learn more.

“When I met Roy and saw his data, it was like lights and sirens were going off,” he said. “That phenomenal discovery made by Roy’s lab may mean we can restore functional p53–that holy grail of cancer drug development. We think it’s the key.”

Blomquist, a trained geneticist, has spent decades of his business career working in oncology drug discovery, development and commercialization, and the more he dug into the technology, talking with experts, the more promising the innovation seemed. “I reached out to experts at MD Anderson [Cancer Center] and С�� Anschutz, and asked, ‘What do you think about this therapeutic strategy?’ And their eyes popped open, and their response was, ‘This could be the breakthrough we’ve been dreaming of’.”

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Blomquist co-founded Illumen in 2024 and credits both Venture Partners and Parker for helping build the strong team that’s now moving Illumen’s work forward. “The key role Venture Partners plays is so different than other institutions,” said Blomquist. “They really, truly work as a partner, helping to understand the science, how to connect with potential investors, and on and on. It’s a unique, strong and valuable partnership.”

The pre-seed funding is critical to helping Illumen reach its next inflection point, said Blomquist. “Having that investment got us started to de-risk the project, to show that this is a valid target and to duplicate the data, while we work on the rest of the financial raise,” he said

Rees also believes the investment is a solid one. “We have worked closely with the Parker Lab and with Bob for over a year, so we have a certain level of insight into the magnitude of the clinical impact, the strength of the underlying research and the compelling business case here in order to make the investment,” he said. “At the same time, that investment is absolutely necessary to hit those milestones and generate follow-on investor and partner interest.”

The passion behind Illumen is also personal for Blomquist, who lost his wife to triple-negative breast cancer in 2008. “This is why I get up in the morning, to make a difference in people’s lives. I can’t help my late wife, but what if we can help others? What if by developing a treatment with Roy’s technology we could turn treating cancer into a chronic illness? So that’s why I’m motivated to do something,” he said. “We’re all trying to make a difference.”

What Can We Do Together?

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In an ongoing effort to bridge a pervasive investment gap in innovation funding, the University of Colorado Boulder has awarded pre-seed funding to Illumen Therapeutics, developing cancer treatments based on discoveries from startup co-founder Roy Parker’s lab at С�� Boulder.

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Ventures putting people first at С�� Boulder

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:20:14 +0000

Ventures putting people first at С�� Boulder Daniel Corbin … Tue, 12/16/2025 - 12:20

Heather Hansen

The University of Colorado Boulder actively incubates and supports nonprofit and for-profit ventures with broad societal impact, from far-reaching educational and wellness tools to vaccine accessibility and water security.

Are you faculty in the arts, humanities or social sciences?

С�� Boulder's Creative Futures Fellowship supports faculty in the arts, humanities and social sciences with grants up to $25,000 to turn new ideas and creative work into impact.

Learn More

Kathy Perkins (С�� Boulder Physics Education Research) and colleagues have been successfully broadening the reach of С�� Boulder’s PhET Interactive Simulations for over two decades. In that time, she’s fielded accolades from around the world on the game-changing impacts the simulations have had on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students and teachers.

But one note stands out, from a teacher in an under-resourced school in Texas. She couldn’t buy the items she wanted to teach a course on electrical circuits and was grateful for PhET’s free and stimulating online simulations. “We can’t buy the batteries, lightbulbs and wires to bring these lessons to life for students, so you don’t know how much [PhET] means to us,” she said. Reflecting on the note, PhET director Perkins said, “It’s really energizing and touching to know our work has that level of impact.”

PhET, which originally stood for “Physics Education Technology,” continues to grow and now boasts over 170 open-access simulations in math, science and statistics. It has what Perkins calls “the largest global footprint of any outreach project at С�� Boulder.”

Since Nobel laureate Carl Wieman (С�� Boulder Physics) launched the project in 2002 with the hope of boosting scientific exploration at all levels, users have run over 1.7 billion online simulations, and many more offline.

When using simulations in his lectures, Wieman noticed how engaged his audience was and how memorable the lessons were. “I was struck by the fact they were quite effective for very different audiences. I could use the same simulations talking to a bunch of physics professors as I could talking to middle schoolers,” he said. “I knew enough about education to know that was just unheard of, that it was unprecedented to have something that could reach so widely.”

The influential project has expanded and been updated within the university to maximize its impact—an unusual setup, according to Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships. “If the university was solely focused on monetizing that tool, there’s no doubt the accessibility wouldn’t be what it is today,” he said. “When you think about what PhET’s done for K-12 education and STEM, the impact has been broad-reaching, lining up with a core value and educational goal of the university.” Despite knowing how impactful simulations can be, said Wieman, “[PhET’s] gone so far beyond my expectations.”

