鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News /venturepartners/ en 鶹ѰBoulder pre-seed investment fuels cancer ‘moonshot’ spinout Illumen Therapeutics /venturepartners/2026/01/06/internal-news/cu-boulder-pre-seed-investment-fuels-cancer-moonshot-spinout-illumen-therapeutics <span>鶹ѰBoulder pre-seed investment fuels cancer ‘moonshot’ spinout Illumen Therapeutics</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-01-06T14:18:56-07:00" title="Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - 14:18">Tue, 01/06/2026 - 14:18</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-04/STOCK%20biosciences%20lab%20040425.jpeg?h=cdcef113&amp;itok=UM7q-A0z" width="1200" height="800" alt="Close up on a researcher using a pipette"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> 鶹ѰStartup News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/361"> Venture Partners News </a> </div> <span>Heather Hansen</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="lead" dir="ltr"><span>In an ongoing effort to bridge a pervasive investment gap in innovation funding, the 鶹Ѱ has awarded pre-seed funding to </span><a href="/venturepartners/startup-portfolio/illumen-therapeutics-inc" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="55d15954-add3-4be9-b2e0-02af55c8f2b0" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Illumen Therapeutics Inc."><span><strong>Illumen Therapeutics</strong></span></a><span>, developing cancer treatments based on discoveries from startup co-founder Roy Parker’s lab at 鶹ѰBoulder.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/venturepartners/about" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="48b5ec97-4679-4c2b-ac82-f80088542b80" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="About Us"><span><strong>Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder</strong></span></a><span> 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&nbsp;</span><a href="/venturepartners/bryn-rees" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Bryn Rees</strong></span></a><span>, 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.”&nbsp;</span></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr"><span>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’.”</span></p></blockquote><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-left ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title"><span>What we do for university innovators</span></div><div class="ucb-box-content"><p dir="ltr"><span>Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators at 鶹Ѱtake their groundbreaking discoveries every step from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-full ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/university-innovators" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Learn More</span></a></p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Pre-seed investments are made in promising companies translating 鶹ѰBoulder innovations through 鶹ѰBoulder License Equity Holdings (CUBLEH), 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.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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 </span><a href="/venturepartners/hannah-nelson" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a486a403-17ef-4d0a-87fe-81ead590d554" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Hannah Nelson"><span><strong>Hannah Nelson</strong></span></a><span>, 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&nbsp;</span><a href="/venturepartners/startup-portfolio/illumen-therapeutics-inc" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Illumen Therapeutics</strong></span></a><span> 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.”</span><br>&nbsp;</p><div><hr><a href="/venturepartners/node/1732" rel="nofollow"> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/page/path_to_commercialization_mountain_graphic_white_back.png?itok=jASLlu5E" width="375" height="211" alt="Illustration of a mountain as a metaphor where researchers can climb one of two paths with their discovery of either starting a company or licensing their protected intellectual property"> </div> </div> </a><h3 class="text-align-center">But what is "commercialization?"</h3><p class="text-align-center lead">The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites&nbsp;industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help&nbsp;researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.</p><p class="text-align-center"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/node/1732" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore the Path to Commercialization</span></a></p><hr><p>&nbsp;</p></div><h2 dir="ltr"><span>Arming the ‘guardian of the genome’</span></h2><p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“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,&nbsp;</span><a href="/biofrontiers/roy-parker" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>director of the BioFrontiers Institute</strong></span></a><span> and&nbsp;</span><a href="/biochemistry/roy-parker" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Cech-Leinwand Endowed Chair of 鶹ѰBoulder Biochemistry</strong></span></a><span>. “If you could restore p53 function, the hope is that would actually cause the tumors to either die or grow less.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The leading-edge science behind Illumen Therapeutics, which emerged from the Parker Lab several years ago (including the work of postdoc fellow&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shuklasidd/" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Siddharth Shukla</strong></span><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>), 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.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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.”</span></p><h2 dir="ltr"><span>“We think it’s the key”</span></h2><p dir="ltr"><span>Despite the originality of the approach, the work was shelved until 2023, when Nelson connected with&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-blomquist/" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Bob Blomquist</strong></span><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>, 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.