The University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator announces 2026 cohort
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 CU’s research enterprise.
Launched in 2021 by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder, 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-CorpsTM 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 鶹Ѱstartups toward commercial success.
2026 Ascent Cohort
Agami Zero
develops hydrogen-powered, off-grid EV fast charging and clean power systems for grid-constrained and remote locations. Leveraging CU-licensed electrolysis technology, Agami Zero enables reliable EV charging and energy access without requiring utility upgrades, using cost-effective green hydrogen.
Team Members: , Co-Founder, CEO, jafar.makrani@agamizero.com*; , Co-Founder, CTO
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Hardware and Instrumentation
Arkana Therapeutics
leverages animals with extreme physiology to discover novel therapeutic molecules and drug targets.
Team Members: , Co-Founder, CEO, jack@arkanatx.com*; , Co-Founder, CSO; Jonathan Long (), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor; Leslie Leinwand (鶹ѰBoulder 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:(鶹ѰBoulder Environmental Engineering Program), Co-Founder, CEO, john.docter@colorado.edu*; (鶹ѰBoulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Biotech, Genomics, Research and Exploration
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.
Team Members:(鶹ѰBoulder Computer Science), Co-Founder, CEO; (Alum: 鶹ѰBoulder 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: (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, chopranik@gmail.com*; (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CTO
Industry Applications: Biotech, Genomics, Diagnostics
Flari Tech
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 . Flari Tech aims to provide affordable, accessible disease detection solutions by revolutionizing breath diagnostics with quantum sensing.
Team Member:, 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.
Team Members: , Co-Founder, CEO, vineet@flowpoint.bio*; (鶹ѰBoulder 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: (), CEO, Co-Founder, zhengxiong.li@ucdenver.edu*; , Co-Founder, Advisor; Xinmin Fang (Student: 鶹ѰDenver Engineering, Design and Computing), Co-Founder, Advisor; , 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: (鶹ѰBoulder Aerobiology and Disinfection Lab), Founder, CTO, emmalee.biesiada@gmail.com*; Mark Hernandez(鶹ѰBoulder 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:(鶹ѰBoulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder; , Fractional-CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; , Co-Principal Investigator (PI); Laurie Goodrich, Co-PI; , Senior Investigator; , Co-PI
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Biotech, Therapeutics
RipaLith
RipaLith is based on the research by (鶹ѰBoulder 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:(鶹ѰBoulder Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, Engineering Advisor; (Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, elena.forchielli@colorado.edu*; , Co-Founder, COO;
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Construction, Biotech
NITRO mBMAT
A collaboration between 鶹ѰBoulder, 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: , CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; (鶹ѰBoulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder, CSO; , Co-Principal Investigator; , 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: (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, garydolsen@gmail.com*; (鶹ѰBoulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO, Principal Investigator (PI); , 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:(鶹ѰBoulder 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.
Team Members: (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, todd@verilocal.ai*; (), 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: (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, hamteri@gmail.com*; (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, COO; , CTO
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Software, Additive Manufacturing
YarraBio
Yarrabio develops technologies for cancer research, drug discovery and clinical oncology.
Team Members: (鶹ѰBoulder Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, CSO, savanh.c@yarrabio.com*; , Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor, Principal Investigator (PI)
Industry Applications: Biotech
*Team's primary point of contact for inquiries.
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