“Ensuring maximum social impact”

VitriVax Inc.

Engineering innovative solutions to maximize global accessibility and utility of human vaccines—vaccines that save lives and protect our world from preventable disease.

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PhET is just one example of many innovations emerging from С�� Boulder that prioritize social good. With its supportive innovation ecosystem, the university fosters nonprofit and for-profit ventures across multiple departments and programs with a focus on positively influencing society. Other socially conscious ventures the university has incubated and supported in recent years include several focused on vaccine technology, mental health, clean water and carbon credits, and planetary science. “Economic development impacts are important, but we also can and do prioritize social impact,” said Rees, who also leads Venture Partners at С�� Boulder, the campus' commercialization arm.

VitriVax, co-founded a decade ago by Robert Garcea (С�� Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology) and Ted Randolph (С�� Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), is a mission-driven biotechnology company that developed a new way to stabilize and deliver vaccines.

The one-shot, thermo-stable (resistant to heat and not requiring refrigeration) system maximizes effectiveness and global accessibility to critical vaccines, preventing disease and saving lives.

That technology was born of a chance conversation in the corridor of С�� Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute, according to Garcea, whose interest in developing innovative vaccines came from years devoted to studying viruses and caring for patients. From there, Garcea, Randolph and colleagues worked tirelessly to improve the vaccine delivery system. “One of the aims of BioFrontiers is to get the technology out of the laboratories and into use,” he said. “This is a good example of how that can happen. We’ve gone basically from the bench to somebody’s arm.”

Garcea credits the university with supporting both their research and spinout efforts. Helping the specially designed vaccines reach those most in need required an atypical licensing model, according to Rees. “The university came up with a creative licensing structure where we’re essentially waiving our royalties that we would normally charge the company for distribution of the product in countries below a certain wealth index,” he said.

Evan Thomas and doctoral student Whitney Knopp work together in the Mortenson Center lab with Virridy's "Lume" device for detecting water contamination (photo courtesy of the Mortenson Center).

With a similar desire to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people, Evan Thomas (С�� Boulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) founded Virridy, a company focused on water security and environmental resilience. The company invented and deploys satellite-linked sensors on water pumps in East Africa to monitor them remotely—greatly improving access to clean drinking water. That’s also critical to the region’s crops and livestock, and it reduces the carbon-intensive process of burning wood or fossil fuels to purify drinking water.

“Our most important accomplishment is that over five million people have received clean water for over 10 years. So about 50-million-person years of clean water because of the methodologies that our team developed starting over 15 years ago,” said Thomas, now director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience.

“We’re very proud of that.” Virridy and the Mortensen Center are currently on track to support another five million people with clean water in East Africa by 2030, he said.

That clean water also comes with a carbon-reduction twist, which is critical as climate change intensifies pressure on water systems worldwide. In addition to commercializing some of its water monitoring technologies, Virridy is also bringing to market some of the Mortensen Center’s carbon credit business models, which generate revenue to fund clean water projects by reducing emissions from boiling water. “About 45 million carbon credits have been issued since 2010, using our methodology,” said Thomas.

Impactful programs, built on science and expertise

Students hear a presentation at an installation of Science on a Sphere® (SOS) developed at NOAA and CIRES (photo courtesy of SOS).

Other university efforts prioritizing social good include Science on a Sphere® (SOS), a six-foot diameter globe onto which planetary data is projected. The crowd-pleasing educational tool for all ages was developed at NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in collaboration with CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences) nearly two decades ago. “It was originally created by a scientist for scientists, and they quickly realized that it was great for outreach, and so that shifted our focus,” said Beth Russell, SOS senior program coordinator at CIRES’ Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation.

Since its debut at С�� Boulder's Fiske Planetarium, SOS is now installed in over 200 museums, universities, government facilities and private companies with an annual audience of over 67 million people. SOS brings to life over 600 data sets with animations of often-complex environmental processes, including climate change.

“Climate can be a really hard topic to engage the public in, but being able to show climate models and how things are changing, and looking at different scenarios playing out over time has been really useful,” said Russell. “Our climate models are really impactful.”

When people first see SOS in action, said Russell, “Awe is the main reaction. We find that with a captivated audience, we really can teach someone more than with just a PowerPoint presentation on the same data sets.” In addition to its room-sized display, which can’t fit in the average classroom, researchers have developed a flat screen version called SOS Explorer, available as a desktop application and a free mobile app, which has already been downloaded over 25,000 times.

When Russell joined the SOS team 18 years ago, the project seemed like a fun, short-term one. “I never thought that it was going to go and go, and it’s still expanding and growing,” she said. “We’re always pushing to inform more people. We just want everyone to be showing this scientifically accurate content out in the world.”