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Right away, Blomquist knew he wanted to learn more.&nbsp;</span></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr"><span>“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.”</span></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr"><span>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 鶹ѰAnschutz, 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’.”</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-left ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title"><span>Investor and Partnership Opportunities</span></div><div class="ucb-box-content"><p dir="ltr"><span>Venture Partners seeks entrepreneurs to start new companies, connects investors with high-potential ventures and facilitates collaborations with companies seeking to invest in research or license technologies from the university.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-full ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/investors-and-partners" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Learn More</span></a></p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>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.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>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.”</span><br>&nbsp;</p><hr><div><div><h2 class="text-align-center"><span>What Can We Do Together?</span><br>&nbsp;</h2><div class="row ucb-column-container"><div class="col ucb-column"><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/node/2340" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-balance-scale fa-2x ucb-icon-style-circle">&nbsp;</i></a></p><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/university-innovators/intellectual-property-management/disclose-an-innovation" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c9e95f9f-bd16-491c-a0b7-87db058214d9" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Disclose an Innovation"><strong>Disclose and Protect Your Innovation</strong></a></p></div><div class="col ucb-column"><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/node/791" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap fa-2x ucb-icon-style-circle">&nbsp;</i></a></p><p 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Innovation</strong></a></p></div><div class="col ucb-column"><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/node/1967" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-bolt fa-2x ucb-icon-style-circle">&nbsp;</i></a></p><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/investors-and-partners" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="7de607e7-a898-46d9-a1a1-1825a872fff5" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Investor and Partnership Opportunities"><strong>Explore Investing in and Partnering&nbsp;with 鶹ѰResearchers</strong></a></p></div><div class="col ucb-column"><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/node/781" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-users fa-2x ucb-icon-style-circle">&nbsp;</i></a></p><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/startup-portfolio" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="7446d166-740e-4d04-b255-b83c3a729be0" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Startup Portfolio"><strong>Explore Our Startups Portfolio</strong></a></p></div><div class="col ucb-column"><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/node/2341" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-lightbulb fa-2x ucb-icon-style-circle">&nbsp;</i></a></p><p class="text-align-center"><a href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c5a76e38-d4d6-4405-903d-d7d4152c9ebb" data-entity-substitution="canonical" rel="nofollow" title="Technology Portfolio"><strong>Explore Our Technology Portfolio</strong></a></p></div></div><hr></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>In an ongoing effort to bridge a pervasive investment gap in innovation funding, the 鶹Ѱ has awarded pre-seed funding to Illumen Therapeutics, developing cancer treatments based on discoveries from startup co-founder Roy Parker’s lab at 鶹ѰBoulder.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-04/STOCK%20biosciences%20lab%20040425.jpeg?itok=aziJ7vgG" width="1500" height="1001" alt="Close up on a researcher using a pipette"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:18:56 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2796 at /venturepartners NASA selects a 鶹ѰBoulder lab to build instruments for the moon /venturepartners/2025/12/16/nasa-selects-cu-boulder-lab-build-instruments-moon <span>NASA selects a 鶹ѰBoulder lab to build instruments for the moon</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-16T12:15:38-07:00" title="Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 12:15">Tue, 12/16/2025 - 12:15</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-12/NASA%20CU%20Boulder%20story%20121825.png?h=c98aaa1a&amp;itok=uiLK7HLO" width="1200" height="800" alt="Wide view of a large research laboratory filled with vacuum chambers, control consoles, computers and experimental equipment arranged across a high-ceiling industrial space."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>Denver7—NASA has selected a proposal from 鶹ѰBoulder researchers to design and build instruments that will be deployed by astronauts on the Moon. The instrument suite designed at the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/laboratory-for-atmospheric-and-space-physics/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)</strong></a> will analyze lunar dust, which is abrasive like glass and sticks to all surfaces. Lunar dust can damage equipment and harm astronauts if inhaled.