Climate, Energy & Sustainability

$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:18:03 +0000

$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:18

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 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Interested in the 2026 LVC?

LVC supports �鶹��Ѱ��projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support.

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Through LVC, top innovators from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, 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 Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. Six awards were granted this year, and the funding goes directly to �鶹��Ѱ��labs to further develop their innovations.

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��Ѱ��Boulder, 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 path to commercialization.

“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.”

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.

Applications for the next LVC will open in July 2026.

This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Holland & Hart LLC, Johnson & Johnson, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Paralex

Photo Credit: TJ Zirkman

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

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, Agami Zero, to bring their innovation to market.

Oana Luca (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemistry), PI
Ankur Gupta (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI
Hunter Koltunski (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemistry), Scientific Lead
Richard Noble (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Scientific Advisor
Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO
Lyle Antieau III, Co-Founder and CTO/COO

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

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 a startup, Chi3 Optics, to bring their innovation to market.

Scott A. Diddams (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI
Tsung-Han Wu (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO
Peter Chang, CTO
Nathan Brooks, Principal Scientist

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

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.

Longji Cui (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), PI
Dishan Chooi (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Sarang Gosavi (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Yunxuan Zhu (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&D
Karen Crofton (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), Advisor

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

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.

Leslie Leinwand (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Thomas Martin (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), CSO
Jack Gugel, CEO
Yuxiao Tan (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

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.

Jingshi Shen (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Suzhao Li (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), President
Charles Dinarello (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

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.

Matt Davidson (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder BioFrontiers Institute), CEO and Founder
Jason Burdick (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI
Peter Lennarson (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $750,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

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NSF I-Corps at the �鶹��Ѱ�� helps researchers solve pressing problems

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:48:43 +0000

NSF I-Corps at the �鶹��Ѱ�� helps researchers solve pressing problems Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:48

Heather Hansen

Photo: The August 2025 cohort of NSF I-Corps^TM Hub West's Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder.

From agriculture to aerospace, the National Science Foundation's (NSF) I-Corps^TM is a launchpad at the �鶹��Ѱ��, helping innovators in and out of the University of Colorado bring research and inventions to the people who need them most. By equipping scientists and inventors with entrepreneurial tools, the program transforms great ideas into startups that tackle real-world problems.

Join I-Corps at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

Our I-Corps programming is available to all researchers, inventors and problem solvers from any research or community institution; all you need is an innovation and an interest in bringing it to those in need.

Learn More and Apply

Growing up in Minnesota, Elliot Strand (Alum: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), co-founder and CEO of PAGE Technologies, “saw firsthand how excess fertilizer runoff led to worsening algae blooms in our lakes, choking ecosystems and turning once thriving bodies of water into lifeless green pools.” The experience left a lasting impression on Strand, urging him to act. “It’s what motivated me to pursue science and ultimately to co-found PAGE Technologies to develop tools that could help prevent these issues at the source,” he said.

Strand and co-founder Payton Goodrich are driven by a commitment to revolutionize agriculture while also fighting pollution. They first collaborated on an effort to engineer cutting-edge sensor systems while Strand earned his PhD at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and Goodrich at the University of California Berkeley. PAGE, which stands for Printed Agricultural and Environmental Technologies, “reflects both our core technology and our broader mission to improve how we monitor and manage natural resources across food, water and climate systems,” said Strand. PAGE Technologies is now pioneering the next generation in water and soil management with a platform of affordable biochemical sensors for real-time monitoring of plant nutrients.

Strand and Goodrich launched PAGE Technologies in late 2023, following the completion of National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps^TM) programs, which were designed specifically to help researchers and innovators identify both their target customer base and market gaps.

“I-Corps helped us identify a real problem that customers are willing to pay to solve. It taught us the fundamentals of business development, market research, and the importance of product-market fit,” said Strand. “Most importantly, we learned how to systematically engage with customers to understand their needs and build a sustainable business around that insight.”

Empowering researchers, entrepreneurs and society

Page Technologies

Introducing the world's most affordable water and soil monitoring for instant and continuous data capture.

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Like PAGE Technologies’ founders, hundreds of students, faculty and community innovators have now benefited from I-Corps since it arrived at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. In 2018, before joining NSF’s I-Corps initiative, the university began offering I-Corps-like programming, including the iterative customer discovery programs now offered as Starting Blocks and Research-to-Market (R2M) through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, the commercialization arm of the university that serves �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, UCCS and physical sciences investigators at �鶹��Ѱ��Denver.

