Join us at Destination Startup 2027
Are you an investor or researcher looking to bring the next great breakthrough to market? Learn more about getting involved with Destination Startup, a collaboration among leading research universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West to showcase the best companies from our innovation ecosystem.
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Venture Partners at CU Boulder and its partners across the Intermountain West once again demonstrated the power of university innovations at Destination Startup®.
Destination Startup is a collaboration among leading research universities and federal laboratories across the Intermountain West to showcase the best companies from the innovation ecosystem. Hosted by Venture Partners, the showcase connects investors ready to fund breakthrough companies with founders actively raising capital to bring research-driven innovations to market.
“The startups that have come through Destination Startup have raised more than $1.2 billion to date,” said Amy Dodenhoff, director of venture development at Venture Partners and director of Destination Startup. “That’s key capital they need to take promising new tech and turn it into real improvements to people’s lives while also creating economic impact throughout our region. These kinds of inter-institutional, inter-state collaborations are what make this region a destination for entrepreneurs, and we’re proud to lead it,” she said.
Since its launch in 2018, Destination Startup has hosted over 128 startups, and over 1,000 investors, business leaders and innovators have attended. It remains critical to CU Boulder’s expanding innovation ecosystem, providing early-stage ventures with the exposure and connections needed to scale.
The startup application for Destination Startup is expected to open in the fall of 2026.
This year’s Destination Startup was presented with financial support from Cooley, Cozen O’Connor, J.P. Morgan, Foley Hoag, NOD Law, TriNet Group and Wilson Sonsini and in partnership with Arizona State University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Montana State University, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), Texas Tech University System, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), University of Arizona, University of Colorado (Boulder, Anschutz, Denver and Colorado Springs), University of Denver, University of Kansas, University of Nebraska-UMC, University of New Mexico, University of Utah, University of South Dakota and University of Wyoming.
2026 Presenting Startups
EsterCycle
EsterCycle breaks down mixed petroleum and bio-based polyester plastics to enable the transition to renewable and circular materials. At commercial scale, plastics recycled by EsterCycle will be economically competitive with and indistinguishable from virgin materials while reducing emissions by 46%. Visit Website
Team:Julia Curley, Founder, CEO; James Custer, CCO
Contact: Julia Curley,
Affiliation: National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)
Funding Round: Pre-Seed
Industry Applications: Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Manufacturing, Chemicals
Genexgen
We are developing epigenetic therapies to modulate undruggable immune pathways. Our lead program uses mRNA-delivered epigenetic repressors to silence MYD88, a central driver of hyperinflammation previously considered beyond reach. This approach enables the first targeted treatment for HLH, a fatal orphan disease. Visit Website
Team:Amir Kiani, Co-Founder, CEO; Jin Huh, Co-Founder, CTO; Samira Kiani, Scientific Co-Founder
Contact: Amir Kiani,
Affiliation: Arizona State University
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Biotech, Therapeutics
Green Steel Environmental
At Green Steel Environmental, we are redefining how industry thinks about environmental stewardship. Our mission is to eliminate hazardous chemicals from wastewater treatment and replace them with clean, upcycled materials that protect our water ecosystem. Join us as we build a circular economy in nutrient recovery. Visit Website
Team:Jonathan Teaford, Co-Founder, CEO; Jon Jonis, Co-Founder, COO; Mark Hernandez, Co-Founder, CSO; Ron Zighelboim, CRO; Amulya Ganiga Lingaraj, Environmental Engineer
Contact: Jonathan Teaford,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Series A
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Food and Agriculture, Chemicals
Kioga
Kioga is a biotech company developing clinically validated neuromodulating postbiotics based on beneficial microbes in nature, essential for immune and mental resilience that are missing from modern life. Kioga is building a new ingredient category at the intersection of immunology, neuroscience and wellness. Visit Website
Team: Justin Whiteley, Co-Founder, CEO; Adam Bohr, Co-Founder, Head of Business Operations; Chris Stamper, Co-Founder, Head of R&D; Chris Lowry, Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor; Noah Fierer, Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor
Contact: Justin Whiteley,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Food and Agriculture, Health and Wellness, Biotech
Kitsune Biotherapeutics
Kitsune Bio develops shape-shifting cyclic peptides that penetrate cells to hit intracellular protein targets. Our ML platform accelerates permeability optimization for internal programs and helps partners rescue stalled peptide assets. Visit Website
Team:Deacon Santiago, Co-Founder, CEO; Makenna Morck, Co-Founder, CEO; Michael Stowell, Co-Founder, CSO; Thomas Fallon, Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor
Contact: Deacon Santiago,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Pre-Seed
Industry Applications: Biotech, Therapeutics
LIDG3D
