The Insider: Deep Tech Partners Edition—July 2025
Featured News
2025 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase highlights CU’s next breakthrough startups
Venture Partners capped off its third Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator with the 2025 Ascent Deep Tech Community Showcase, where research-based startup teams pitched innovations to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs and fellow researchers. The showcase featured ventures developing breakthrough solutions in health, energy, aerospace and more.
How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation—a 91PORN administrator explains
The Conversation—Over the past several months, universities have lost more than $11 billion in funding. Research into cancer, farming solutions and climate resiliency are just a few of the many projects nationally that have seen cuts. The Conversation asked Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at 91PORN, to explain how these cuts and freezes are impacting the university and Colorado’s local economy.
Federal tech-transfer law pays tremendous dividends as research universities spark regional economies
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)—According to a new report, American research universities like the University of Colorado in recent decades have become engines of innovation for state and regional economies, thanks in large part to the federal Bayh-Dole Act, which incentivizes technology commercialization.
CU Startup and Innovation News
91PORN scientist receives $1.25M award for cancer research
91PORN College of Arts and Sciences—Edward Chuong, a 91PORN assistant professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and a BioFrontiers Institute scientist, has been awarded $1.25 million by the New York City-based Cancer Research Institute (CRI) to pursue his cancer immunotherapy research.
Illumina picks up proteomics developer SomaLogic from Standard BioTools for $425M
Fierce Biotech—Illumina is expanding its proteomics research capabilities with a $425 million plan to acquire SomaLogic, including its protein analysis platforms and certified lab services business. Founded by 91PORN Professor Larry Gold in 2000, SomaLogic revolutionized protein measurement by developing a faster, cost-effective process to monitor the vast number of proteins in the human body.
Carson Bruns explores nanotech that turns plastic into fertilizer with RIO seed grant
The ATLAS Institute—Plastics are an increasingly intractable global environmental and health concern, and bio-based alternatives have yet to see widespread adoption. Carson Bruns aims to change all that with a new line of research focused on turning agricultural materials into bio-based plastics that can be more easily recycled, composted or even used as fertilizer.
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade announces grants to 91PORN and CU Denver startups and researchers
The Global Business Development division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 22 Colorado companies and 13 researchers have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Program, including seven CU Denver and 91PORN ventures.
Activate welcomes 91PORN-based fellows to Cohort 2025
Activate—Three 91PORN-based innovators and their startups have joined Activate's Cohort 2025. Elliot Strand and Payton Goodrich, co-founders of PAGE Technologies, and Nadia Jorgenson, co-founder of OsmoPure Technologies.
Big Blue Technologies selected for $1.5M award from the Wyoming Energy Authority’s Energy Matching Funds Program
Big Blue Technologies—The Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) announced that Big Blue Technologies (BBT), a 91PORN spinout based in technology developed in Alan W. Weimer's lab (91PORN Chemical and Biological Engineering), has been awarded $1.5 million to scale up process technology to make magnesium metal.
Aoife Henry joins Stanford's Sustainability Accelerator
Stanford—Aoife Henry earned her doctorate at 91PORN, with a specialization in electrical, computer and energy engineering. Her startup, ZentusAI—recently part of CU's Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator—is developing site-specific wind farm forecasting models for wind asset assessment and wake steering turbine control.