“Our role in the NSF I-Corps Hub West reflects our commitment to ensuring that �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s research makes a real difference in people’s lives,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes . “We are proud to collaborate with peer institutions and engage with Colorado communities to ensure that groundbreaking research reaches markets and people who need it most.”

Since 2021, when �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder officially became a partner institution in the NSF I-Corps Hub West, it has been a national leader in the initiative. Within the hub, the campus collaborates with other top research institutions across the region, including Texas Tech University, University of Southern California; University of California, Los Angeles; California Institute of Technology; University of California (Riverside and Santa Barbara); Colorado State University; University of Utah; Colorado School of Mines; and University of New Mexico.

I-Corp’s primary purpose is to empower researchers, entrepreneurs and society by fostering a culture of innovation, supporting startup creation and delivering tangible economic and societal benefits from federally funded research. It is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and marketable innovation by equipping scientists and engineers with entrepreneurial skills, practical training and real customer interviews to move their discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.

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

For the researcher with a great idea, I-Corps essentially helps fill a void in the spin-out process—backing up cool science with understanding and demonstrating the value proposition of that research and innovation, according to Emily Vogt, director of venture development at Venture Partners. “The number one goal of the NSF in funding these programs across all of our universities is to commercialize these technologies and actually find the space in the market,” said Vogt.

I-Corps regional hubs serve as the backbone of NSF’s National Innovation Network, allowing it to reach a broad pool of innovators nationwide, according to Daniel Marshall, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s I-Corps program manager. According to Marshall, by extending �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder I-Corps into rural and underserved regions of Colorado, it retains local talent and ensures a more well-rounded national innovation pipeline.

“There’s importance and impact to working and partnering with schools that just don't have the bandwidth to do what we do at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder,” he said. Marshall highlighted the successful relationship he has forged through I-Corps programming with Colorado Mesa University, Fort Lewis College, Trinidad Community College, Western Colorado University and others. “I think that’s great for economic impact and rolling out ideas,” said Marshall. Each year, teams from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s I-Corps have progressed to the National I-Corps Teams Program, where they can win a $50,000 small business grant to use toward customer discovery expenses.

Mentorship is another critical part of the programs, said Vogt. “We help pair those technical teams with a business mentor that can help make introductions, broadening [a team’s] network and synthesizing all of these conversations that they’re having,” she said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our research teams to engage with this awesome startup ecosystem in Colorado, fueled by mentors who willingly give their time to these interesting projects.”

“Remarkably useful” programming

Sally Hatcher, now co-founder and managing partner at Buff Gold Ventures, a private venture capital firm backing �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder entrepreneurs, launched both Starting Blocks and R2M in her prior role with Venture Partners.

“I-Corps provides invaluable training for academics to ‘get out of the lab’ and talk to industry experts to understand concrete industrial requirements and gaps,” she said. “It’s a terrific way to learn about product-market fit and finding a solution to practical problems with paying customers. Whether participants choose to create a startup, license their technology to another company, or return to the lab, the professional training is remarkably useful for almost all participants.”

Further developed by Vogt and Susan Strong, entrepreneur-in-residence and NSF I-Corps curriculum instructor, I-Corps programming is now a popular and successful tool in helping countless researchers move their work from the theoretical to the practical.

“I-Corps is accelerating the translation of discoveries from lab to impact,” said Strong. “The idea is that all of this federal money has gone into inventing these things, and we want to get it out into society for two reasons: so that it can create jobs and have economic impact,” she said. Both Strong and Hatcher believe so keenly in the I-Corps programming that they still act as national I-Corps program instructors. “I use this framework every day to talk to founders about how to get started,” said Hatcher.

A national standout

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder stands out in the national I-Corps landscape in several ways. First, at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, I-Corps is directly integrated with the university’s intellectual property and commercialization efforts within Venture Partners and the Research and Innovation Office, said Marshall. The Venture Partners team refers new research teams from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and other campuses to the I-Corps regional programs, which provide a crucial look at each team’s development and potential. “This close-knit set-up is crucial,” he said. “Very few universities outside �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder have adopted this kind of integrated model. It’s a major reason why we stand out nationally.”

Second, Vogt pointed out �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s I-Corps program leads outreach to many campus groups as well as to Colorado communities and rural universities. “Our I-Corps program has been the entrepreneurial touchpoint for so many people,” she said. “It’s allowed us to bring more people into the university, understanding what role the university has in the startup ecosystem.”

Lastly, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s exceptional efforts in rural outreach have caught the attention of the national I-Corps leaders. “They’re now directing hubs to adopt some of the things that we’re doing, which is a really cool thing,” he said.

Commutrics

Commutrics is a commuting platform that allows organizations to implement multi-modal transportation programs seamlessly.

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Remarkable teams from within the hub and beyond include �鶹��Ѱ��Denver’s Moatassem Abdallah, associate professor of civil engineering (�鶹��Ѱ��Denver College of Engineering, Design and Computing). After completing Starting Blocks and R2M in 2021, Abdallah co-founded Commutrics in 2023 and is now its CEO. The company spun out “to help employers and cities implement data-driven, incentive-based commuting programs,” said Abdallah. Commutrics is a transportation platform designed to connect commuters with various transportation options, incentivizing the most sustainable choices while saving them money and improving their overall health and well-being.

Abdallah credits I-Corps with “helping us validate our value proposition through direct engagement with potential customers. It sharpened our focus on market fit, clarified key pain points in commuter and employer behavior, and guided us in shaping a scalable, impact-driven business model.” Commutrics is now seeking partnerships with cities, employers and transportation agencies to expand the reach of the platform and “drive meaningful behavior change in commuting,” said Abdallah.

Another stellar team, led by Jarrod Schiffbauer, formerly special research professor (Physics) at Colorado Mesa University. Now visiting research professor (Mechanical Engineering) at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Schiffbauer focuses on a novel, more efficient thrust concept for in-space propulsion systems and, in particular, a way to move small satellites around in space for Earth observation, communications and scientific research. Since traditional propulsion systems don’t scale well for the SmallSat and CubeSat market, new miniaturized solutions like Schiffbauer’s are essential.

After three weeks in Starting Blocks, and ultimately in making their way through the national I-Corps program, Schiffbauer said he and his team have been able to “better understand the in-space propulsion market, where our technology might best fit in, and which shortcomings or risks we should most focus on,” he said. “I-Corps has been extremely informative and changed the way we approach finding which problems to solve.”

The future of a “pillar program”

At the end of 2026, amidst a boom in participation, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s five-year I-Corps grant will be up for renewal, and the university will apply to extend funding for this vital programming.

“I-Corps is really a pillar program for what Venture Partners does, and we have a really good number of inventors joining the program, even if they’re not looking to become startup CEOs,” said Vogt. “The kind of market awareness they’re bringing into their research has been really beneficial for a lot of our labs. I-Corps has helped our researchers understand their own technologies a little bit better, and it informs their future development efforts.” I-Corps programming increases the likelihood that university research leads to real-world impact, she said.

With another five-year I-Corps grant, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder would continue accelerating the translation of cutting-edge research into products, services and technologies that address societal challenges in fields such as healthcare, energy and agriculture while boosting the economy and training a skilled entrepreneurial workforce. “Our goal with I-Corps is to broaden the perspective of these research teams. They are brilliant scientists and engineers working on life-changing technologies,” said Vogt. “More often than not, the business is the vehicle that will drive the impact.”

Reflecting on his experiences with I-Corps and spinning out PAGE Technologies, Elliot Strand is excited and humbled. Recently, the company has been awarded several prominent grants, including one from the CO-WY ASCEND Engine and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “We’re deeply grateful that so many people recognize the urgency of this problem and believe in our approach to solving it. With recent funding and growing partnerships, we’ve been able to build a small but mighty team,” said Strand. “Working alongside people who are equally mission-driven has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.”

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 �鶹��Ѱ��Researchers

Explore Our Startups Portfolio

Explore Our Technology Portfolio

From agriculture to aerospace, NSF’s I-Corps is a launchpad at the �鶹��Ѱ��, helping innovators in and out of the University of Colorado bring research and inventions to the people who need them most. By equipping scientists and inventors with entrepreneurial tools, the program transforms great ideas into startups that tackle real-world problems.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:04:37 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality Daniel Corbin … Mon, 09/29/2025 - 10:04

Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

Announced at the United Nations during Climate Week, the Commission brings together more than 170 global leaders from over 30 countries, including a former U.S. Surgeon General, global health authorities, senior scientists and researchers from leading universities as well as executives and sustainability leaders across design, real estate, technology and manufacturing.

Read the Full Story

Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Climate, Energy and Sustainability

Climate, energy and sustainability innovations are shaping the most urgent frontier of science and society—transforming how we power our world, manage resources and respond to environmental change. At the University of Colorado, groundbreaking research is driving not just new insights, but practical solutions to the global climate crisis.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Environmental Engineering Program—Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

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Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:08:08 +0000

Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000 Daniel Corbin … Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:08

Eleven teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $750,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases at the Dairy Arts Center. Judges from Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

2025 Lab Venture Challenge Showcases

Physical Sciences: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m.

Biosciences: Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m.

Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302)

Get Tickets

Through LVC, top innovators from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants of up to $125,000. LVC supports 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 Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.

LVC is run by Venture Partners, one of the university’s commercialization arms and a central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. LVC finalists are working and collaborating with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

To date, LVC has funded 117 projects through 64 new deep-tech startup companies, which collectively have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing including Darwin Biosciences, Manifest Technologies (prev. Vitro3D) and Mesa Quantum.

Members of the entrepreneurial and university communities are invited to attend the LVC Showcases to enjoy good food, network and see which teams will walk away with $125,000 of funding.

This year’s LVC showcases were additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Johnson & Johnson, Holland & Hart LLP, Paralex and Thermo Fisher Scientific

2025 Physical Sciences Finalists

Breakthrough Analog Domain Jamming Suppression for UAVs

Multi-Domain Anti-Jamming Technology (MDAT) provides real-time interference suppression for military UAVs. With 400x size reduction via analog domain processing, MDAT deploys as 6x6-inch, sub-5lb plug-and-play modules for retrofitting tactical drones, ensuring mission continuity in contested RF environments. The team has formed BoldRF LLC to bring their innovation to market.

Laila Marzall (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Zoya Popovic (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Co-PI
Marisha Parikh (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program), Head of Business
Sarah Johns (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Leeds School of Business), Business Strategist
Stephanie Torres (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Product Strategist.
Gary Dolsen (Fmr: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Leeds School of Business), Advisor

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

Oana Luca (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemistry), PI
Ankur Gupta (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI
Hunter Koltunski (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemistry), Scientific Lead
Richard Noble (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Scientific Advisor
Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Lyle Antieau III, Co-Founder and CTO/COO, LVC Pitch Presenter

Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

SynForce is developing 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, Synforce, to bring their innovation to market.

Longji Cui (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Dishan Chooi (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Sarang Gosavi (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Yunxuan Zhu (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&D
Karen Crofton (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), Advisor

Next-Generation Holographic Materials for AR Displays

A thiol-ene holographic materials platform delivers low-haze, high-refractive-index photopolymers for sharper, more immersive AR displays. This versatile and scalable step-growth method overcomes shrinkage, scattering and supply-chain constraints of existing chain-growth materials for holographic optics.

Christopher Bowman (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter,
Robert McLeod (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Co-PI
Yunfeng Hu (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering)
John Rynk (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Materials Science & Engineering Program)

A Language-Driven Engine to Deploy Robots Like Software

BoBoRobo’s agentic AI engine turns plain English specifications into ready-to-deploy robotics—validated in a digital twin and safety-checked across OEMs. It outputs layout, BOM, install plan and robot-specific code, cutting deployment timelines from six months to ten days and reducing costs by up to 50%. The team has formed a startup, BoBoRobo, to bring their innovation to market.

Alessandro Roncone (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Computer Science), PI, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Anuj Pasricha (Student: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Department of Computer Science), CTO
Claire Chen (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Computer Science), CSO

Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

Scott A. Diddams (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI
Tsung-Han Wu (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO
Peter Chang, CTO
Nathan Brooks, Principal Scientist, LVC Pitch Presenter

2025 Biosciences Finalists

Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Leslie Leinwand (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Thomas Martin (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), CSO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jack Gugel, CEO
Yuxiao Tan (Postdoc: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder

Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

Matt Davidson (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder BioFrontiers Institute), CEO and Founder, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jason Burdick (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI
Peter Lennarson (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Vaporizable Droplets for Proton Beam Visualization

Vaporizable exoskeletal droplets provide in vivo visualization of beam placement during proton therapy, a rapidly growing treatment approach for cancer. Using this image-guided therapy, clinicians can make real-time adjustments to the treatment, reducing harmful side effects and improving patient outcomes. The team has formed a startup, Radiosensitive VEDs, to bring their innovation to market.