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/nasa-selects-a-cu-boulder-lab-to-build-instruments-for-the-moon" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Watch or Read this Story</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Denver7—NASA has selected a proposal from 鶹ѰBoulder researchers to design and build instruments that will be deployed by astronauts on the Moon. The instrument suite designed at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) will analyze lunar dust, which is abrasive like glass and sticks to all surfaces. Lunar dust can damage equipment and harm astronauts if inhaled.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-12/NASA%20CU%20Boulder%20story%20121825.png?itok=u2zighcr" width="1500" height="618" alt="Wide view of a large research laboratory filled with vacuum chambers, control consoles, computers and experimental equipment arranged across a high-ceiling industrial space."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:15:38 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2800 at /venturepartners 鶹ѰBoulder lab creates bubble wrap-like window material that traps heat without blocking light /venturepartners/2025/12/12/external-news/us-lab-creates-bubble-wrap-window-material-traps-heat-without-blocking-light <span>鶹ѰBoulder lab creates bubble wrap-like window material that traps heat without blocking light</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-12T13:18:14-07:00" title="Friday, December 12, 2025 - 13:18">Fri, 12/12/2025 - 13:18</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-01/MOCHI%20article%20010625.png?h=7b436a88&amp;itok=459hL7o_" width="1200" height="800" alt="A person holds a clear, octagonal laboratory sample labeled “PENTAPANE MOCHI IGU” in front of their face, looking through the transparent material as it frames their eyes and facial features."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>A new, thin insulator has been designed to boost the energy efficiency of windows by blocking heat. Designed by a team from the 鶹Ѱ, this invisible window shield material has been dubbed Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulator (MOCHI).</p><p>Read More From:</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/today/2025/12/11/new-window-insulation-blocks-heat-not-your-view" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">鶹ѰBoulder Today</span></a></p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/bubble-wrap-like-window-material-traps-heat" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Interesting Engineering</span></a></p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx5568" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Science</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>A new, thin insulator has been designed to boost the energy efficiency of windows by blocking heat. Designed by a team from the 鶹Ѱ, this invisible window shield material has been dubbed Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulator (MOCHI).</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2026-01/MOCHI%20article%20010625.png?itok=_rnYGAnW" width="1500" height="844" alt="A person holds a clear, octagonal laboratory sample labeled “PENTAPANE MOCHI IGU” in front of their face, looking through the transparent material as it frames their eyes and facial features."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:18:14 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2804 at /venturepartners Scientists use ultrasound to soften and treat cancer tumors without damaging healthy tissue /venturepartners/2025/12/08/external-news/scientists-use-ultrasound-soften-and-treat-cancer-tumors-without-damaging-healthy-tissue <span>Scientists use ultrasound to soften and treat cancer tumors without damaging healthy tissue</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-08T13:23:40-07:00" title="Monday, December 8, 2025 - 13:23">Mon, 12/08/2025 - 13:23</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-01/Acoustic%20particles%20article%20010626.png?h=6b9bf2e9&amp;itok=Fvnq1QFo" width="1200" height="800" alt="A microscopic image of the researchers' sound-responsive particles."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>鶹ѰBoulder Today—Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., second only to heart disease. But a new cancer treatment method from 鶹ѰBoulder researchers uses sound waves to soften tumors and could be a potent tool against the disease.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/today/2025/12/08/scientists-use-ultrasound-soften-and-treat-cancer-tumors-without-damaging-healthy-tissue" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Read More</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>鶹ѰBoulder Today—Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., second only to heart disease. But a new cancer treatment method from 鶹ѰBoulder researchers uses sound waves to soften tumors and could be a potent tool against the disease.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2026-01/Acoustic%20particles%20article%20010626.png?itok=LdF0kbQd" width="1500" height="1498" alt="A microscopic image of the researchers' sound-responsive particles."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:23:40 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2805 at /venturepartners Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance /venturepartners/2025/12/03/agami-zero-breaks-through-magnetic-hydrogen-advance <span>Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-03T12:31:40-07:00" title="Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - 12:31">Wed, 12/03/2025 - 12:31</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-12/LVC%202025%20Agami%20Zero%20winners%20check%20120825.JPG?h=a1e1a043&amp;itok=2ACerFUB" width="1200" height="800" alt="Four people stand on stage celebrating as they hold an oversized check for $127,500 made out to Agami Zero, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge, with confetti graphics and the event logo projected behind them."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> 鶹ѰStartup News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Renewable And Sustainable Energy Institute—A startup team led by RASEI Fellow Oana Luca, called Agami Zero, has just secured seed funding after winning the 2025 鶹ѰLab Venture Challenge. Their winning idea? A new way to produce hydrogen fuel more efficiently, a key mechanism for decarbonizing our energy economy.