That mission is also critical to the impactful programs being developed at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, according to its director, Sona Dimidjian. “A key part of the Crown Institute research commitment is to collaboratively design and study programs that have a strong scientific evidence base and have the potential for real-world impact in people’s lives,” she said.

The Crown Institute’s work is built on multiple collaborations, both with the deep expertise of С�� Boulder researchers and with the communities for whom the research is designed, said Dimidjian, who is also a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.

“It’s a different way of doing research, and we think that’s a big part of the impact that we’ve had in the first five years, reaching many thousands of kids and young people, educators and schools and families.” According to Dimidjian, institute programming so far has reached over 30,000 kids and young people, 2,000 educators and 5,000 parents and family members.

An interactive exhibit of InsideU (photo courtesy of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute).

Three of its major initiatives revolve around emotional learning and regulation. InsideU is a learning tool aimed at improving mental and emotional wellness, inspired by Disney/Pixar’s characters from the animated film Inside Out and developed with their digital design experts. The Crown Institute officially launched their collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios in 2020 alongside child and clinical psychologists, the mental health team at Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, and youth participants in its clubs. On the benefits of InsideU, one child remarked, “When you’re sad, you can express your feelings…and it’s better to express your feelings because then people know what’s happening and then when you say it, they can help you every day and to go through it together.”

Another online program, Mindful Mood Balance for Moms, is based on learning and employing mindfulness to reduce prenatal and postpartum depression, which occurs in 20 percent of women. It was adapted from the Mindful Mood Balance program, where Dimidjian and colleagues studied several hundred adults in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. "We found that people who participated in this mindful mood balance program online relative to usual care had significant reductions in their residual depression symptoms,” said Dimidjian. The Crown Institute is now adapting that program for college students with histories of depression and suicidal ideation.

A third initiative, “Compassion and Dignity for Educators,” has focused successfully on how developing the skills of compassion for self and others can protect the passion that brought K-12 educators to their profession while reducing stress and burnout. Dimidjian said the response to the program has been extremely positive. After taking the course, one elementary school teacher commented, “…I am less reactive, I have strategies to help bring me back to the present moment, there is more time spent reflecting on and considering the perspective of others, I am more patient… I reflect on gratitude each day, my heart feels more open to the world and the beauty that is within it.” The institute now hopes to expand that model to K-12 educators in Colorado and higher education.

The Crown Institute has worked with Venture Partners to make their programs free, scalable and widely accessible, said Dimidjian. “Part of what we can do together is expand the boundary of what it means to be a researcher at С�� Boulder, which means that one’s work doesn't have to stop at publishing papers or speaking to one's academic colleagues,” she said. “Part of the research enterprise is also working collaboratively, envisioning how the kinds of innovations that are discovered within one’s academic research can live more fully and more stably in the world.”

She added, “С�� Boulder brings a strong spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, which motivates us. We can powerfully enact those principles to build a future that is brighter than our current reality. And that ambition has always been at the heart of the scientific and scholarly enterprise.”

What Can We Do Together?

Disclose and Protect Your Innovation

Engage in Entrepreneurial Training Programs

Find a Mentor to Advance Your Innovation

Get Funding for Your Innovation

Find Partners and Opportunities for Your Innovation

Explore Investing in and Partnering with С�� Researchers

Explore Our Startups Portfolio

Explore Our Technology Portfolio

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Students gathered around an installation of Science on a Sphere® (SOS) developed at NOAA and CIRES (photo courtesy of SOS).

Prioritizing research and innovation: A look back and ahead with Massimo Ruzzene

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:17:13 +0000

Prioritizing research and innovation: A look back and ahead with Massimo Ruzzene Daniel Corbin … Fri, 12/12/2025 - 10:17

С�� Boulder Today—More than ever, С�� Boulder is a destination for faculty, students and staff who want to change the world through innovative research, scholarship and creative work.

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New fellowship for arts, humanities and social science faculty offers grants up to $25,000

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:39:35 +0000

New fellowship for arts, humanities and social science faculty offers grants up to $25,000 Daniel Corbin … Thu, 12/11/2025 - 13:39

A new program providing funding, support and community for faculty teams in the arts, humanities and social sciences to transform their ideas and creative works into real-world impact.

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Fund your research or creative work through commercialization

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 23:06:24 +0000

Fund your research or creative work through commercialization Daniel Corbin … Fri, 12/05/2025 - 16:06

For faculty, staff and students at the University of Colorado engaged in research, invention or creative work, commercialization offers a powerful pathway to fund and expand the impact of your innovations. Whether you're developing new technologies, pioneering creative works or advancing scientific discoveries, Venture Partners at С�� Boulder provides support to help transform your ideas into real-world solutions—while securing funding to advance your work.

