CU Boulder’s Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator program is seeking entrepreneurs for its 2024 cohort, focusing on connecting external business creators with university inventions. The program provides access to promising technologies and funding support, aiming to diversify the startup community and foster commercialization of innovations through collaboration between entrepreneurs and inventors.
In its second year, CU Boulder’s Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator program is inviting passionate entrepreneurs to collaborate with groundbreaking technologies birthed from university research. This innovative initiative, managed by Venture Partners, seeks to connect external business creators with inventions that hold immense commercial promise. Applications for the 2024 cohort are now open, allowing entrepreneurs to explore high-potential technologies and receive essential funding support for their nascent businesses.
Each year, CU Boulder’s research facilities yield around 150 unique inventions, many of which—though filled with potential—remain untapped awaiting the right individuals to bring them to life. Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for research, emphasizes that the absence of a startup stemming from these inventions does not diminish their value: “Just because the university inventors didn’t create a startup company doesn’t mean the technology is not a really exciting startup opportunity.”
Venturing forth, the Embark program shines a light on innovations like breath monitors, as articulated by Marta Zgagacz, the director of licensing. She shares the excitement of researchers, hoping their technologies will blossom into successful startups. Entrepreneurs participating in the program will have the chance to delve into available technologies, meet the brilliant minds behind them, and adapt their ideas into viable business plans.
Successful candidates for the program can anticipate funding and support, receiving part-time salary for the startup’s founder and up to $50,000 for technology advancement. Acknowledging the need for diversity in entrepreneurial ventures, Rees mentions the value of applications from emerging founders who may otherwise lack the means to initiate their projects. This program aims to create an inclusive environment to foster innovation from varied backgrounds.
As part of a broader initiative, Embark joins existing support systems provided by Venture Partners, such as the NSF I-Corps and the Lab Venture Challenge, all designed to scaffold aspirants in bringing their innovations to market. Following the inaugural Embark Showcase, budding entrepreneurs displayed their breakthroughs across diverse sectors, including biotechnology and aerospace, captivating the audience with their entrepreneurial journeys and visions for the future.
The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator program at CU Boulder bridges the gap between innovative research and entrepreneurial pursuit, serving as a catalyst for startup initiatives rooted in scientific breakthroughs. As universities often generate substantial research outputs, many remain uncommercialized due to a lack of entrepreneurial engagement. Thus, programs like Embark strive to connect talented business-minded individuals with leading-edge technologies developed by researchers, enhancing the commercialization of high-potential inventions and diversifying the entrepreneurial landscape.
The Embark program at CU Boulder is a beacon for entrepreneurs eager to transform pioneering inventions into successful startups. By facilitating access to untapped technologies and providing essential funding, it aims to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. As it nurtures talent from varied backgrounds, Embark not only enhances innovation commercialization but also expands the horizon for future business leaders and innovators to thrive in their ventures, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Original Source: www.colorado.edu
