Researcher Stories /venturepartners/ en Physics professor Ivan Smalyukh and his team receive Guinness Book of World Records award for most transparent material /venturepartners/2024/08/15/external-news/cu-physics-professor-ivan-smalyukh-and-his-team-receive-guinness-book-world-records-award <span>Physics professor Ivan Smalyukh and his team receive Guinness Book of World Records award for most transparent material</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-08-15T11:00:01-06:00" title="Thursday, August 15, 2024 - 11:00">Thu, 08/15/2024 - 11:00</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/aerogel_082624.png?h=59a9d019&amp;itok=cK7Bn29W" width="1200" height="600" alt="ŷڱƵ Physics Professor Ivan Smalyukh standing with his research team in a laboratory setting, surrounded by scientific equipment and materials. The group is smiling and posed together, highlighting their collaboration and achievement in material science."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> Technology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/450" hreflang="en">advanced materials</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>College of Arts &amp; Sciences—ŷڱƵ Boulder Physics Professor Ivan Smalyukh and his team have achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving a Guinness World Records award for creating the world's most transparent material. Their aerogel, which has now been successfully patented, can be added to windows to boost thermal insulation, increasing the overall efficiency of a building.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/physics/2024/08/15/cu-physics-professor-ivan-smalyukh-and-his-team-receive-guinness-book-world-records-award`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:00:01 +0000 Anonymous 2241 at /venturepartners Activate announces founders of ŷڱƵ Boulder spinouts in Cohort 2024 /venturepartners/2024/07/01/internal-news/activate-announces-cu-boulder-startups-cohort-2024-fellows <span>Activate announces founders of ŷڱƵ Boulder spinouts in Cohort 2024</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-07-01T11:11:33-06:00" title="Monday, July 1, 2024 - 11:11">Mon, 07/01/2024 - 11:11</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/activate_fellows_announcement_072424.png?h=2fd8a9f4&amp;itok=OtSY3-RC" width="1200" height="600" alt="A man works on a complex machine"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/317"> Quantum </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> Startups in the News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><strong>This announcement was originally published at </strong><a href="https://www.activate.org/news/introducing-cohort-2024" rel="nofollow"><strong>activate.org</strong></a></p><p>Activate is a nonprofit organization that empowers scientists to transform their research into market-ready products and services through a two-year fellowship that provides funding, mentorship and access to a robust network of experts and resources.&nbsp;</p><p>Activate’s 62 new fellows drive meaningful change toward a sustainable and equitable society.&nbsp;With fellows from 50 companies, Cohort 2024 is their largest yet. Selected from over 1,000 applicants, this new class of fellows is pioneering some of today’s most promising innovations across critical sectors, including energy, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture&nbsp;and national security. During the fellowship, new fellows will turn their breakthroughs into businesses and transform into high-impact science entrepreneurs.</p><p>“People, not ideas alone, move the world forward. It is through the drive and determination of brilliant scientists and engineers that we are witnessing true progress,” says Cyrus Wadiam, CEO of Activate. “Our current Activate Fellows and alumni are already pioneering innovative solutions that make a measurable difference. We’re thrilled to support the next 62 visionaries who will lead the charge in addressing our most urgent issues through groundbreaking science and technology.”</p><h2><strong>ŷڱƵ Boulder Fellows in Activate Anywhere</strong></h2><p>Recognizing that talent exists in every part of the United States, Activate Anywhere is a virtual community of connected but not co-located fellows. Fellows work in their local innovation ecosystem and are plugged into Activate’s mentorship, education&nbsp;and community network. Three Cohort 2024 fellows join Activate&nbsp;from companies spun up at ŷڱƵ Boulder with Venture Partners at ŷڱƵ Boulder.</p><p>The 12 new fellows joining the Activate Anywhere Community are in ten U.S. cities, including Denver, CO; Raleigh, NC; Baltimore, MD; and Milwaukee, WI. These fellows are developing solutions in several fields: including water purification, quantum networks, fast diagnostics, quantum-inspired computing, “forever chemicals” degradation, toxins detection, 3D printing, methane elimination, vacuum-insulated glass windows that are as insulating as walls&nbsp;and “bearingless” electric motors that could improve their efficiency to over 90 percent.