CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge: A Rallying Call to Investors
At The University Of Colorado Boulder, Innovation Is More Than An Ideal — It's A Daily Practice.
This year, that practice comes to life on the biggest stage yet: New Venture Challenge Finals. This flagship event marks a powerful collaboration between CU Boulder’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, spotlighting the people and ideas transforming our region into a global startup hub.
And this year, we're extending a bold invitation — to investors ready to fuel the next wave of breakthrough ventures.
As the Chamber says: “We’re fostering a movement to empower entrepreneurs, attract investors, and solidify Boulder as a premier startup hub.”
That movement is already gaining serious traction. In 2024, CU Boulder produced 35 spinouts, earning us the second-highest single-year total of any university in the country. In 2025, a record-breaking 104 ventures registered for the New Venture Challenge, bringing forward an unprecedented pipeline of investable ideas grounded in real research, market insight, and founder grit.
Investors Are Taking Notice. It’s Time For You To Join In.
Last year, Kickstart Fund stepped up as the NVC’s lead investor. This year, they’re back — joined by D4 Ventures, who saw the momentum and dove in. Together, they’ve committed $288,000 in SAFE investments to this year’s top startups.
“CU Boulder isn’t just producing ideas — we’re launching real, scalable ventures,” says Stan Hickory, Executive Director of CU’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “Kickstart and D4 have led the way. Now we’re inviting others to co-invest, connect, and help build the next generation of high-growth companies coming out of Boulder.”
If you’re an angel, VC, family office, or strategic partner looking for early-stage opportunities with technical depth and real traction — there’s no better place to be this spring.
New Venture Challenge Finals
The top CU Boulder ventures pitch live for funding, recognition, and launch support.
📍 Boulder Theater
📅 Apr 23, 2025
This is your chance to get in early. Not just on startups — but on a startup movement that’s redefining what a university innovation ecosystem can be.
Come For The Founders. Stay For The Future.
Data Points From CU:
We successfully supported the launch of the Boulder Angel Network, a community of alumni angel investors focused on supporting ventures rooted in the CU Boulder ecosystem.
Now in its second year, the High School New Venture Challenge awarded $25,000 in scholarships to outstanding Colorado high school students—the next generation of bold entrepreneurs. Tonight, you’ll even get to hear the winning pitch live!
Nearly 200 students participated in our annual Sustainability Hackathon—a hands-on innovation sprint tackling real-world environmental challenges. Next year, we’re scaling up and opening participation to all Front Range universities with a goal of engaging 500+ students in the fall.
In its fifth year, our Women Founder Competition drew 31 women-founded ventures, awarding $20,000 to support and accelerate their entrepreneurial journeys.
This year’s New Venture Challenge (NVC) welcomed 104 registered ventures. With interest from investors growing, Kickstart and D4 joined us as partners—and today, $325,000 in investments and prizes are on the line.
Over the past 18 years, the NVC has supported 1,200+ ventures and awarded over $1.75 million in funding—helping launch some of the most promising startups to emerge from CU Boulder.
All of this momentum is made possible by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, in close collaboration with colleges, centers, programs, and partners across the CU Boulder campus dedicated to cultivating the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial leaders.
I&E Engagement Events By The Numbers:
New Venture Challenge
18 years
264 participants this year
104 ventures this year
$325,000 in funding this year
Innovation and Entrepreneurship programming
612 Total participants
$385,000 Total funding
NVC over the years
1280 total ventures
$1,772,600 in funding
Social Impact New Venture Challenge
1 year
16 participants this year
5 ventures this year
High School New Venture Challenge
2 years
180 Participants this year
68 ventures this year
$25,000 in college scholarships this year
Sustainability Hackathon
4 years
197 participants this year
17 ventures this year
$10,000 in funding this year
Women Founder New Venture Challenge
5 years
110 participants this year
28 ventures this year
$20,000 in funding this year