Mark Borden (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering), PI
William Frantz (Student �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biomedical Engineering), LVC Pitch Presenter
Barry Marston, Advisor

Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Jingshi Shen (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Suzhao Li (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), President, LVC pitch presenter
Charles Dinarello (�鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Nanorobotic Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

Modern DNA synthesis suffers from low overall yields due to the accumulation of errors for longer strands. The team has designed a nanorobotic synthesis platform which can detect and correct errors during synthesis, enabling ultra-high fidelity synthesis of gene-length DNA for single-cell omics and genomics application. The team has formed a startup, Nanosynth, to bring their innovation to market.

Joshua Johnson (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder ATLAS Institute), CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Mirela Alistar (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, ATLAS Institute), PI
Curtis Woodard, Advisor

Eleven teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $750,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases at the Dairy Arts Center. Judges from Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

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New experimental tool can predict potential wildfires on an hourly basis

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 21:11:33 +0000

New experimental tool can predict potential wildfires on an hourly basis Daniel Corbin … Wed, 09/03/2025 - 15:11

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)—CIRES and NOAA scientists have developed the Hourly Wildfire Potential Index (HWP)—an hourly updated assessment of wildfire risk across every nine square kilometers of land. The tool enhances existing weather prediction models by providing more accurate, real-time forecasts of wildfire activity and associated smoke emissions.

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After devastating winter losses, another threat looms for U.S. beekeepers

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:09:28 +0000

After devastating winter losses, another threat looms for U.S. beekeepers Daniel Corbin … Wed, 07/16/2025 - 12:09

The New York Times—�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder entomologist Sammy Ramsey is leading international efforts to combat the Tropilaelaps mite, a newly identified parasite threatening honeybee populations worldwide. His research highlights the urgent need for global biosecurity measures to protect pollinators essential to food systems and ecosystems alike.

Read the Full Story

Explore Opportunities to Partner with �鶹��Ѱ��Researchers, Inventors and Creators

Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder 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 �鶹��Ѱ��, Colorado Springs and Denver (except �鶹��Ѱ��Denver biosciences investigators, who work with �鶹��Ѱ��Innovations) campuses. Explore the potential for growth and partnerships as you navigate the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship and commercialization at the University of Colorado.

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How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation—a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder administrator explains

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:39:46 +0000

How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation—a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder administrator explains Daniel Corbin … Tue, 07/08/2025 - 11:39

Supporting a Groundbreaking Innovation Pipeline

$8 billion in economic impact, a record-breaking 36 startups launched in a single year and $1.2 billion raised for �鶹��Ѱ��startups and innovations: These are some of the results reported in the latest annual report from Venture Partners.

Read Our Annual Report

From The Conversation

Over the past several months, universities have lost more than $11 billion in funding. Research into cancer, farming solutions and climate resiliency are just a few of the many projects nationally that have seen cuts. The Conversation asked Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, to explain how these cuts and freezes are impacting the university and Colorado’s local economy.

Read on The Conversation Website

The Conversation—Over the past several months, universities have lost more than $11 billion in funding. Research into cancer, farming solutions and climate resiliency are just a few of the many projects nationally that have seen cuts. The Conversation asked Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, to explain how these cuts and freezes are impacting the university and Colorado’s local economy.

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Scientists develop method to build tiny custom microrobots

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:30:46 +0000

Scientists develop method to build tiny custom microrobots Daniel Corbin … Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:30

Explore �鶹��Ѱ��Innovations for Licensing and Partnership

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.

Explore �鶹��Ѱ��Technologies

Researchers at the �鶹��Ѱ�� have created a new way to build and control tiny particles that can move and work like microscopic robots, offering a powerful tool with applications in biomedical and environmental research. The study, published in Nature Communications, describes a new method of fabrication that combines high-precision 3D printing, called two-photon lithography, with a microstenciling technique.