</p><h3>Vitro3D</h3><h4>Activate Cohort 2024 Fellows</h4><p><strong>Camila Uzcategui </strong>is the co-founder and CEO of <a href="/venturepartners/node/1319" rel="nofollow"><strong>Vitro3D</strong></a>. She earned her PhD&nbsp;in materials science and engineering from ŷڱƵ Boulder, and has a BS&nbsp;in physics and a BA&nbsp;in anthropology from Florida International University. With over eight years of experience in light-based additive manufacturing, Uzcategui brings extensive expertise in applying advanced technologies to the industry. She advocates for technology entrepreneurship with a social lens to create sustainable solutions.</p><p><strong>Johnny Hergert</strong> is the co-founder and CTO of <a href="/venturepartners/node/1319" rel="nofollow"><strong>Vitro3D</strong></a>. While obtaining his BS&nbsp;in chemistry from Oregon State, Hergert built his first 3D printer and has been studying and innovating in the additive industry for ten years. He started Vitro3D with his co-founder while finishing a PhD&nbsp;at ŷڱƵ Boulder.</p><h4>More ŷڱƵ Vitro3D</h4><p><a href="/venturepartners/node/1319" rel="nofollow"><strong>Vitro3D</strong></a> is reimagining the future of manufacturing with its advanced volumetric technology, enabling rapid, high-quality production of complex parts. This sustainable approach surpasses traditional methods, empowering industries to tackle existing challenges and unlock new opportunities that were previously impossible.</p><p>Existing technologies limit manufacturers across high-value industries in efficiently producing complex polymer parts. Methods like injection molding and 3D printing fall short of providing a cost-effective, high-quality solution for producing high-resolution parts at varying scales of production. Injection molding isn't economical for small batches and struggles with complex geometries, while 3D printing is often limited to lower-performance materials unsuitable for mass production. For example, the next generation of products faces critical manufacturing roadblocks in the electronic connectors and components industry due to these limitations in resolution, speed&nbsp;and material flexibility.</p><p>Vitro3D is introducing a new 3D fabrication technology that significantly speeds up production and enables the creation of complex shapes that are impossible with current manufacturing techniques. Vitro3D’s approach uses an optical toolhead to enable layerless, volumetric parts fabrication directly onto manufacturing lines. This streamlines production by eliminating support structures that other additive methods require, allowing hybrid components without assembly&nbsp;and offering an unlimited build area. This pioneering approach in polymer structuring accelerates part fabrication by a factor of 100 compared to 3D printing methods, and it can create complex geometries unachievable with injection molding.</p><p>Vitro3D's innovation will dramatically enhance society by enabling the on-site and on-demand production of critical parts in high-value industries using a wider range of sustainable materials when fully implemented. This disruptive manufacturing technology will foster innovation in various industries, including electronics, personalized medicine&nbsp;and regenerative tissue creation, reaching previously inaccessible locations with its low-cost, modular system. By improving the accessibility and quality of products for a broad spectrum of populations, Vitro3D aims to significantly enhance the quality of life globally, moving from solving complex industrial challenges to making a profound societal impact.</p><p><a href="/venturepartners/node/1782" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-plus">&nbsp;</i><strong>&nbsp; Read more about Vitro3D's journey at ŷڱƵ Boulder here</strong></a></p><h2>Icarus Quantum</h2><h3>Activate Cohort 2024 Fellow</h3><p><strong>Poolad Imany</strong> is an expert in quantum photonics and quantum networking with 11 years of experience. He received his PhD&nbsp;in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University, researching chip-scale quantum optics. Since then, he has been a postdoctoral associate at the <a href="https://www.nist.gov/director/pao/nist-boulder-laboratories-precision-measurements-support-innovation" rel="nofollow"><strong>National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)</strong></a>, building efficient and scalable quantum light sources. At NIST, he founded <a href="/venturepartners/node/2030" rel="nofollow"><strong>Icarus Quantum</strong></a> to commercialize NIST’s quantum dot technology and enable scalable quantum networking.​</p><h3><strong>More ŷڱƵ Icarus Quantum</strong></h3><p>As quantum computers become more powerful, they can penetrate all encryption methods currently used for communications. To protect communication channels against this threat, using quantum light to distribute encryption provides the only provably secure solution. These quantum networks also enable connecting quantum computers, unlocking their exponential processing power for drug discoveries and optimization algorithms. <a href="/venturepartners/node/2030" rel="nofollow"><strong>Icarus Quantum</strong></a> is developing the first efficient quantum light source to enable scalable quantum networking. Icarus' devices will plug into the existing optical fiber networks, bringing a quantum internet one step closer to the general public.