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/rasei/2025/12/03/agami-zero-breaks-through-magnetic-hydrogen-advance`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:31:40 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2791 at /venturepartners 鶹ѰBoulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care /venturepartners/2025/12/02/external-news/university-colorado-boulder-leading-45m-arpa-h-grants-self-healing-joints-wound-care <span>鶹ѰBoulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-02T12:04:22-07:00" title="Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 12:04">Tue, 12/02/2025 - 12:04</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-12/bowman.jpg?h=bbb2c827&amp;itok=1jRI4X8B" width="1200" height="800" alt="Four researchers in lab coats and safety glasses stand in a laboratory while one holds up a flask glowing bright green under a handheld light, with the others watching and smiling."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>鶹ѰBoulder College of Engineering &amp; Applied Science—In 2025, 鶹ѰBoulder celebrated its first awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports transformative health and biomedical breakthroughs. ARPA-H was founded in 2022 with a mission to fast-track “high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.”&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/engineering/cu-boulder-leading-45M-ARPAH-grants-self-healing-joints-wound-care" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Read the Full Story</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>鶹ѰBoulder College of Engineering &amp; Applied Science—In 2025, 鶹ѰBoulder celebrated its first awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports transformative health and biomedical breakthroughs. ARPA-H was founded in 2022 with a mission to fast-track “high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.”</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-12/bowman.jpg?itok=31tqJxJw" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Four researchers in lab coats and safety glasses stand in a laboratory while one holds up a flask glowing bright green under a handheld light, with the others watching and smiling."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:04:22 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2782 at /venturepartners Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device /venturepartners/2025/11/12/external-news/researchers-redefine-hip-arthroscopy-breakthrough-surgical-device <span>Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-11-12T16:17:28-07:00" title="Wednesday, November 12, 2025 - 16:17">Wed, 11/12/2025 - 16:17</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-11/CAP-LIFT%20surgical%20111825.jpg?h=7a16a767&amp;itok=ooerqlQK" width="1200" height="800" alt="In an operating room, a surgeon performs an arthroscopic procedure on a patient, with the joint displayed on a monitor; surgical instruments and tubing pass through a small incision highlighted by a blue circle."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>鶹ѰBoulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—The technology, published in the journal Arthroscopy Techniques, completely transforms arthroscopic procedures in the hip region, making them safer and more efficient than ever before.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/mechanical/researchers-redefine-hip-arthroscopy-breakthrough-surgical-device" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Read the Full Story</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>鶹ѰBoulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—The technology, published in the journal Arthroscopy Techniques, completely transforms arthroscopic procedures in the hip region, making them safer and more efficient than ever before.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-11/CAP-LIFT%20surgical%20111825.jpg?itok=wU1ANX0p" width="1500" height="1151" alt="In an operating room, a surgeon performs an arthroscopic procedure on a patient, with the joint displayed on a monitor; surgical instruments and tubing pass through a small incision highlighted by a blue circle."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:17:28 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2776 at /venturepartners 鶹ѰBoulder delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty /venturepartners/2025/10/31/external-news/cu-boulder-delivers-impactful-research-and-creative-work-despite-federal-funding <span>鶹ѰBoulder delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-31T12:40:44-06:00" title="Friday, October 31, 2025 - 12:40">Fri, 10/31/2025 - 12:40</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-11/Flatirons%20and%20poppies%20110425.jpg?h=08b866d1&amp;itok=7ClPQwSo" width="1200" height="800" alt="Vibrant red poppies bloom in the foreground of a lush green meadow with Boulder’s Flatirons rising dramatically under a colorful sunrise sky dotted with soft clouds."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/361"> Venture Partners News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><span>鶹Ѱ researchers continued to deliver meaningful, positive outcomes in the university's public research mission through strong results in fiscal year 2024–25. Highlights of their work include big innovations in quantum technology, improving our understanding of space weather and enhancing environmental resiliency.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/today/2025/10/31/cu-boulder-delivers-impactful-research-and-creative-work-despite-federal-funding" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Read the Full Story</span></a></p><h2><span>The Venture Partners Impact</span></h2><p><span>FY 2023-24 was another tremendous year for innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado. University researchers, inventors and creators began working with Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder to advance 144 breakthrough innovations, and &nbsp;36 鶹Ѱstartups were launched through Venture Partners based on university discoveries. These ventures spanned the breadth of CU's research expertise, with innovations in sustainability, biosciences, quantum science, optics and aerospace, to name a few.