2026 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase highlights CU’s next breakthrough startups
Deep tech startups, or new companies based on technological innovation in science or engineering, face unique challenges because of their disruptive nature, intensive research and development, and significant capital requirements. Ascent understands the needs and pathways for deep tech startups to find early success.
Venture Partners at CU 91Ҹ capped off its fifth Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator with the 2026 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase, where research-based startup teams pitched innovations originating from the 91Ҹ to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs and fellow researchers. The showcase featured ventures developing breakthrough solutions in health, robotics, advanced materials and more.
Over five months, Ascent teams received mentorship from deep tech experts and Venture Partners staff as they worked toward company formation, refined their paths to market and built compelling fundraising strategies. The showcase marked a milestone for the teams as they emerged ready to engage with early investors, partners and national accelerators.
A Track Record of Impact
Since its launch in 2021, Ascent has supported 67 teams across CU’s 91Ҹ, Denver and Colorado Springs campuses. Program alumni have raised over $20 million in non-dilutive funding and $47 million in venture capital investment, with many advancing to top-tier programs such as NREL West Gate, Creative Destruction Lab, Techstars and Activate. Ascent is now a cornerstone of CU 91Ҹ’s deep tech pipeline, helping to turn university inventions and research into impactful startups that solve global challenges.
But what is "commercialization?"
The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unitesindustry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to helpresearchers, inventors and creators at the 91Ҹ bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.
With 22 teams, 2026 was Ascent's largest cohort to date, including several teams from the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator, which matches motivated entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations developed at CU 91Ҹ.
Ascent addresses the unique challenges faced by deep tech startups (companies based on groundbreaking science or engineering) that often require substantial time, research and capital to reach the market. The five-month program builds upon prerequisite customer-discovery training through the NSF I-CorpsTM Hub West—also offered through Venture Partners—and provides tailored support in business formation, market strategy and fundraising.
“This showcase was such an exciting opportunity for us and for everyone to see what the next phase of impactful companies are doing,” said Emily Vogt, director of venture development at Venture Partners. “I truly believe these companies are going to be big names in Colorado and for investors everywhere.”
"Every company on the stage represents years of research, countless conversations with customers, and the courage to turn a scientific breakthrough into a startup," said Emily Vogt, director of venture development and Ascent at Venture Partners. "The showcase is our opportunity to celebrate those founders and the community that's committed to helping them build what's next."
Recordings of the showcase pitches will be available for viewing through the Venture Partners website in the coming weeks. Subscribe for Updates
The Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase was presented with financial support from and .
Presenters: 2025 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase
Agami Zero
develops hydrogen-powered, off-grid EV fast charging and clean power systems for grid-constrained and remote locations. Leveraging CU-licensed electrolysis technology, Agami Zero enables reliable EV charging and energy access without requiring utility upgrades, using cost-effective green hydrogen.
Team Members: , Co-Founder, CEO, jafar.makrani@agamizero.com*; , Co-Founder, CTO
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Hardware and Instrumentation
Arkana Therapeutics
leverages animals with extreme physiology to discover novel therapeutic molecules and drug targets.
Team Members: (Alum: CU 91Ҹ Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder, CEO, jack@arkanatx.com*; , Co-Founder, CSO; Jonathan Long (), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor; Leslie Leinwand (CU 91Ҹ Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, BioFrontiers Institute), Scientific Advisor
Industry Applications:Biotech
BioStamp
BioStamp synthesizes DNA barcodes for engineered microorganisms, enabling biological intellectual property protection, compliance and high-fidelity identification. BioStamp's technology reduces detection false positives and collision probability through deterministic sequences, improving upon core limitations of random barcoding.
Team Members:(CU 91Ҹ Environmental Engineering Program), Co-Founder, CEO, john.docter@colorado.edu*; (CU 91Ҹ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Biotech, Genomics, 91Ҹ and Exploration
BoBoRobo
(91Ҹ-Born Robotics) automates the design, validation and deployment of industrial robotic workcells from a simple English prompt, cutting integration costs by 50% and time-to-live from six months to 10 days.
Team Members:(CU 91Ҹ Computer Science), Co-Founder, CEO; (Alum: CU 91Ҹ Computer Science), Co-Founder, CTO, anuj.pasricha@colorado.edu*
Industry Applications: Robotics
Dualys Bio
Dualys Bio is developing a programmable bacterial enzymes platform—a CRISPR for proteins—to destroy undruggable fusion oncoproteins in childhood cancers. The mRNA-LNP platform delivers precision protein cleavage where no drug has gone before.
Team Members: , andrew@dualys.bio*, CEO; , CSO;
Industry Applications: Biotech, Therapeutics
Enlixa Bio
Enlixa Bio is building an in vitro platform that quantifies transcription kinetics to help biopharma identify and validate drug candidates against transcriptional targets.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Founder, CEO, nik@enlixabio.com*; Dylan Taatje (CU 91Ҹ Biochemistry), Scientific Advisor, dylan.taatjes@colorado.edu
Industry Applications: Biotech, Genomics, Diagnostics
Flari Tech
is building a breath analysis platform powered by the 2005 Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb technology, based on cutting-edge innovations from Jun Ye's lab at . Flari Tech aims to provide affordable, accessible disease detection solutions by revolutionizing breath diagnostics with quantum sensing.
Team Member:, Founder, CEO, info@flaritech.com*
Industry Applications: Medical Devices, Diagnostics
FlowPoint Bio
FlowPoint Bio is redefining cell engineering with its high-viability, continuous-flow microfluidic platform that enables delivery of gene-editing payloads directly into the nucleus, regardless of cell type or payload size.
