Innovation and Entrepreneurship News
Imagine a world where shoppers can purchase “methane free” beef at the grocery store, landfills are no longer needed and cheese puffs come packaged in bags containing no plastic whatsoever. These and other possible futures were showcased at the NVC15 Climate Prize Night on March 8.
It takes a wealth of technical knowledge to create a company that uses a novel form of 3D printing to potentially revolutionize a visit to the dentist. But it also takes a wealth of business knowledge to ensure that vision becomes reality.
Alumnus Kevin Martin’s (MechEngr’16) robotics and apparel company unspun has built a machine that 3D-weaves a seamless pair of jeans in just ten minutes, based on technology first prototyped in the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Senior Design course.
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has named CU Boulder a 2021 Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) awardee. The IEP Innovation Award recognizes exemplary initiatives spurring innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development.
A first-of-its-kind study out of CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business found that entrepreneurs in the business of protecting the environment may be more effective at addressing climate change at a local level than sweeping policies or legacy companies trying to go green.
“Being a finalist for the IEP University Award reflects CU Boulder’s dedication to developing innovative leaders, technologies and partnerships, and to making a significant economic and societal impact both statewide and nationally,” said Bryn Rees, assistant vice chancellor for research and innovation at CU Boulder.
Mia Keyser and Varsha Rao, members of the Boulder Alt. Protein Project, received two awards for their research and community impact in the field of cellular agriculture, which may one day revolutionize how meat is produced for human consumption.
A study coauthored by Leeds professor Tony Tong discovered that too much openness in digital platforms—especially to partners with highly similar products or services—may in fact dampen innovation and entrepreneurial activities.
In its second year in a virtual setting, the New Venture Challenge, CU Boulder’s premier entrepreneurial startup program and competition, dazzled with high energy and even higher-flying ideas curated by students vying for their share of $150K in prize money.
The Startup Colorado Network, an online tool for small business owners launched by CU Boulder's Silicon Flatirons in 2020, connects rural entrepreneurs with business resources, as well as fellow business owners, mentors and funders.