The Insider: Deep Tech Partners Edition—August 2026

This monthly edition of The Insider from Venture Partners at ��ñ�� delivers upcoming events, opportunities and top headlines for industry partners, entrepreneurs and business community members.

View past editions��or��change your subscription. Have a news tip? Send it to vpnews@colorado.edu.

Featured News

Watch their pitches and connect with the 2026 Ascent cohort

We're proud to share our largest-ever cohort in the Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, and we invite you to watch their pitches online and connect with them to drive real-world impact! This year's showcase featured ventures developing breakthrough solutions in health, robotics, advanced materials and more.

Opportunities for Partnership

Venture Partners connects entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners with innovations from the University of Colorado. Explore opportunities to launch companies, invest in promising ventures, collaborate on research and license technologies.

Wanted: Photographers and Videographers

Are you or someone you know a videographer or photographer? Venture Partners is building a list of freelance photographers and videographers for future events and storytelling projects. If you're interested, please submit your contact information, portfolio or website, service area and rates. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee work but allows us to contact you when opportunities arise.

Public Speaking Coach

Venture Partners is seeking a public speaking coach to help prepare CU research teams for their upcoming pitches at the Lab Venture Challenge Showcases, a proof-of-concept funding competition. If you're interested, please send your contact information, relevant experience, coaching approach and rates for consideration to Joshua Bennett, director of the Lab Venture Challenge at joshua.bennett@colorado.edu.

More for Investors and Industry

University Events and Opportunities

��Aug. 21-Oct. 9 ��Koelbel Building, ��ñ�� Campus ����All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required

Designed for cross-disciplinary graduate students, researchers and forward-thinking professionals, this program explores the nexus of cutting-edge climate innovations and commercial viability. Through market-driven discussions and a strong focus on network and ecosystem building, participants will interact with industry leaders, investors and founders to explore next-generation technologies and areas ripe for innovation.

Offered by Boulder Climate Ventures

Five people pose around a lab demonstration table with a sign reading 'Kidney In A Bag.' A glass apparatus with tubing, pumps, and a pinkish organ-like specimen sits at the center. From left to right: a man in a striped shirt with arms crossed and a name tag, a woman with glasses, a young man, a woman with glasses smiling, and an older man in a suit — all smiling at the camera in an indoor event space with other attendees visible in the background.

��Sept. 14 ��Denver, CO ����All Are Welcome—CU Affiliation is Not Required

CU Innovation Day brings together founders, researchers and creative leaders from across the CU system, alongside partners for a day of real conversations, big ideas and connection.

Offered by the CU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative

More University Opportunities

University Startup and Innovation News

Mana Battery partners with Saft on anode-free sodium batteries

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CU Startup News

Interesting Engineering—Mana Battery, a ��ñ�� spinout, has partnered with battery manufacturer Saft to develop and validate anode-free sodium-ion battery cells for defense, aerospace, rail, data centers and industrial backup power. The collaboration combines Mana Battery's anode-free sodium-ion technology with Saft's expertise in battery design, manufacturing, testing and qualification.

Blue sky and sunshine on a farm field of green rows

��ñ�� startup Page Technologies wins $400,000 EPA SBIR Phase II

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CU Startup News

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—The EPA announced $3.6 million in funding to nine U.S. small businesses to further develop and commercialize environmental technologies through EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. ��ñ�� startup Page Technologies was awarded a $400,000 SBIR Phase II award.

A collage of black and white photographs

Activate welcomes two ��ñ��-connected startups to its Cohort 2026

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CU Startup News

Activate—50 scientist-innovators will join Cohort 2026. The 41 companies they're building span 22 cities and 11 states across the U.S., and include two startups with ties to ��ñ��: Mach Electric and Brint Tech.

4 More Headlines

Opportunities Outside the University

Funding and Investment Opportunities

*Sept. 5, Jan. 5, April 5��(Deadlines) | U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Programs— | | | ��

*Thursday, Sept. 10 (Deadline) | —Eligible small businesses may submit up to three pitches that align with one of four topics to receive an invite to submit a full proposal for an award up to $250,000.��

*Friday, Sept. 25 (Deadline) | —Open to DOE SBIR Phase I awardees from fiscal years 2024 or 2025, and Phase II awards up to $2 million from one of six topics.��

Rolling Deadlines

: Encouraging third-party investments in Colorado advanced industries businesses by incentivizing investors with state income tax credits of 25% to��35% per investment up to $100,000.

*Need support with your translational funding grant? Contact our Center for Translational Research.

Networking and Showcases

Wednesday, Aug. 26 (Deadline) | —A product innovation showcase and competition that connects clean technology solutions to the oil and natural gas industry.

Sept. 14–18, Denver, CO | —A community-driven weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Denver, bringing together founders, investors, creatives and changemakers for hundreds of sessions, panels, workshops and networking events designed to connect and inspire Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Sept. 15-17, Denver, CO | —Three days to map the next twelve months, pressure-test it with women building alongside you, and leave knowing exactly what you do next.

Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Vail | —Bringing the most promising life sciences companies from the Rocky Mountain West together with leading investors and strategic partners.

8 More External Opportunities

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