</p><p>Icarus Quantum is not just about innovation but also about reliability. The company is developing the first commercial deterministic generator of entangled photons, the backbone of quantum networks. Unlike other sources that rely on probabilistic processes and can only achieve a maximum efficiency of one percent, our quantum dots can boost this process to over 70 percent. This significant leap in efficiency ensures the reliability needed for scaling quantum networks to longer ranges, instilling confidence in the future of quantum technologies.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Activate is a nonprofit organization that empowers scientists to transform their research into market-ready products and services through a two-year fellowship that provides funding, mentorship and access to a robust network of experts and resources.&nbsp;Three Cohort 2024 fellows join Activate&nbsp;from companies spun up at ŷڱƵ Boulder with Venture Partners at ŷڱƵ Boulder.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:11:33 +0000 Anonymous 2226 at /venturepartners Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan: Bridging Entrepreneurship and Community /venturepartners/2024/05/30/external-news/maithreyi-gopalakrishnan-bridging-entrepreneurship-and-community <span>Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan: Bridging Entrepreneurship and Community</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-30T14:47:36-06:00" title="Thursday, May 30, 2024 - 14:47">Thu, 05/30/2024 - 14:47</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/boettcher_podcast_article_061424.png?h=5fee09fb&amp;itok=CRSW9q76" width="1200" height="600" alt="A white woman and a woman of color sit at a desk with headphones and microphones for reporting a podcast and smile at the camera"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ŷڱƵ Leadership Stories—Meet Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, a Boettcher Scholar and tech entrepreneur who solves large-scale problems leveraging frontier technology. Maithreyi talks about how her academic experiences in engineering physics and industrial management at ŷڱƵ Boulder and Stanford fueled her passion to innovate. Today she is the co-founder of two companies that actively promote gender diversity in STEM entrepreneurship, including PrecisionTerra, part of the 2023&nbsp;ŷڱƵ Boulder Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator.</div> <script> window.location.href = `https://boettcherfoundation.org/maithreyi-gopalakrishnan-bridging-entrepreneurship-amp-community/`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 30 May 2024 20:47:36 +0000 Anonymous 2215 at /venturepartners Plastic waste is a global problem. Carbon recycling can help /venturepartners/2024/05/24/external-news/plastic-waste-global-problem-carbon-recycling-can-help <span>Plastic waste is a global problem. Carbon recycling can help</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-24T12:52:33-06:00" title="Friday, May 24, 2024 - 12:52">Fri, 05/24/2024 - 12:52</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/oana_luca_053124.png?h=9c95f13f&amp;itok=33vpYdLv" width="1200" height="600" alt="Headshot of a smiling woman with shoulder-length hair"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> Technology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ŷڱƵ Boulder Today—While scientists are continuously exploring ways to reduce fossil fuel use in these sectors, Oana Luca, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at ŷڱƵ Boulder, explores technologies like recycling and carbon capture to prevent carbon from ending up in the environment.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/today/2024/05/24/plastic-waste-global-problem-carbon-recycling-can-help`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 24 May 2024 18:52:33 +0000 Anonymous 2202 at /venturepartners The ŷڱƵ Office of Economic Development and International Trade announces grants to ŷڱƵ researchers and startups /venturepartners/2024/05/16/internal-news/colorado-office-economic-development-and-international-trade-announces-grants-cu <span>The ŷڱƵ Office of Economic Development and International Trade announces grants to ŷڱƵ researchers and startups</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-16T11:08:32-06:00" title="Thursday, May 16, 2024 - 11:08">Thu, 05/16/2024 - 11:08</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/adobestock_632805326_1.jpeg?h=626225a4&amp;itok=cP-MQY23" width="1200" height="600" alt="Aerial photo of the University of ŷڱƵ Boulder and the Boulder flatirons during summer"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> Startups in the News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><strong>This story was originally published at&nbsp;<a href="http://oedit.colorado.gov/press-release/oedit-announces-grants-to-42-colorado-startups-and-researchers-in-the-advanced" rel="nofollow">oedit.colorado.gov</a></strong></p> <p>The Global Business Development division of the ŷڱƵ Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 34 ŷڱƵ companies and eight researchers have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT’s&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://choosecolorado.com/doing-business/advanced-industries/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><i class="fa-solid fa-up-right-from-square">&nbsp;</i> ​ Advanced Industries Accelerator Program</a></strong>. These grants help promote the growth and sustainability of advanced industries in ŷڱƵ by driving innovation, commercialization&nbsp;and public-private partnerships that move this vital aspect of ŷڱƵ’s economy forward in communities across the state.