Unlocking funding and collaborative direction

Ready to go further?

Protect your discoveries before you publish them: Your discoveries could have far-reaching impacts while securing recognition and opportunities for you.

Find the market for your innovation: I-Corps serves as a practical and accessible first step for anyone looking to translate their discoveries into real-world solutions.

One of the biggest misconceptions about commercialization is that university-based researchers, inventors or creators do not have a say in the intellectual property they create.

Venture Partners empowers innovators at С�� Boulder, UCCS and С�� Denver (except С�� Denver biosciences investigators, who should work with CU Innovations) to take the lead in translating their discoveries into real-world applications.

Whether you want to launch a startup, collaborate with industry or license your technology, Venture Partners provides guidance and funding opportunities to support your journey.

When it comes to launching a university startup, they typically fund research in their originating labs, providing additional sponsored research opportunities.

But entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Venture Partners can also help connect you with experienced industry partners or entrepreneurs who can drive commercialization forward on your behalf—ensuring that your discoveries make an impact without requiring you to leave academia.

Non-dilutive funding: grants to advance your work

One of the most compelling reasons to explore commercialization is the availability of non-dilutive funding—grants without equity or ownership agreements. С�� Boulder researchers and inventors have secured significant funding through programs such as:

Lab Venture Challenge—A competitive grant program providing funding for early-stage innovations from the University of Colorado.
S mall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants—Federal programs that support the transition of cutting-edge research into viable commercial solutions.
OEDIT Advanced Industry Grants—State funding designed to accelerate the commercialization of advanced technologies in Colorado.
ARPA-H, ARPA-E and others—Grants for labs that require an understanding of commercialization for technology.

Additionally, there are several fellowship opportunities that provide resources and funding for early-stage research and technology development. Many of these opportunities focus on transforming high-potential ideas into proof-of-concept prototypes or pilot studies. These funding sources allow С�� innovators to de-risk their technology, generate critical data and position themselves for private investment other financing options.

The Center for Translational Research and Venture Partners support researchers, inventors and creators in applying for non-dilutive grants. This includes assistance with state and federal grant programs, ensuring that С�� innovators have the resources and guidance needed to successfully secure funding for their work. By leveraging these early-stage funding opportunities, researchers can bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization, making their technologies more attractive for additional funding and market entry.

Investment and venture growth opportunities

Beyond non-dilutive funding, Venture Partners connects С�� innovators with a variety of investment opportunities, including:

Buff Gold Ventures—A С��-affiliated venture fund investing in early-stage startups from university research.
Destination Startup®—A premier showcase that connects university startups with investors and corporate partners.
Private investment networks—Helping С�� startups secure venture capital and strategic partnerships.

These success stories highlight how С�� researchers and inventors can turn their discoveries into real-world impact while securing financial backing along the way. Many С�� Boulder startups have gone on to secure investment funding, achieve successful exits through mergers or IPOs, or grow into sustainable operating companies.

A path of proven success

С�� Boulder startups are turning groundbreaking research into real-world impact.

Vitro3D, specializing in volumetric 3D printing, has raised $5.2 million in funding including early-stage funding from the Lab Venture Challenge (LVC).
Mesa Quantum, advancing quantum technologies, raised $8.1 million including collaborating with the Center for Translational Research on non-dilutive grants.
Tynt Technologies, revolutionizing dynamic windows for energy-efficient buildings, has raised $17.1 million, and is now one of the first investments of the Buff Venture Fund managed by Buff Gold Ventures.

These success stories highlight how С�� Boulder’s Venture Partners provides a critical bridge from research to commercialization, empowering faculty, researchers and students to secure funding, build ventures and bring transformative innovations to market.

Partnering with industry

Your inventions could be the critical link to a new industry partnership or research funding. Innovations that address critical market needs are attractive to industry partners seeking novel solutions to their commercial problems. Generally, these companies prefer to outsource their early-stage research and development. Venture Partners has dedicated resources, including the NSF I-Corps^TM Hub West, to help you and your innovations meet real industry needs and identify potential partners.

Explore your path to commercialization

Whether you're looking for grant funding, investment or strategic industry partnerships, Venture Partners at С�� Boulder is here to help. With a range of resources, mentorship opportunities and funding programs, you can find the right path to advance your research and creative work. Learn more about funding and commercialization opportunities.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with С�� researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

Whether you're developing new technologies, pioneering creative works or advancing scientific discoveries, Venture Partners at С�� Boulder provides support to help transform your ideas into real-world solutions—while securing funding to advance your work.

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Photo: Winners of the 2024 Lab Venture Challenge competition.

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Fund your research or creative work through commercialization

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Explore your path to commercialization

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