Team Members: , Co-Founder, CEO, vineet@flowpoint.bio*; (CU 91Ҹ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor
Industry Applications: Biotech, Manufacturing
Games and Theory
Games and Theory LLC applies game theory and AI to model adversaries' thinking, competition and adaptation. Our simulation platform serves defense wargaming and commercial strategic foresight, exploring hundreds of scenarios with statistical analysis to inform high-stakes decisions.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences), marcus@gamesandtheory.space*, Co-Founder, Principal Investigator (PI); (CU 91Ҹ Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences), Co-Founder, Principal (PI)
Industry Applications: Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Civic Engagement and Government, Software
iMembrane Therapeutics
iMembrane Therapeutics develops AI-designed miniproteins that overcome limitations of conventional biologics. The iMembrane Therapeutics platform enables stable, tunable and precisely dosed cytokine modulators for treating severe inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.
Team Members: Jingshi Shen, Co-Founder, CSO; Suzhao Li, sli@imembranetherapeutics.com*, Co-Founder, CEO; Charles Dinarello, Advisor
Industry Applications: Therapeutics
LeTau Robotics
LeTau Robotics develops AI foundation 91Ҹ to teach robots human-like dexterity with 100x less training data. LeTau Robotics enables rapid deployment (hours vs. months) for complex manipulation across manufacturing, logistics and labs—at a fraction of traditional costs.
Team Members: (), CEO, Co-Founder, zhengxiong.li@ucdenver.edu*; , Co-Founder, Advisor; Xinmin Fang (Student: CU Denver Engineering, Design and Computing), Co-Founder, Advisor; , Co-Founder, CTO
Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics
Nanosynth
Nanorobotic DNA synthesis using error detection and real-time correction to overcome fundamental limits of traditional DNA manufacturers.
Team Members: (The ATLAS Institute), joshua@nanosynthbio.com*, Co-Founder, CEO; , Co-Founder, CTO (The ATLAS Institute)
Industry Applications: Biotech
PEGI LLC
Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) rapidly inactivates microbes, allergens and volatile organic compounds in HVAC systems, keeping coils clean between seasonal maintenance. PEGI boosts energy efficiency, extends system life, improves indoor air quality, and is easily retrofitted into existing commercial and residential systems.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Aerobiology and Disinfection Lab), Founder, CTO, emmalee.biesiada@gmail.com*; Mark Hernandez(CU 91Ҹ Environmental Engineering Program), Advisor
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Medical Devices
Renovare Therapeutics Inc.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Chemical and Biological Engineering), Founder, CSO; , CEO, elizabeth.scott-2@colorado.edu*; , Co-Principal Investigator (PI); Laurie Goodrich, Co-PI; , Senior Investigator; , Co-PI
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Biotech, Therapeutics
RipaLith
RipaLith is based on the research by (CU 91Ҹ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), an expert in concrete degradation and structural performance. RipaLith is developing a concrete preservation solution that can be applied to existing concrete infrastructure to repair cracks—extending lifespan without costly replacement.
Team Members:(CU 91Ҹ Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering), Co-Founder, Engineering Advisor; (Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, elena.forchielli@colorado.edu*; , Co-Founder, COO;
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Construction, Biotech
SureFire
SureFire employs breakthrough LLM and quantum information techniques to more quickly and accurately detect wildfire ignitions from existing thermal camera images. SureFire is launching solutions for fire detection and risk management for customers such as fire agencies, power utilities, insurance companies, and sensor vendors.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, garydolsen@gmail.com*; (CU 91Ҹ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Co-Founder, CSO, Principal Investigator (PI); , Co-Founder, CTO, CPO;
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Sensors, Software
Synforce
Synforce develops a synergistic catalytic technology to enable efficient clean-fuel generation and water treatment.
Team Members: Sarang Gosavi, Co-Entrepreneurial Lead; Dishan Chooi, Co-Entrepreneurial Lead; Yunxuan Zhu, Co-Technical Lead; Longji Cui (CU 91Ҹ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), longji.cui@colorado.edu*, Advisor, Principal Investigator (PI); Anurag Chauhan, Co-Technical Lead
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech
Synteric Robotics
Synteric Robotics builds small, autonomous insect-inspired inspection robots designed to navigate tight, hazardous environments. Our technology combines novel micromechanics, sensing and autonomy to inspect infrastructure humans can’t easily reach.
Team Members:(CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Founder, rob@frostrivercapital.com*
Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Robotics
VeriLocal
VeriLocal Inc. is an AI platform that filters out non-local social media noise during fast-moving events. Using machine learning to identify geographically authentic content, it delivers real-time, high-signal local insight for crisis response, utilities, insurance, media and other decision-makers.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, todd@verilocal.ai*; (), Co-Founder, CSO
Industry Applications: Information Technology, Software, Smart Cities
Fortifyd
Fortifyd develops software-designed, 3D-printed impact-absorbing metamaterials that outperform traditional foams. Our precisely tuned materials protect against repetitive low-energy hits and high-impact forces, enabling safer, customizable protection for helmets and other impact-critical applications.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, hamteri@gmail.com*; (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, COO; , CTO
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Software, Additive Manufacturing
YarraBio
Yarrabio develops technologies for cancer research, drug discovery and clinical oncology.
Team Members: (CU 91Ҹ Embark Startup Founder), Co-Founder, CEO, CSO, savanh.c@yarrabio.com*; , Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor, Principal Investigator (PI)
Industry Applications: Biotech
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