</p> <p>“ŷڱƵ is increasingly recognized as a national and global leader in the advanced industries, earning federal recognition for our work in areas like quantum and clean tech. The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program plays an important role in that success, supporting research institutions and startups as they discover and commercialize new, life-changing technologies while creating good-paying jobs for Coloradans,”&nbsp;said Michelle Hadwiger, Global Business Development Director.&nbsp;“These grants also have a proven history of aiding recipients in attracting additional third-party investment critical to helping them grow.”</p> <p>The&nbsp;Proof of Concept grant&nbsp;is intended to help ŷڱƵ research institutions speed up applied research in the advanced industries as well as commercialize products and services in partnership with the private sector. The&nbsp;Early-Stage Capital and Retention grant&nbsp;supports businesses commercializing innovative and disruptive technologies in the advanced industries that will be created or manufactured in ŷڱƵ.</p> <p>The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 110 applications during this grant cycle, which were reviewed in a multi-stage process by committees of business, technical&nbsp;and financial experts in the&nbsp;seven advanced industries. The Economic Development Commission approved the final recommendations on May 16, 2024, and the awards announced today represent a total of $8,980,117 in funding.</p> <p>The next application cycle for Proof-of-Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention Grants is now open, and applications are due Thursday, August 29, 2024.</p> <h2>Proof-of-Concept Grants Awarded to ŷڱƵ Researchers</h2> <ul> <li><strong>University of ŷڱƵ Boulder, PI Wei Tan - Boulder, CO $150,000</strong>: Developing stent coatings to reduce inflammation and thrombogenicity associated with vascular implants.</li> <li><strong>University of ŷڱƵ Denver, PI Caroline Clevenger - Denver, CO $150,000</strong>: Developing an interactive digital wayfinding assistant to support people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.</li> <li><strong>University of ŷڱƵ Denver, PI Miguel Flores-Bellver - Denver, CO $150,000</strong>: Developing an early detection test for age-related macular degeneration.</li> <li><strong>University of Denver, PI Casey Myers - Denver, CO $150,000</strong>: Developing an automated surgical planning tool for total shoulder arthroplasty.</li> <li><strong>University of Denver, PI Dali Sun - Denver, CO $150,000</strong>: Developing a miniaturized elliptical dichroism spectrometer for molecular analysis in chemistry and biochemistry.</li> </ul> <h2>Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants Awarded to ŷڱƵ Startups</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Aspero Medical - Broomfield, CO $250,000</strong>: Aspero Medical has developed a balloon overtube for gastric and esophageal intraluminal endoscopic surgical procedures.</li> <li><strong>Austere Environmental, Inc. - Golden, CO $60,000</strong>: Austere Environmental has developed a technology that remediates soil contaminated with petroleum products without the use of chemical additives.</li> <li><strong>Cascade Biocatalysts - Denver, CO $250,000</strong>: Cascade Biocatalysts has developed a resin technology that makes enzymes rugged and reliable for long lasting use in chemical manufacturing processes.</li> <li><strong>ŷڱƵ Earth LLC - Lakewood, CO $250,000</strong>: ŷڱƵ Earth has developed a low carbon, unfired earthen masonry block made of waste from a local ŷڱƵ quarry.</li> <li><strong>ExoPower Inc. - Lafayette, CO $100,000</strong>: ExoPower has developed an in-motion capacitive wireless charging technology that keeps industrial mobile robots in motion.</li> <li><strong>Green Steel Environmental, LLC - Boulder, CO $250,000</strong>: Green Steel Environmental has developed biogas scrubbing technology to clean impurities out of naturally occuring biogas that is created at wastewater plants, landfills, and agricultural sites.</li> <li><strong>PAGE Technologies, Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000</strong>: PAGE Technologies has developed affordable biochemical sensors that monitor plant nutrients in real-time.</li> <li><strong>Polaris Electro-Optics, Inc. - Broomfield, CO $250,000</strong>: Polaris Electro-Optics has developed ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals for optical communications at a lower cost and higher performance.</li> <li><strong>RockyTech Ltd. - Boulder, CO $250,000</strong>: RockyTech has developed a compatibilizer technology that enables the upcycling of polyethylene and polypropylene blends into new high-quality plastic products.</li> <li><strong>Silvis Materials, Inc. - Boulder, CO $100,000</strong>: Silvis Materials develops 100 percent bio-based, sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable cellulosic emulsions made from plants and trees.