</span></p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/about/reports/current-annual-report" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore the Annual Report</span></a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>鶹Ѱ researchers continued to deliver meaningful, positive outcomes in the university's public research mission through strong results in fiscal year 2024–25. Highlights of their work include big innovations in quantum technology, improving our understanding of space weather and enhancing environmental resiliency.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-11/Flatirons%20and%20poppies%20110425.jpg?itok=UuCIIHQ-" width="1500" height="1125" alt="Vibrant red poppies bloom in the foreground of a lush green meadow with Boulder’s Flatirons rising dramatically under a colorful sunrise sky dotted with soft clouds."> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:40:44 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2763 at /venturepartners $755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries /venturepartners/2025/10/27/internal-news/755000-awarded-university-colorado-innovators-advance-their-discoveries <span>$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-27T16:18:03-06:00" title="Monday, October 27, 2025 - 16:18">Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:18</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2024-10/LVC%20thumbnail%20for%20article%20100224.png?h=2c61325d&amp;itok=k9VPv5ds" width="1200" height="800" alt="Lab Venture Challenge"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> 鶹ѰStartup News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/361"> Venture Partners News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="lead">Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s <a href="/venturepartners/lab-venture-challenge" rel="nofollow"><strong>Lab Venture Challenge (LVC)</strong></a>. Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.</p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-left ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">Interested in the 2026 LVC?</div><div class="ucb-box-content"><p>LVC supports 鶹Ѱprojects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-full ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/lab-venture-challenge" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Learn More</span></a></p></div></div></div><p>Through LVC, top innovators from 鶹ѰBoulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants to fund projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the <a href="https://oedit.colorado.gov/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program</strong></a>, as well as Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. Six awards were granted this year, and the funding goes directly to 鶹Ѱlabs to further develop their innovations.</p><p>This culminating event for these groundbreaking teams showcased the university’s initiative to support innovators from discovery to economic success. LVC is run by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder, the university’s commercialization arm and central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. As part of the LVC program, all the competitors worked with Venture Partners to protect their innovations and practice their funding pitches for business audiences. LVC awardees will continue to work and collaborate with Venture Partners on their <a href="/venturepartners/path-commercialization" rel="nofollow"><strong>path to commercialization</strong></a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><span>“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain,“ said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and assistant director of licensing at Venture Partners. “All of these teams have promising innovations ready to launch new businesses. LVC is a unique opportunity for those innovators to receive that vital funding, and we’re proud to work with the State of Colorado to make it happen.”</span></p><p>To date, LVC has funded over 123 projects through 70 new deep-tech startup companies; collectively, these companies have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.</p><p>Applications for the next LVC will open in July 2026.</p><p>This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by <a href="https://bhgrlaw.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.hollandhart.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Holland &amp; Hart LLC</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.jnj.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Johnson &amp; Johnson</strong></a>,<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/home.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>Thermo Fisher Scientific</strong></a> and <a href="https://paralex.ai/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Paralex</strong></a></p><p><em>Photo Credit: TJ Zirkman</em></p><h2>2025 Physical Sciences Winners</h2> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20Agami%20Zero.JPG?itok=C-ivk5Xi" width="375" height="375" alt="Four people stand on stage celebrating as they hold an oversized check for $127,500 made out to Agami Zero, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder."> </div> </div> <h3><span>$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H<sub>2</sub> Production</span></h3><p><span>Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis (MEE) improves hydrogen generation efficiency by enhancing bubble release and energy transfer. Adapted from space technology, MEE offers scalable, cost-effective clean hydrogen for transportation, industry and off-grid power. The team has formed a startup,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://agamizero.com/" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Agami Zero,</strong></span></a><span>&nbsp;to bring their innovation to market.