Promo Kit—Destination Startup 2025 Application

This page contains all the information available to help you promote this opportunity to your network and community. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to Daniel Leonard, senior marketing and communications specialist for Venture Partners at daniel.leonard@colorado.edu.Ìý

Opportunity Information

Destination Startup® brings groundbreaking startups built on novel discoveries from top national labs and universities together with investors from throughout North America to catalyze real-world impact. This showcase demonstrates a powerful way to invest in and get funding for innovative research and translate it into impactful business ventures.

Any startup that is actively raising funds to commercialize an innovation licensed from any participating university or federal laboratory is eligible to apply. A competitive, independently juried pre-showcase selection process will determine which applicants will be invited to the March showcase.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. MT

When and Where:Ìý

  • The investor showcase is Thursday, March 13, 2025, in ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ, CO.
  • Presenters are invited to a sponsored VIP happy hour on the evening of Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ, CO.
  • Live pitch practice for presenters takes place virtually.

Who: Teams should have a signed Option Agreement or License Agreement from a participating university or national lab; teams that have signed a License Agreement will be given preference. See full eligibility details on the application info page.

Information and Application Page: colorado.edu/venturepartners/opportunities-and-events/destination-startup
Vanity URL: Ìýor

About the Host

Set in the heart of our university's bold, innovative community of scholars and learners, Venture Partners at CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ brings the university's world-class researchers together with business, startup and entrepreneurial communities to translate groundbreaking solutions into economic and social impact.

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Presentation and Digital Sign Slides

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Sample Email Copy

Subject: Apply Now: Showcase your startup at Destination Startup 2025!

Dear [Recipient's Name],

We are excited to invite you to apply for Destination Startup 2025, a premier investor showcase in ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ, CO that brings together groundbreaking researchers and innovative startups with investors from across North America. This showcase is a unique opportunity to present your startup to a diverse audience of investors ready to invest in promising new ventures like yours

Why Apply?

  • Exposure to Investors: Get your startup in front of a wide range of investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors and strategic partners.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with other innovative startups, researchers and industry leaders.
  • Funding Potential: Previous participants have collectively raised over $700 million in venture, angel, strategic and grant funding.
  • Prestigious Platform: Join a select group of startups from leading universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West.

Eligibility: Teams should have a signed Option Agreement or License Agreement from a participating university or national lab. A competitive, independently juried pre-showcase selection process will determine which applicants will be invited to the March showcase.

Key Dates:

  • Jan. 15, 2025: ApplicationÌýdeadline
  • Feb. 5, 2025: Presenting teams announced​
  • Feb. 10-28, 2025: Virtual pitch practice and advising for teams participating in the showcase
  • March 9, 2025: Registration for showcase closes
  • March 13, 2025: Destination Startup Investor Showcase (ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ, CO)

To get all the program information and to apply, please visit the application page. We encourage you to begin your preparation as soon as possible.

For any questions, feel free to contact me or Amy Dodenhoff, director of Destination Startup, at amy.dodenhoff@colorado.edu.

Don't miss this chance to elevate your startup to new heights!

Best regards,

[Your Signature]