CU researchers to compete for share of $1.25M in grant funding to bring bio- and physical-sciences innovations to market
Fourteen teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases. Judges from Venture Partners at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.
Through LVC, top innovators from CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, 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 , 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.
“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain,“ said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and senior licensing manager 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..â€
To date, LVC has funded 107 projects through 54 new deep-tech startup companies, which collectively have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.
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 was additionally made possible by , , and .
2024 Physical Sciences Finalists
Colexible
Colexible's liquid metal printed circuit board technology offers deformable, stretchable and affordable electronic assemblies that address the challenges that current rigid PCBs face with emerging technologies, such as wearable electronics, virtual/augmented reality and collaborative robots.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Embark EIR): CEO
- : Chief Product Officer
EcoValeric Innovations
EcoValeric's invention is an electrochemical process that converts biomass-based levulinic acid into 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA), a versatile intermediate for producing biodegradable plastics, biofuels and green solvents. This scalable, renewable process reduces reliance on fossil fuels while enhancing sustainability.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Chemical and Biological Engineering): PI
- : CTO
InfraInform
I2M-B is an end-to-end AI-based software tool that integrates cutting-edge temporal deep learning techniques with novel operations research methodologies to address the lack of an optimized, predictive and proactive approach for cost-efficient bridge and culvert maintenance planning.
- (): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (): Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Kevin Rens: Co-Investigator, Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Mode-Locked Laser Technology
This groundbreaking mode-locked laser technology overcomes the limitations of existing systems and is suitable for harsh environments. These systems excel in applications that require the best phase noise performance in a small and efficient device. Applications include PNT and RF instrumentation.
- Thomas R. Schibli (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Physics): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (Alum: CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Business): Business Development
- Christopher B. Oei: Product Design, Advanced Manufacturing
OsmoPure Technologies
OsmoPure is introducing a membrane for ultrapure water production tailored to the stringent demands of electronics, aerospace and green hydrogen sectors. The technology uses distillation driven by pressure, rather than heat, to produce high-purity product water with ten times higher energy efficiency.
- (PhD student, CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Chemical and Biological Engineering): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI)
- (PhD candidate, CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering): Director of R&D
WHISPER Energy
is a wireless, battery-free sensor platform for smart buildings. It uses machine learning to cut energy consumption by 30%+, providing real-time data to optimize energy use and reduce emissions. Developed with a $2 million ARPA-E grant, it advances zero emissions economically and efficiently.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ 2023 Embark EIR): Co-Founder and CEO
- Gregor P. Henze (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, RASEI): PI and Co-Founder
- : Technical Lead and Advisor
Tierra Metrics
Tierra Metrics' novel high-spatial density sensor innovation will enable real-time characterization of the soil nitrogen cycle which will help growers, land managers and others to improve efficiency and profitability, as well as improve soil health and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) Chief Engineer
- : Co-Founder
- : Co-Founder
2024 Biosciences Finalists
Aatxe Therapeutics
Aatxe Therapeutics enhances the structural adaptability of cyclic peptides, improving their ability to bind, inhibit and access challenging intracellular targets. This unique platform unlocks new opportunities for treating complex diseases and improving patient outcomes.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Embark EIR): COO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Michael Stowell (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology): PI
Codebreaker
Codebreaker is building a platform for generating variant genomes at scale in an AI framework that drives variant genome design and machine learning to generate significance maps broadly across human disease and drug response.
- (BioFrontiers Institute: PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- : CEO
- : CTO
- Jordan Abbott: KOL-Collaborator
Entangl3d
Entangl3d is transforming spine surgery with a groundbreaking 3D printing platform that produces strong, bioadhesive hydrogels. Easily deployable without tissue damage, our hydrogels will reinforce intervertebral discs to prevent reherniation and degeneration.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): PI, Co-Founder, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Jason Burdick (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Chemical and Biological Engineering, BioFrontiers Institute): Co-Founder
Flari Tech
Flari Tech is building a laser-based breathalyzer to detect lung cancer noninvasively and rapidly with high sensitivity. Powered by CU's Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb, it would empower healthcare providers, patients and researchers in lung cancer prevention, treatment and monitoring. Read more about Flari
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ 2023 Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Physics, ): PI
- (PhD candidate, CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Physics, JILA): Technical Lead
- (PhD student, CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Physics, JILA): Research Assistant
IntraLumenus
Let’s never cut open a patient again. IntraLumenus is a treaded robotic capsule endoscope that travels through the colon under its own power, provides localization and mapping, and dual channel tool access, enabling colorectal procedures to be performed intraluminally, or from within the colon.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Embark EIR): CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering): PI
SteriO3
Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) provides rapid, low-resource sterilization of microbial contaminants. With adaptable configuration capabilities, PEGI will be engineered into compact, portable units for low-temperature sterilization of surgical equipment, including 3D-printed implants.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Principal Investigator (PI), LVC Pitch Presenter
- : CEO
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering): Chief Scientific and Project Advisor
Vesicle Therapeutics
The Vesicle team is developing a proprietary STAT3 isoform-selective antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) using novel thiomorpholino chemistry (TMO) for the treatment of head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer type, with a low survival rate due to poor responsiveness to treatments.
- (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Biochemistry): PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
- Donna Peak: CEO
- : COO
- Gan Zhang: CTO
- Marvin H. Caruthers (CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Biochemistry): Collaborator
The Newsroom
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