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Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� is the commercialization arm of the ɫ�����ֱ��, Colorado Springs and Denver campuses (except CU Denver biosciences, who should work with  ). Venture Partners connects groundbreaking researchers, innovators and creators from the University of Colorado with industry and entrepreneurial partners to bring the university’s discoveries to the world. 

Here are some key ways we support innovation at ɫ�����ֱ�� and beyond:

• IP management: We guide inventors through disclosing their innovations, securing intellectual property rights and protecting their work.
• Licensing and industry partnerships: We negotiate agreements that help companies license and bring CU technologies to market.
• Startup support: From mentorship and entrepreneurial training to funding opportunities, we help founders form and grow successful companies.
• Translational funding & NSF I-Corps: We offer programs that help bridge the gap between research and real-world application, including customer discovery training and access to grant funding.
• Funding innovations and ventures: We provide grant funding to further develop university technologies, and pre-seed funding to startups commercializing ɫ�����ֱ�� IP. We also connect innovators with a wide array of external grant and investment funding opportunities. 

Whether you’re a faculty member, researcher, student or external partner, Venture Partners is here to turn your innovative ideas into impact.

What to do next: Explore what we do for university innovators and investors and partners.

Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� manages and supports intellectual property created at ɫ�����ֱ��, CU Denver’s physical sciences and UCCS.

   is the designated commercialization office for CU Anschutz and for CU Denver biosciences.

If you’re not sure which office is the best fit for your project, we can help direct you to the appropriate resources within the CU System.

Our NSF I-Corps Hub: West Region programming is open to anyone from any community or research institution with an idea or innovation.

What to do next: 

• Contact us to connect with our team and find out how we can assist.
• Learn more about commercialization resources at     and the .
• Explore the NSF I-Corps Hub: West Region

Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� has significantly contributed to both the state and national economies by transforming university research into real-world applications. Between 2018 and 2022, activities led by Venture Partners generated an estimated $8 billion in national economic impact and $5.2 billion within Colorado.

Other Key highlights include:

• In fiscal year 2023-24:
  • Startup Formation: Venture Partners facilitated the launch of 36 startups—35 from ɫ�����ֱ�� and one from CU Denver—marking the highest number of startups in a single year for the university.
  • Capital Raised: Portfolio companies associated with Venture Partners collectively raised $426 million in capital, supporting innovations across various sectors.
• Between 2018-2022:
  • Job Creation: Commercialization efforts have supported approximately 39,000 jobs nationwide, underscoring the role of Venture Partners in economic development.
  • Research Funding: ɫ�����ֱ�� inventors and researchers have secured $45.4 million in commercialization-specific grants, fueling further innovation and development.

These achievements reflect Venture Partners' commitment to fostering an environment where research and innovation thrive, translating academic discoveries into tangible economic benefits.​

What to do next: Explore our annual reports for more detailed insights.

Increasingly, faculty consider commercialization support and resources when selecting a university. Commercialization of research discoveries is a key component of success for most major research institutions, including the University of Colorado. For researchers, commercialization opens up funding opportunities like industry partnerships, private investment, commercialization-oriented grants and other funding sources. It’s a mechanism through which researchers can realize the potential of their discoveries and achieve real-world implementation and solutions. The advancement of the research and innovation enterprise, in turn, attracts the faculty, research and career opportunities that lead to student success. 

What to do next: Explore what we do for university innovators

Rooted in world-renowned innovation powerhouses like MIT and Stanford, the hubs in Boston and SIlicon Valley have driven decades of extraordinary economic impact and earned global recognition. In recent years, the ɫ�����ֱ�� campus has joined their ranks as a rising leader in launching startups that translate university research into real-world impact. Learn more about:

• ɫ�����ֱ�� shines with record-breaking year for startups
• University of Colorado soars into top five for launching startups
• Ranked #14 among U.S. universities by National Academy of Inventors, CU leads in translating innovation into impact

What to do next: Explore our annual reports for more detailed insights.

Deep technology, or “deep tech,” refers to advanced technologies based on substantial scientific or engineering innovation. The innovations are "deep" in that they are sophisticated, very advanced answers to complex challenges or issues. Examples of deep-tech breakthroughs include genomics, robotics, quantum computing and clean energy initiatives that leverage years of research and development. Deep tech includes several unique characteristics: larger capital needs, longer developmental timelines, a strong reliance on IP and the potential to disrupt industries or create entirely new industries.

What to do next: Explore our startup portfolio and our technology portfolio

Since 2019, the commercialization of university-owned intellectual property has generated $32 million in revenue, which has been primarily reinvested into ɫ�����ֱ��’s research. This revenue contributes to ɫ�����ֱ��’s success as a leading research and teaching institution, attracting world-class teaching faculty to campus and creating unparalleled learning opportunities for the campus student population. Inventors of the revenue-generating intellectual property also receive a share to reward their exceptional achievements.

What to do next: Explore our annual reports for more detailed insights.

Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� works closely with a range of university programs—including the , the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and others across the CU system—to ensure innovators have access to a cohesive, supportive ecosystem. While each program has its own area of expertise—such as commercialization, legal and policy innovation, or entrepreneurial education—we collaborate to guide researchers, students and entrepreneurs toward the resources best suited to their goals.

These collaborations reflect a shared mission across all four campuses of the University of Colorado: to create lasting impact for Colorado and the world. Whether we’re helping launch a new startup, advancing technologies that address global challenges or supporting innovators through mentorship and training, our work aligns with the broader  of transforming lives through education, research, healthcare, and community engagement.

What to do next: 

Your prior institution will continue to manage any intellectual property (IP) and agreements for inventions you made there. We’ll look forward to working with you on new creations you have at ɫ�����ֱ��, and we can coordinate with your prior institution if it becomes desirable to package together your IP from both. Any startup company you have formed, regardless of where you were when you created it, is eligible for our startup resources like the NSF I-Corps Hub: West Region and Buff Gold Ventures.

What to do next: Explore what we do for university innovators

Even if you're not a CU-affiliated researcher, inventor or creator, there are still many ways to engage with Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ��. We collaborate with a broad network of investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, legal experts and community members who are essential to bringing university innovations to market.

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• Startup roles: If you're an experienced entrepreneur, you may be a fit for leadership roles in CU startups, or you could even launch a new startup based on CU intellectual property. We regularly connect founders, advisors and executives with emerging companies, including through the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator.
• Mentorship: Share your experience with the next generation of innovators. Our mentors support CU researchers and student founders through structured programs and informal advising.
• Investment and licensing: Venture Partners helps connect external partners with high-potential technologies available for licensing and startups seeking funding.
• Events and networking: We host events throughout the year—from pitch showcases to workshops—that are open to community members interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• I-Corps and Customer Discovery: Through our NSF I-Corps Hub: West Region programming, anyone—from any community or research institution—is welcome to participate in customer discovery training. These workshops help innovators validate their ideas, connect with users, and explore potential markets.

Venture Partners is part of a larger innovation ecosystem that welcomes external collaborators. If you're passionate about advancing breakthrough research, growing new ventures, or supporting entrepreneurs, we invite you to explore opportunities to connect.

What to do next: Visit our page for investors and partners for more information

Venture Partners provides patenting and other intellectual property support for university-owned intellectual property. We cannot act as your legal agent or representative for patenting. You may be eligible for patenting assistance from ɫ�����ֱ��’s Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, an excellent resource for local startup businesses that lack access to legal resources.

At Venture Partners, we use the criteria set by , the international professional organization for university commercialization. These criteria stipulate that a CU startup was founded specifically to commercialize intellectual property (IP) created at the university, and an IP agreement has been executed, typically a license agreement. 

There are many other kinds of startups that are tied to universities and that play important roles in our ecosystem. These include companies started by undergraduate students and alumni. These usually do not meet AUTM’s criteria and therefore, are not part of our metrics. However, these other categories of startups can find partnership and support from the university through programs like the New Venture Challenge, student capstone projects, Buff Gold Ventures, and the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic.

What to do next: Explore our startup portfolio and learn more about the 

“Tech transfer offices” began to emerge at U.S. universities in the 1980s and 1990s to manage intellectual property (IP) created at the university. The primary focus was to patent inventions and facilitate license transactions to any interested companies. 

While Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� does manage the IP portfolio for ɫ�����ֱ��, UCCS and physical sciences at CU Denver (CU Denver biosciences are managed by ), including patenting and licensing activities, it has a greatly expanded mission and functionality. Beyond IP transactions, Venture Partners takes a holistic approach to innovation and applies an entrepreneurial mindset. We focus on the innovator, not just the innovation, and have developed a range of resources to train and mentor our community in deep tech entrepreneurship. 

Together with our startup creation and accelerator programs, as well as funding opportunities, Venture Partners is unrecognizable from a traditional tech transfer office.

What to do next: Learn more about Venture Partners and what we do for university innovators

Venture Partners at ɫ�����ֱ�� offers year-round programming designed to support researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs at every stage of their commercialization journey. From introductory workshops to competitive funding opportunities, our events and programs help you translate research into real-world impact.

For entrepreneurs and CU innovators building a new venture, many of our offerings are designed to be progressive, through what we call the “path to commercialization.” This path includes customer discovery training, translational funding, startup support and pitch showcases. Whether you're just starting to explore the potential of your work or are ready to launch a company, our programs are structured to help you move forward, one step at a time.

What to do next: To explore current and upcoming opportunities, visit our page for opportunities and events. To learn more about the path to commercialization, visit the informational page here.

A PI, or Principal Investigator, is the lead researcher responsible for the design, conduct and oversight of a research project. At the University of Colorado and other research institutions, the PI is typically a faculty member who has been awarded a research grant or contract and is accountable for its successful execution—both scientifically and administratively.

Key responsibilities of a PI include:

• Leading the research team and setting the project’s direction
• Ensuring compliance with university and funding agency policies
• Overseeing the use of project funds and reporting results
• Disclosing inventions or intellectual property that result from the research