The Embark program at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) pairs seasoned entrepreneurs with university technologies to bring those breakthroughs to market in response to societal needs. The recent Embark Showcase was the pinnacle of the program’s first year working with selected entrepreneurs to provide IP rights, salary support, grant funds, and investor introductions to launch startups with real-world impact.
About a dozen entrepreneurs and ten groundbreaking innovations took center stage at the inaugural Embark Showcase. And attendees got an exclusive look at companies built in the last six months by the first cohort of Embark Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs). The entrepreneurs also shared progress on startups spanning diverse sectors like biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials, and aerospace.
Every year, dozens of breakthrough inventions emerge from CU Boulder’s research labs. While creators themselves spin out some, others partner with entrepreneurs beyond university walls looking to launch the latest and greatest technologies. Embark addresses the need to pair experienced entrepreneurs with promising inventions.
Initially, over 100 entrepreneurs applied to the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator, which is the newest program by Venture Partners at CU Boulder (the university’s commercialization arm). Applicants completed an intensive, two-month program, including guidance on founding a company based on deep tech from a university lab, customer discovery, business development, types of funding, and more. Venture Partners also worked with them to make winning matches between inventors and business minds.
After exploring a portfolio of 50 CU Boulder technologies, applicants pitched commercialization plans to land a six-month EIR spot, including a part-time salary for founding CEOs and up to $100,000 for technology development. And Embark is made possible by grants from CU Boulder and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
The Venture Partners team selected the 12 EIRS and continued guiding them on resources available on campus and in the community.
Fellow EIR, Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, founder and CEO of PrecisionTerra, is bringing to market another potentially life-saving technology. PrecisionTerra is commercializing an algorithm created by Jade Morton, director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research and head of the Satellite Navigation and Sensing Laboratory in the Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department. The algorithm improves GPS signal coverage in environments like dense cities with tall buildings. And that solves a big problem for mapping and autonomous vehicle industries that grapple with poor GPS signal quality in those areas.
2023 Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence
1.) Nate Ashton will lead Regyn Bio in bringing to market an efficient and scalable microwave-based pyrolysis system that was invented by Zoya Popovic (Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering).
2.) Matthew Bauer will lead Click in bringing to market a small ear device invented by Tam Vu (Computer Science) that provides hands-free computer control that allows users to communicate by ‘typing’ with their teeth.
3.) David Beitz and Carl Kalin will lead BioSensor Solutions in bringing to market a biodegradable 2D printed soil sensor invented by Gregory Whiting (Mechanical Engineering) that provides real-time measurement data of soil health directly at the source in the field.
4.) Brian Dao will lead Coaterra in bringing to market a coated and tunable stent Wei Tan (Mechanical Engineering) invented to reduce blood vessel damage and induce quick healing.
5.) Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan will lead PrecisionTerra to bring to market a software solution invented by Jade Morton (Aerospace) that only requires a firmware update to improve the signal strength of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers in urban environments.
6.) T. Hingba and Jason McGowin will lead Vitawave Tech in bringing to market a wireless in-ear blood pressure measuring device that Tam Vu (Computer Science) invented for intermittent and continuous monitoring.
7.) John Seman will lead Antibiotic Adjuvants in bringing to market new adjuvants discovered by Xiang Wang (Chemistry) for multiple drug-resistant bacteria.
8.) Jonathan Teaford and Jon Jonis will lead Green Steel Environmental in developing sustainable additives that can revolutionize the wastewater recovery industry discovered by Mark Hernandez (Environmental Engineering).
9.) Galen Williams will lead WHISPER Energy in bringing to market a wireless sensor platform invented by Gregor Henze (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) for home and commercial building energy management.
10.) Eva Yao will lead FLARI in bringing to market a breathalyzer capable of detecting molecules in breath or air samples invented by Jun Ye (Physics) for fast detection of diseases and contaminants.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re showing off the fruits of the Embark program, where they took deep tech and looked at what kind of products there could be and how these companies might have a great future fulfilling real needs.”
– Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark
“I don’t know of another university that actively and directly recruits entrepreneurs to lead their laboratory startups, especially one that lets them pick the tech they want to take to market.”
– Stephen Miller, co-leader of Embark and director of venture development at Venture Partners.
“Startup creation is a team sport and deep tech commercialization is no exception. I could not and would not be able to bring this technology to market by myself. I feel uber lucky to be embedded in a community where people are very open and generous with their time and ideas.”
– EIR Eva Yao, founder of FLARI
“Each of us overcame unique challenges throughout the process, and the showcase is a wonderful way to highlight our respective journeys and accomplishments.”
– Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan
