Dear Faculty Relations 鈥�听I have this idea and think it could become a business. Can the university help me? 鈥斕鼶reaming Big听

Dear Dreaming Big 鈥�听 Innovation through entrepreneurship is booming at CU Boulder, with 35 new spinout companies founded in partnership with the university last year alone. Each of these companies is bringing solutions discovered at CU to the people that need them. CU Boulder is fifth in the nation for translating university research into impactful ventures, empowering faculty to bring their discoveries to market.听听

We all know how busy you are. Why get involved with another endeavor? When we ask our faculty partners about this, we learn that their main motivation for embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is to change people鈥檚 lives with their research and discoveries. Right now, there are innovative medicines, energy efficient windows and buildings, quantum computing components, and educational tools鈥攖o name just a few鈥攂orn at CU Boulder that are making a difference through spinout companies. Faculty also tell us they value the professional development that comes with this work, including alternative opportunities and experiences for graduate students, increased research funding, and the personal financial returns of working on new ventures.听

One reason we鈥檙e so successful in generating startup companies is the wide range of resources the university has built through the innovation and entrepreneurship experts at Venture Partners at CU Boulder. With Venture Partners, you can test the demand for your idea and build connections with potential customers in NSF I-Corps workshops. You can find a business mentor in our network of industry experts. And you can even get support to obtain funding to develop your innovation in programs like Lab Venture Challenge ($125,000 grants), the CO-WY Climate Resilience Engine ($300,000 grants), and many other opportunities.听

Got an idea? Please reach out! Our team of experts ready to help you every step of the way, whether you鈥檙e curious to learn more or ready to launch your venture.听听

Written by Bryn Rees, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, and Managing Director of Venture Partners. Visit us at colorado.edu/venturepartners to learn more and get started.听

FDS Newsletter, Oct.听2024.