</li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>The Global Business Development division of the ŷڱƵ Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 34 ŷڱƵ companies and eight researchers have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. These grants help promote the growth and sustainability of advanced industries in ŷڱƵ by driving innovation, commercialization&nbsp;and public-private partnerships that move this vital aspect of ŷڱƵ’s economy forward in communities across the state.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 16 May 2024 17:08:32 +0000 Anonymous 2221 at /venturepartners ŷڱƵ Boulder scientists set out to solve lunar dust problem /venturepartners/2024/04/12/external-news/cu-boulder-scientists-set-out-solve-lunar-dust-problem <span>ŷڱƵ Boulder scientists set out to solve lunar dust problem</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-12T16:14:36-06:00" title="Friday, April 12, 2024 - 16:14">Fri, 04/12/2024 - 16:14</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/xu_wang.png?h=ae1a9ff9&amp;itok=IB3o0g3N" width="1200" height="600" alt="Two scientests stands with an awards plaque"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/398"> Technology and Discovery News </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ŷڱƵ Independent—Researchers at the University of ŷڱƵ Boulder are working to make the moon habitable. And they are focused on one of the most difficult challenges to lunar living: dust. Xu Wang, a research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at ŷڱƵ Boulder, was one of the winners of NASA’s 2023 Entrepreneurs Challenge.</div> <script> window.location.href = `https://www.cuindependent.com/2024/04/12/cu-boulder-scientists-set-out-to-solve-lunar-dust-problem/`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 12 Apr 2024 22:14:36 +0000 Anonymous 2141 at /venturepartners Zoya Popovic elected to the National Academy of Inventors /venturepartners/2024/04/08/external-news/zoya-popovic-elected-national-academy-inventors <span>Zoya Popovic elected to the National Academy of Inventors</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-08T15:54:10-06:00" title="Monday, April 8, 2024 - 15:54">Mon, 04/08/2024 - 15:54</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/zoya_popovic.png?h=8cd5c9de&amp;itok=zX6ijdC3" width="1200" height="600" alt="Zoya Popovic"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ŷڱƵ Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—Distinguished Professor Zoya Popovic is among 162 inventors named 2023 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Election as a fellow in the academy is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. Popovic, a leading researcher in high-efficiency, low-noise microwave and RF engineering, was elected for her “prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society.”</div> <script> window.location.href = `/ecee/2024/04/08/zoya-popovic-elected-national-academy-inventors`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:54:10 +0000 Anonymous 2140 at /venturepartners Pressing energy challenges and potential solutions at the center of ŷڱƵ Boulder’s Renewable Energy and Storage Solutions Summit /venturepartners/2024/03/06/internal-news/pressing-energy-challenges-and-potential-solutions-center-cu-boulders-renewable-energy <span>Pressing energy challenges and potential solutions at the center of ŷڱƵ Boulder’s Renewable Energy and Storage Solutions Summit </span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-03-06T15:09:55-07:00" title="Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 15:09">Wed, 03/06/2024 - 15:09</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/image_3.jpeg?h=76e9d153&amp;itok=LHsmt7ME" width="1200" height="600" alt="Woman stands in front of presentation"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/12"> Startups in the News </a> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/361"> Venture Partners News </a> </div> <span>Heather Hansen</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><em>Photo: Chunmei Ban, associate professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (<strong><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow">Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering</a></strong>), presents her research on next-generation electrochemical materials, specifically sodium and magnesium, that feed a need to improve renewable energy storage systems.</em></p> <p class="lead">Venture Partners at ŷڱƵ Boulder and the university’s Industry and Foundation Relations (IFR) team brought together dozens of stakeholders in the renewable energy and storage ecosystem to discuss innovations, issues and opportunities in the vibrant sector.</p> <p>ŷڱƵ Boulder researchers, venture capitalists, companies and entrepreneurs, federal lab researchers and local government leaders took part in a day of networking and discussions to inform impactful, commercially-relevant energy research at ŷڱƵ Boulder, introduce external partners to innovative university efforts, and partnering ŷڱƵ startups and principal investigators with potential funders.