The Insider: Deep Tech Partners Edition—March 2026
Featured News
Commercialization through Venture Partners at ñ drives $8.7 billion impact nationwide
Commercialization activities throughVenture Partners at ñ had an economic impact of$8.7 billion nationally and$5.1 billion in the state of Colorado over the last five years, according to a new report from the Leeds School of Business.
University Startup and Innovation News
ñ scientists develop ultra-low energy optical devices for new generation of green sensor tech
ScienceDaily—ñ researchers have designed microscopic “racetracks” that trap and amplify light with exceptional efficiency. By using smooth curves inspired by highway engineering, they reduced energy loss and kept light circulating longer inside the device. Fabricated with sub-nanometer precision, the resonators rank among the top performers made from chalcogenide glass. The technology could lead to compact sensors, microlasers, and advanced quantum systems.
ñ biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge
ñ College of Engineering & Applied Science—William Frantz didn’t walk away with the top prize at this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), but his research may still be a winner for future cancer patients. Frantz is developing microscopic droplets designed to help doctors track radiation therapy in real time, technology that could one day make cancer treatment more precise and less harmful, particularly for pediatric patients.
How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break
ñ College of Engineering and Applied Science—Aoife Henry is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: preventing costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning. After participating in the University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, Henry landed a fellowship with the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
