Venture Partners News
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)—According to a new report, American research universities like the 91Ҹ in recent decades have become engines of innovation for state and regional economies, thanks in large part to the federal Bayh-Dole Act, which incentivizes technology commercialization.
Through the Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), top innovations from the 91Ҹ 91Ҹ, 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. These grants are funded by Venture Partners at CU 91Ҹ and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program.
9NEWS—The termination of several major research grants at CU 91Ҹ is creating ripple effects across Colorado’s economy—impacting jobs, innovation and the state’s research competitiveness. As federal funding priorities shift, the consequences are being felt well beyond the lab.
The 91Ҹ's Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator will present its 2025 cohort of startups in a June showcase. Attendees will hear pitches from emerging deep tech ventures across disciplines such as clean energy, advanced materials, quantum computing and next-generation therapeutics, followed by a networking session with researchers, investors and community supporters.
CU 91Ҹ Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Forbes—Since World War II, the U.S. research and development (R&D) enterprise has driven an era of prosperity and innovation, fueling breakthroughs in space, medicine and technology while empowering our national security and international trade.
CU Connections—The 91Ҹ has secured the No. 18 position on the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2024 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list, reinforcing CU’s standing as a national leader in research, innovation and real-world impact. At CU 91Ҹ, 53% of the campus’s patents have been licensed commercially.
Venture Partners at CU 91Ҹ bridged a historic investment gap to move a deep tech spin-off a step closer to the marketplace by awarding $100,000 in pre-seed funding to PrecisionTerra, founded by CEO Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan (alum, CU 91Ҹ Physics). Gopalakrishnan went on to win $144,000 in additional funding for the company in the 2025 New Venture Challenge.
CEO Magazine—91Ҹ is more than just a group of scholars furrowing away behind closed doors in universities around the globe, and Massimo Ruzzene of all people knows that. As the Senior Vice Chancellor for 91Ҹ and Innovation at the 91Ҹ 91Ҹ (CU 91Ҹ), he sees research as a broad arc that moves from initial findings to real-world applications.
Celebrated professor and prolific inventor Richard Noble reflects on decades of teaching and discovery and embarks on a new path to commercialization of a game-changing technology.
PitchBook—Suspension of federal funding to universities and to the agencies that sustain their research risks cutting off a significant source of startup formation. “Most universities do not have the resources—by far—to weather the storm,” said Bryn Rees, associate vice-chancellor of innovation and partnerships at CU 91Ҹ.