Read More at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—Researchers at the �鶹��Ѱ�� have created a new way to build and control tiny particles that can move and work like microscopic robots, offering a powerful tool with applications in biomedical and environmental research.

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Federal tech-transfer law pays tremendous dividends as research universities spark regional economies

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:52:19 +0000

Federal tech-transfer law pays tremendous dividends as research universities spark regional economies Daniel Corbin … Mon, 06/16/2025 - 09:52

Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)—According to a new report, American research universities like the University of Colorado in recent decades have become engines of innovation for state and regional economies, thanks in large part to the federal Bayh-Dole Act, which incentivizes technology commercialization.

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Carson Bruns explores nanotech that turns plastic into fertilizer with RIO seed grant

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 20:03:15 +0000

Carson Bruns explores nanotech that turns plastic into fertilizer with RIO seed grant Daniel Corbin … Wed, 06/11/2025 - 14:03

Read this full article at colorado.edu/atlas

Licensing Opportunities for Climate, Energy and Sustainability

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Plastics are a problem. They are made with petroleum, are rarely recycled, and turn into microplastics over time—an increasingly intractable global environmental and health concern.

Current bio-based alternatives have yet to see widespread adoption for a number of reasons. Carson Bruns, associate professor (ATLAS Institute, Mechanical Engineering), aims to change all that with a new line of research in his Emergent Nanotechnology Lab focused on turning agricultural materials into bio-based plastics that can be more easily recycled, composted or even used as fertilizer.

Bruns was recently awarded a 2025 Research & Innovation Seed Grant from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Research and Innovation Office for this work.

We discussed the thinking behind this research and possible applications (interview lightly edited for clarity):

What are the challenges with bio-based plastics?

The biggest challenge that everybody is dealing with in sustainable plastics right now is that the current options for bio-based and compostable plastics are not actually very good. They don't compete with the oil-based plastics in terms of how tough and flexible they are, so people don't like to use them as much because they crack and they're brittle.

And in reality, you cannot throw such plastics onto your backyard compost pile. They need special conditions to properly break down. You need a composting facility that heats the compost up to 60°C and it has all these fans and equipment to circulate it, and even then, it still doesn't work that well. [Note: This is one of the reasons why A1 Organics, Boulder, Colorado’s main composting partner, stopped accepting these biodegradable plastics.]

The ATLAS Institute—Plastics are an increasingly intractable global environmental and health concern, and bio-based alternatives have yet to see widespread adoption. Carson Bruns aims to change all that with a new line of research focused on turning agricultural materials into bio-based plastics that can be more easily recycled, composted or even used as fertilizer.

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Climate, Energy & Sustainability

$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H2 Production

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

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NSF I-Corps at the �鶹��Ѱ����� helps researchers solve pressing problems

Join I-Corps at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder

Empowering researchers, entrepreneurs and society

Page Technologies

But what is "commercialization?"

“Remarkably useful” programming

A national standout

Commutrics

The future of a “pillar program”

What Can We Do Together?

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ�����Climate, Energy and Sustainability

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Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000

2025 Lab Venture Challenge Showcases

2025 Physical Sciences Finalists

Breakthrough Analog Domain Jamming Suppression for UAVs

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H2 Production

Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

Next-Generation Holographic Materials for AR Displays

A Language-Driven Engine to Deploy Robots Like Software

Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

2025 Biosciences Finalists

Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

Vaporizable Droplets for Proton Beam Visualization

Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Nanorobotic Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

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New experimental tool can predict potential wildfires on an hourly basis

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After devastating winter losses, another threat looms for U.S. beekeepers

Explore Opportunities to Partner with �鶹��Ѱ�����Researchers, Inventors and Creators

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How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation—a �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder administrator explains

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Scientists develop method to build tiny custom microrobots

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Federal tech-transfer law pays tremendous dividends as research universities spark regional economies

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Carson Bruns explores nanotech that turns plastic into fertilizer with RIO seed grant

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$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

NSF I-Corps at the �鶹��Ѱ�� helps researchers solve pressing problems

Join I-Corps at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Climate, Energy and Sustainability

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

Explore Opportunities to Partner with �鶹��Ѱ��Researchers, Inventors and Creators

How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation—a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder administrator explains