The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator pairs seasoned entrepreneurs with university technologies to bring those breakthroughs to market in response to urgent societal needs. Embark has launched its second Entrepreneurs in Residence cohort and will provide Intellectual Property rights, salary support, grant funds and investor introductions to launch startups with real-world impact.聽
Every year, dozens of breakthrough inventions emerge from CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 research labs. While some are spun out by creators themselves, others are poised to partner with entrepreneurs beyond university walls looking to launch the latest and greatest technologies. Enter Embark, the newest program offered by Venture Partners at CU 麻豆影院.
Embark聽bridges this gap by recruiting and matching entrepreneurs with promising university innovations. 鈥淛ust because the university inventors didn鈥檛 create a startup company doesn鈥檛 mean the technology is not a really exciting startup opportunity,鈥� said Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and managing director of Venture Partners.
鈥淭he first cohort of entrepreneurs have been in high gear since they were selected by the Venture Partners team last year and have risen to each challenge,鈥� said Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. 鈥淭hey do not rest; they take advantage of everything we suggest to them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an all-hands-on-deck approach, how we support our startups,鈥� added Zgagacz.
Last year鈥檚 Embark Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) cohort saw notable success with their new startups in their first year. For example, PrecisionTerra, founded by EIR Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, is a software solution that improves the signal strength of GNSS receivers in urban environments. The company has raised over $130,000 and was accepted to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) NSIN Vector accelerator. Green Steel Environmental, founded by EIRs Jonathan Teaford and Jon Jonis, is developing sustainable additives to revolutionize the wastewater recovery industry. The company has raised over $350,000 and will exhibit at the Biogas Americas trade show in Savannah, GA, in October.聽
Now in its second year, over 114 entrepreneurs applied to Embark and explored a curated portfolio of more than 50 technologies from various scientific and engineering fields, including biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials and aerospace. The Venture Partners team then worked closely with the entrepreneurs and inventors to find the right matches and the greatest opportunities for impact.
Selected applicants went through a rigorous 8-week program where they learned about the technologies for the first time, collaborated with the researchers, began customer discovery and pitched their business ideas in the final EIR selection process. 鈥淲e were impressed with all of these entrepreneurs and how much progress they made to get to this point,鈥� said Amy Dodenhoff, director of venture development at Venture Partners and co-leader of Embark. 鈥淲e are excited to see what the new EIRs can do over the next six months with their new companies.鈥�
The selected entrepreneurs鈥攆ounding ten new startups on university-owned technologies鈥攚ill launch their companies with an option agreement from the university and receive funding for technology development plus a six-month part-time salary to jumpstart their ventures.
With funding from CU 麻豆影院, the program aims to increase diversity in the startup community by supporting individuals who may not have the financial means to pursue entrepreneurship without salary support.
Embark鈥檚 emphasis on matching entrepreneurs with groundbreaking innovations holds the potential to unleash the full impact of CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 research into the world.
Information about the 2025 Embark Showcase for investors and the business community is expected in January 2025. Sign Up for Updates
