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The University of Colorado Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science continues to establish itself as a leader in innovation, with 22 startups emerging from its research labs in the past fiscal year. This achievement reflects the college's commitment to translating transformative research into solutions that address real-world challenges.

CU Engineering successfully launched 22 startups in fiscal year 2024, in the following industries: Sustainability (6), Medical Device (3), AgTech (2), Quantum/Photonics/Optics (2), Energy & Storage (2), Robotics (2), Software (1), Diagnostics (1), Security (1), Biotech (1), AI (1).

“CU Engineering bridges the gap between research and application by fostering collaboration and creating pathways for impact," said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. "Through mentorship, funding opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities, we empower our scholars to transform discoveries into technologies that benefit humanity.”

CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial ecosystem moves research beyond the lab and into the world, nurturing concepts from inception to market. Educational programs, workshops, and events help students and faculty develop entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills to explore and validate ideas in the early stages of product and company discovery. Access to cutting-edge research labs, maker spaces, and entrepreneurial hubs enables them to move from concept to creation, prototyping and refining their work to develop real-world applications.

Collaboration with entities like Venture Partners at CU Boulder ensures researchers have access to critical commercialization resources, including funding, licensing expertise and industry connections. The college recently strengthened its entrepreneurial initiatives with the appointment of Wil Srubar as the first Deming associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship in 2024.

"Innovation doesn’t end in the lab—it thrives when it can be applied to real-world challenges," said Wil Srubar, Deming associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship. "At CU Engineering, we are building a culture where researchers and students don’t just ask ‘what if’ but take steps to turn those questions into solutions."

The success of CU Engineering’s ecosystem reflects the diversity and impact of its startups. 

Over the past year, these ventures have tackled critical challenges in renewable energy, water purification, advanced manufacturing and biomedical devices. Each startup represents a blend of cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary effort and entrepreneurial vision.

This year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) exemplifies the strength of CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial pipeline. The LVC awarded $875,000 to seven engineering-led ventures supporting innovative technologies with market potential.

With 22 startups launched this past year and more to follow, CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial efforts reflect its dedication to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. By preparing students and researchers to bring ideas to market, the college is shaping future leaders in engineering and advancing workforce development. These efforts foster connections across disciplines and industries, building a foundation for continued progress.