</span></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/oana-r-luca-30b18212/" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Oana Luca</strong></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/oana-r-luca-30b18212/" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>&nbsp;(</span><a href="/chemistry/oana-luca" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Chemistry</strong></span></a><span>), PI</span></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurg90/" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Ankur Gupta</strong></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurg90/" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>&nbsp;(</span><a href="/chbe/ankur-gupta" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Chemical and Biological Engineering</strong></span></a><span>), Co-PI</span></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterkoltunski/" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Hunter Koltunski</strong></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterkoltunski/" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>&nbsp;(Student: 鶹ѰBoulder Chemistry), Scientific Lead</span></li><li><span><strong>Richard Noble</strong> (</span><a href="/engineering/richard-noble" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Chemical and Biological Engineering</strong></span></a><span>), Scientific Advisor</span></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjafarmakrani" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Jafar Makrani</strong></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjafarmakrani" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO</span></li><li><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyle-antieau/" rel="nofollow"><span><strong>Lyle Antieau III</strong></span><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a><span>, Co-Founder and CTO/COO</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr></li></ul> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20Chi3%20Optics.JPG?itok=42jFmn4d" width="375" height="375" alt="Four people stand on stage smiling and holding an oversized check for $125,000 made out to CHI3 Optics, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder."> </div> </div> <h3>$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications</h3><p>Our Gen-III low-SWaP frequency comb, built on thin-film lithium niobate nanophotonics, delivers octave-spanning spectra with ultra-low power. Compact, scalable and robust, it enables deployable quantum clocks, sensors and communication systems beyond the lab. The team has formed <span>a startup,</span> <span>Chi3 Optics, to bring their innovation to market.</span></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-diddams-7bb1081ab" rel="nofollow"><strong>Scott A. Diddams</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="/ecee/scott-diddams" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Electrical, Computer &amp; Energy Engineering</strong></a>), PI</li><li><strong>Tsung-Han Wu</strong> (Postdoc: 鶹ѰBoulder Electrical, Computer &amp; Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-chang-995b30174" rel="nofollow"><strong>Peter Chang</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>, CTO</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-ji-ming-brooks-b430aa221" rel="nofollow"><strong>Nathan Brooks</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>, Principal Scientist</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20Synergia.JPG?itok=ao3-GI1O" width="375" height="375" alt="Two people stand on stage smiling and holding an oversized check for $125,000 made out to Synergia, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder."> </div> </div> <h3>$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel &nbsp;&nbsp;</h3><p>A modular photo-thermo-catalysis device that rapidly activates a wide range of stubborn chemical bonds, enabling carbon-free fuel production at high reaction rates and the destruction of toxic PFAS in water, while reducing energy use and operating costs. The team has formed a startup, Synergia, to bring their innovation to market.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/longji-cui-19007819a/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Longji Cui</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="/mechanical/longji-cui" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering</strong></a>), PI</li><li><strong>Dishan Chooi</strong> (Student: 鶹ѰBoulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarang-gosavi-b3249b169/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Sarang Gosavi</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(Student: 鶹ѰBoulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead</li><li><strong>Yunxuan Zhu </strong>(Postdoc: 鶹ѰBoulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&amp;D</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencrofton/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Karen Crofton</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="/engineering/karen-crofton" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder College of Engineering and Applied Science</strong></a>), Advisor</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr><h2>2025 Biosciences Winners</h2> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20Arkana%20Therapeutics.JPG?itok=KbLIswHZ" width="375" height="375" alt="Three people stand on stage smiling and holding an oversized check for $127,500 made out to Arkana Therapeutics, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder."> </div> </div> <h3>$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity</h3><p>Pythons exhibit dramatic metabolic plasticity with feeding, increasing organ size and activity by up to 40% after consuming large prey. From this biology, the team discovered a novel feeding-induced metabolite that was upregulated by 1,000-fold and acts as a natural appetite suppressant through modulating satiety. The team has formed a startup, Arkana Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-leinwand-16579771/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Leslie Leinwand</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="/mcdb/leslie-leinwand" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Molecular, Cellular &amp; Developmental Biology</strong></a>), PI</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-martin-ph-d-045504146/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Thomas Martin</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(Postdoc: 鶹ѰBoulder Molecular, Cellular &amp; Developmental Biology), CSO</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-gugel-ph-d-96a991337/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Jack Gugel</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>, CEO</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuxiao-tan/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Yuxiao Tan</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(Postdoc: 鶹ѰBoulder Molecular, Cellular &amp; Developmental Biology), Co-Founder</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20iMembrane%20Therapeutics.JPG?itok=_Kb5U2TH" width="375" height="375" alt="Two people stand on stage smiling and holding an oversized check for $125,000 made out to iMembrane Therapeutics, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder."> </div> </div> <h3>$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis</h3><p>Enabled by recent advances in AI-driven protein design, minibinders are being engineered to target IL-18, a key driver of sepsis. These compact, stable proteins penetrate tissues efficiently and can be precisely dosed to avoid prolonged immune suppression, offering a next-generation therapeutic for sepsis. The team has formed a startup, iMembrane Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.</p><ul><li><strong>Jingshi Shen</strong> (<a href="/mcdb/jingshi-shen" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Molecular, Cellular &amp; Developmental Biology</strong></a>), PI</li><li><strong>Suzhao Li</strong> (<a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/22748" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰAnschutz Medical Campus</strong></a>), President</li><li><strong>Charles Dinarello</strong> (<a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/314" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰAnschutz Medical Campus</strong></a>), Advisor</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-10/LVC%202025%20Entangl3d.JPG?itok=AG40XFSa" width="375" height="375" alt="Two people stand on stage holding an oversized check for $125,000 made out to Entangl3D, winners of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge hosted by Venture Partners at 鶹ѰBoulder; one of them gives a thumbs-up while smiling at the camera."> </div> </div> <h3>$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail</h3><p>DuraPatch provides rapid closure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks during neurosurgery, eliminating the need for sutures. Engineered with high-resolution 3D printing and advanced biomaterials, DuraPatch strongly adheres to wet tissues to create a watertight seal while supporting and promoting healing. The team has founded a startup, Entangl3d, to bring their innovation to market.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-davidson-05352bb9" data-entity-type="external" rel="nofollow"><strong>Matt Davidson</strong></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-davidson-05352bb9" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="/lab/burdick/matthew-davidson-phd" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder BioFrontiers Institute</strong></a>), CEO and Founder</li><li><strong>Jason Burdick</strong> (<a href="/chbe/jason-burdick" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰBoulder Chemical and Biological Engineering</strong></a> and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-lennarson-521376322/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Peter Lennarson</strong><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin">&nbsp;</i></a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29478" rel="nofollow"><strong>鶹ѰAnschutz Medical Campus</strong></a>), Advisor</li></ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2024-10/LVC%20article%20title%20image%20100124.png?itok=UZ9hMb3H" width="1500" height="844" alt="Lab Venture Challenge"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:18:03 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2758 at /venturepartners 鶹ѰBoulder researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging /venturepartners/2025/10/14/external-news/cu-boulder-researchers-advance-miniature-laser-technology-biomedical-imaging <span>鶹ѰBoulder researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging</span> <span><span>Daniel Corbin …</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-14T11:00:48-06:00" title="Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - 11:00">Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:00</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-07/CU%20Boulder%20College%20of%20Engineering%20Rustandy%20Building%20071425.jpeg?h=154d8c3b&amp;itok=9D7wjr-v" width="1200" height="800" alt="A tree-lined walkway leads up to an angular building after a kiss of spring rain"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> 鶹ѰTechnology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>News-Medical.Net—鶹Ѱ researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251014/CU-Boulder-researchers-advance-miniature-laser-technology-for-biomedical-imaging.aspx" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Read the Full Article</span></a></p><h2>Partnering Opportunities<span> with 鶹ѰTechnologies</span></h2><div><div><p>Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. D<span>iscover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/venturepartners/technology-portfolio" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Explore Opportunities</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>News-Medical.Net—鶹Ѱ researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-07/CU%20Boulder%20College%20of%20Engineering%20Rustandy%20Building%20071425.jpeg?itok=UJ7eUSpd" width="1500" height="1000" alt="A tree-lined walkway leads up to an angular building after a kiss of spring rain"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:00:48 +0000 Daniel Corbin Leonard 2757 at /venturepartners