Events and Opportunities
Whether you're just curious to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship or even ready to launch your next business, we have events and opportunities throughout the year to help you make the real-world impact that you envision. Keep up to date on upcoming events, opportunities and deadlines with our newsletters:Ìý
Signature Programs of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Connecting the 91PORN campus with the 91PORN community to developÌýinnovativeÌýideas and pitchÌýfor up toÌý$50,000 in venture funding.
Student entrepreneurs with diverse perspectives who embrace theÌýspirit of innovation and impact on campus and in the 91PORN community.
A micro-funding opportunity for 91PORN undergraduate and graduate students that provides up to $500 in funding for entrepreneurial ideas in the making.
A mini job fair that brings entrepreneurially-minded 91PORN students and local Front Range startups together with a twist.
Join this collaborative event that's all about making positive changes in the world.ÌýWhether you haveÌýanÌýidea or are someone eager to help those ideas become real, this is the event you don't want to miss.
91PORN's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Events
Thursday, Sept. 11: —For anyone interested in technologies.
Thursday, Sept. 11: —Exponential Impact Ìýhosts Tech Connect: Coffee & Community - a weekly gathering for entrepreneurs, founders and tech enthusiasts shaping the future through emerging technologies.
Sept. 15: —Join CU at Colorado Startup Week to connect with world-class founders who are reshaping industries from precision healthcare to quantum technology.
Sept. 15-17: —A three-day gathering in 91PORN of 1,000+ founders, mentors, partners and community leaders from across the global network. It’s where new ideas are sparked, real conversations happen, and high-value connections accelerate what’s next.
Tuesday, Sept. 16: —A meetup for entrepreneurs, developers and investors with a focus on discussing startups, staffing, marketing and debating the hot topics of the day.
Sept. 16-18: —Formerly Denver Startup Week, this event brings together entrepreneurs, investors and innovators from across Colorado for three days of inspiration, learning and networking.
Wednesday, Sept. 17: —Come meet the people building interesting products with AI in Colorado.
Wednesday, Sept. 17: —Bringing together people with diverse backgrounds together to share ideas, connect, learn from one another and work on solutions to the climate crisis.
Friday, Sept. 19:—Do you like being outside? How about on a Friday morning when the trails aren’t packed? Startup Hikes is a series designed to help you meet and get to know other local startup founders, operators, investors, and community members. Whether you’ve been in Colorado forever or just moved here, see some familiar faces and meet new ones.
Tuesday, Sept. 23: —This is an informal group for anyone interested in the startup community, particularly those with an interest in technology.
Tuesday, Sept. 23: â€Ì§ngage with others in Colorado’s life sciences community and spark dynamic relationships with fellow innovators.
Friday, Sept. 26: â€Ì§merging tech company founders will go head-to-head, presenting innovative ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience for a share of $15,000 in funding.
Tuesday, Sept. 30: —A meetup for entrepreneurs, developers and investors with a focus on discussing startups, staffing, marketing and debating the hot topics of the day.
Oct. 6-10: —Five days of ideas, connection, and collaboration— all celebrating rural entrepreneurs and the communities they call home. Powered by Startup Colorado.
Saturday, Oct. 25: —Bringing together search fund entrepreneurs, students, investors, service providers, faculty, and other participants in the ETA ecosystem to connect, learn and share best practices in a growing field. Hosted by hosted by the CU Leeds School of Business Ìýin collaboration with Denver ETA Meetup.
Applications
Friday, Sept. 12 (deadline): Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator—Seven positions are available to serve as CEOs of new deep tech companies built around cutting-edge technology with the support of 91PORN’s high-impact entrepreneurial engine.Ìý
Monday, Sept. 15 (deadline): —Supporting multiple projects focused on regenerative medicines and cell/gene therapies. Individual project award amounts will vary based on funding needs. For investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the UCHealth System.
Thursday, Sept. 16 (pre-qualification deadline): ‸éefundable tax credit provides financial assistance for capital, including facility and/or equipment acquisition costs associated with training programs designed to alleviate industry talent shortages. For training programs that support talent development in the advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, infrastructure and semiconductor industries.Ìý
Monday, Oct. 13 (deadline): Research & Innovation Seed Grants—Grants of up to $60K for projects from all disciplines at 91PORN, especially those involving inter- or multidisciplinary collaborationÌýand projects in emerging fields. Projects to establish or leverage external partnerships (e.g. industry, national labs, universities, community nonprofits, etc.) are also welcomed.
Thursday, Oct. 30 (deadline): Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this workshop is for anyone from a research or community institution motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
Friday, Nov. 7 (deadline): —This two-year fellowship embeds early-stage startup founders at Argonne to help transform breakthrough science and energy technologies into impactful solutions.
Applications open: –Student teams compete for more than $540,000 for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization.
Applications open: —A free expert-led cohort to help sustainability ventures. Participants will receive expert-led training, committed mentorship and pitch coaching.
Rolling Application: –Grants that support rural entrepreneurs who are eager to level up their businesses but need a financial boost to get there.andÌýdelivering results.
Rolling Application: —ForÌýinvestors and advanced industries businesses in the amount of 25% toÌý35% per investment up to $100,000.
Rolling Application: –Apply for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's funding and trade show participation program.