&nbsp;</p> <p>“We’re putting the right people in the right place at the right time to foster important relationships that actually solve problems,” said <a href="/venturepartners/node/499" rel="nofollow"><strong>Kate Havey</strong></a>, event organizer and assistant director of licensing at Venture Partners, the commercialization arm of ŷڱƵ Boulder. She said the ultimate goal was to translate innovations into products and services that address the world’s most pressing energy challenges.&nbsp;</p> <p>ŷڱƵ Boulder strives to be the nation's top university for innovation with positive global impact, and it does that by bringing “translational research into ventures, products, applications that really positively impact society,” Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, told summit attendees. The university has nearly doubled its research funding in the past 10 years while experiencing “incredible growth on the commercialization and tech transfer side,” he said.</p> <h2>'I feel it's the right time'</h2> <p>Several ŷڱƵ Boulder researchers working in the renewable energy and storage sectors spoke at the summit, including Seth Marder, director of the <strong><a href="/rasei/" rel="nofollow">Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)</a></strong>, a joint institute between ŷڱƵ Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). RASEI is at the center of energy research at ŷڱƵ Boulder and is, said Marder, “uniquely positioned to holistically address issues of sustainability in energy in a just and scalable fashion.” RASEI researchers work on solar, wind and hydrogen energy production and storage, bio-energy and batteries.</p> <p>“There are many issues to be solved in the renewable energy and energy storage space, some of which are technological [such as] improving performance, reliability, circularity, addressing supply chain issues,” said Marder. “But others are sociological, [like] ensuring that solutions are developed and deployed in a socially just and equitable manner that is respectful of the diversity of cultures of stakeholders.”</p> <p>Chunmei Ban, associate professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (<strong><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow">Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering</a></strong>), is another researcher doing groundbreaking work. At the summit, she presented her research on next-generation electrochemical materials, specifically sodium and magnesium, that feed a need to improve renewable energy storage systems.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mana Battery Inc., a spinout from Ban’s lab, is developing sodium-ion batteries that are cheaper, safer and longer lasting than standard lithium-ion ones. “The U.S. has one of the largest sources of soda ash. The reserve is huge, so we have the resources to do something, and I feel it’s the right time,” she said. “We feel confident about our technology, a gigantic market for batteries is already here, and I have a great team.” Mana Battery was a top winner of the 2023 <strong><a href="/venturepartners/node/288" rel="nofollow">Lab Venture Challenge</a></strong> (LVC), a Venture Partners program in which early-stage companies compete for startup funding grants. Ban said that her team will use the funding to demonstrate a large battery cell to potential investors.</p> <p>Another summit presenter and a winner of the 2023 LVC, is Longji Cui, assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, (<strong><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow">Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering</a></strong>). Research in his lab focuses on challenges including the thermal management of high power electronics and creating highly-efficient and economical clean energy. His spinout (with Mohammad Habibi), ZeroGap Energy aims to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy grid with thermovoltaic cells for high-efficiency thermal energy conversion.</p> <h2>Working together to spur innovations and solutions</h2> <p>Nearly every speaker at the summit touched on the human element of research, innovation and investment and the importance of partnerships in spurring meaningful advances in renewable energy and storage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Lu Córdova, advisor to Governor Jared Polis and director of the Global Energy Park in Golden which she described as a “Class A lab space wrapped in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, made for commercialization,” emphasized the importance of events like the summit in bringing together a coalition of stakeholders. “Collaboration is often the key to commercialization because—sorry for the cliché—the market does not want products, it wants solutions,” she said. “Most inventors and scientists have a part of the solution, but they need each other to form the solution, as well as to get it to market.” Córdova added that so-called ‘Inventor’s Syndrome’ (the idea that ‘if you build it, they will come’) is an impediment that collaboration can overcome.</p> <p>Ruzzene agreed that bringing together different entities was essential to solve problems. “We want to focus on interdisciplinary work because innovation really flourishes at the intersection of ideas and backgrounds and goals. That’s a really key principle in what we do,” he said. <a href="/venturepartners/node/114" rel="nofollow"><strong>Bryn Rees</strong></a>, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and managing director of Venture Partners, also anticipates that solutions to current issues in renewable energy and storage will be found at the crossroads of their various expertise—including innovation and investment. “Advances in renewable energy and energy storage require collaborative innovation. This summit will build on ŷڱƵ Boulder’s leadership in clean energy, and catalyze a new wave of partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures.”</p> <p>Sally Hatcher, general partner of <a href="/venturepartners/node/1671" rel="nofollow"><strong>Buff Gold Ventures</strong></a>—a venture capital fund dedicated to supporting and investing in great new startups out of the University of ŷڱƵ—moderated a panel of entrepreneurs and investors. She said she was there to connect with researchers with specific problems to solve and to learn about technologies currently in the lab.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hatcher said the summit was an invaluable opportunity to build relationships around renewable energy and storage. “This convergence often leads to new ideas, new opportunities to collaborate, better focus on the specific storage need, and connections to funders and entrepreneurs.&nbsp; Ultimately, we hope to take great tech out of the lab and pass the baton to an entrepreneurial team who will de-risk the tech and bring it to widespread use.”</p> <p>Although it was the first-of-its kind, the concept for the summit was met with enthusiasm and Havey believes this will be the first of a series of similar events. “We received an overwhelming response,” she said. “That speaks to a need in this sector for connecting people in a very intentional way, to create the kinds of partnerships that are actually going to resolve the needs we have in energy right now.”</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Venture Partners at ŷڱƵ Boulder and the university’s Industry and Foundation Relations (IFR) team brought together dozens of stakeholders in the renewable energy and storage ecosystem to discuss innovations, issues and opportunities in the vibrant sector.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:09:55 +0000 Anonymous 2122 at /venturepartners ŷڱƵ Cancer Center leaders aim to use novel molecule to fight cancer /venturepartners/2024/02/29/cu-cancer-center-leaders-aim-use-novel-molecule-fight-cancer <span>ŷڱƵ Cancer Center leaders aim to use novel molecule to fight cancer</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-02-29T14:32:03-07:00" title="Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 14:32">Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:32</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/tin_tin_su.png?h=a2155ad8&amp;itok=uYb9M5Qj" width="1200" height="600" alt="Tin Tin Su"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>ŷڱƵ Arts and Sciences Magazine—A pair of University of ŷڱƵ Cancer Center researchers are closer to their goal of bringing their therapy to patients—as one of nine research endeavors receiving funding from the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative (AAI). The project is led jointly by Tin Tin Su, professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at ŷڱƵ Boulder, and Antonio Jimeno, professor in the ŷڱƵ Department of Medicine's Division of Medical Oncology.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/asmagazine/2024/02/29/cu-cancer-center-leaders-aim-use-novel-molecule-fight-cancer`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 29 Feb 2024 21:32:03 +0000 Anonymous 2124 at /venturepartners Pollution to production: student startup transforms CO2 into aerospace hardware /venturepartners/2024/02/28/external-news/pollution-production-student-startup-transforms-co2-aerospace-hardware <span>Pollution to production: student startup transforms CO2 into aerospace hardware</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-02-28T16:59:20-07:00" title="Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - 16:59">Wed, 02/28/2024 - 16:59</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/venturepartners/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/spencer_dansereau.png?h=eae10be7&amp;itok=uxRAStGi" width="1200" height="600" alt="Spencer Dansereau"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/venturepartners/taxonomy/term/397"> Researcher Stories </a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>College of Engineering and Applied Science—Aerospace PhD student Spencer Dansereau aims to take carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and extract the carbon molecules to create 3D-printed carbon fiber, which can be used for everything from bicycles to aerospace components. In 2023, Mach Electric Aerospace took first place in ŷڱƵ Boulder’s Lab Venture Challenge business development competition and second place in the New Venture Challenge.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/aerospace/2024/02/28/pollution-production-student-startup-transforms-co2-aerospace-hardware`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:59:20 +0000 Anonymous 2123 at /venturepartners