LIDG3D develops a powderless metal 3D printing technology that uses light to directly form metal parts from metal salts derived from raw minerals or recycled electronic waste. By eliminating metal powders and molds, the process reduces cost, energy use and waste. Visit Website
Team:Cindy Li, Founder, CTO; Dylan Joralmon, CEO
Contact: Dylan Joralmon,
Affiliation: Arizona State University
Funding Round: Pre-Seed
Industry Applications: Additive Manufacturing
Loop Clinical Systems
TrialWear by Loop Clinical Systems is a wearable and analytics platform integrating real-time patient signals, self-reported experiences and geospatial data to improve safety monitoring, adverse event detection and equitable access in decentralized and rural clinical trials. Visit Website
Team:Elizabeth Johnson, Founder, CEO; Brianna Daniels, Community Engagement; Noah Hedding, Electrical Engineering; Lea Molnar, Mechanical Engineering; Jiahui Ma, Data Science
Contact: Elizabeth Johnson,
Affiliation: Montana State University
Funding Round: Pre-Seed
Industry Applications: Health and Wellness, Information Technology
Manifest Technologies
Manifest Technologies is building the next generation of manufacturing. Its Parallax Volumetric Additive Manufacturing uses precision light to form fully solid parts instantly delivering 10 to 100x faster production and unlocking true design freedom for factory-scale manufacturing in optics and medical devices. Visit Website
Team:Camila Uzcategui, Co-Founder, CEO; Johnny Hergert, Co-Founder, CTO; Robert R. McLeod, Chief Scientist; Alex Granquist, Product Engineer; Darren Liu, Materials Engineer; Gabriel Seymour, Senior Optical Scientist; Alfredo Velasco, Director of Software Innovation; Nick Gow, Product Manager
Contact: Camila Uzcategui,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Hardware and Instrumentation, Robotics, Manufacturing
Modendo
Modendo develops ultra-thin fiber endoscopes—probes as small as a human hair—that deliver high-resolution imaging in regions inaccessible to conventional microscopes. Our patented technology enables new applications in research, advanced electronics failure analysis and intraoperative cancer detection. Visit Website
Team:Antonio Caravaca, Co-Founder, CEO; Omer Tzang, CTO; Sarah Montgomery, Principal Neuroscientist; Rafael Piestun, Co-Founder, President; Christophe Moser, Co-Founder, Advisor; Co-Founder, Demetri Psaltis, Advisor
Contact: Omer Tzang,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Cybersecurity, Hardware and Instrumentation, Medical Devices, Diagnostics
NemaLife
NemaLife is a TechBio company utilizing bio-intelligence to turn nutraceuticals into bioactive breakthroughs for human health and wellness. We combine whole-organism biology, microfluidic automation and AI to deliver fast, actionable, in vivo evidence for developing new consumer health ingredients and products. Visit Website
Team:Siva Vanapalli, Co-Founder, CEO; Mizanur Rahman, Co-Founder, CTO; Nicki Vanapalli, Co-Founder, Head of Business Administration
Contact: Siva Vanapalli,
Affiliation: Texas Tech University System
Funding Round: Series A
Industry Applications: Health and Wellness, Biotech
Perlion
Perlion is a materials chemistry company developing next-generation sunscreen active ingredients. Its flagship product, Solir, is a first-of-its-kind sunscreen filter that blocks UV and high-energy visible light using only FDA-approved components. Visit Website
Team:Logan Chang, Co-Founder, CEO; Don Seo, Co-Founder, President; Alex Volosin, Co-Founder, CTO
Contact: Logan Chang,
Affiliation: Arizona State University
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, Chemicals
Rahm Sensor Development
Rahm Sensor Development (“Rahm”) is building the Guardian™ platform, a multi-sensor, AI-driven, non-contact monitoring system delivering continuous physiological and safety awareness without wearables or wires. The platform is commercialized in corrections and expanding into elder care. Visit Website
Team:Vik Ramprakash, Co-Founder, CEO; Dave Holden, AI Director; Deva Seeta, Software Director; Vivek Puthezath, Operations
Contact: Vik Ramprakash,
Affiliation: Texas Tech University System
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Civic Engagement and Government, Hardware and Instrumentation, Sensors, Medical Devices, Diagnostics
Ramsi
Ramsi is an agentic AI for hotel pricing. Most hotels don’t have a formal pricing system, and the tools that exist are expensive, complex and require specialized staff. Ramsi delivers 24/7 dynamic pricing using a foundational pricing model that continuously learns and grows revenue. Visit Website
Team:Dan Zhang, Co-Founder; Jeff Loucks, Vice President of Revenue Strategy
Contact: Jeff Loucks,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Information Technology, Software, Tourism and Hospitality
SusMer
SusMer is a Colorado-based healthcare biomaterials supplier that chemically manufactures poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), a bioresorbable polymer for implantable medical devices. Our scalable process enables reliable supply, high purity and tunable properties for sutures, meshes and fibers. Visit Website
Team: Todd Blair, CEO; Jake Larger, CFO/COO; Ravikumar Ramegowda, President, CTO; Eugene Chen, Scientific Advisor
Contact: Jake Larger,
Affiliation: Colorado State University
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Cleantech, Medical Devices, Biotech, Manufacturing, Chemicals
Tynt Technologies
Tynt is revolutionizing the way that people look at (and through) transparent surfaces with their dynamic tinting platform. From wearables to windows, Tynt makes glass smart. Visit Website
Team:Tyler Hernandez (frm. CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-Founder, CEO; John Dwyer, Co-Founder, COO/CPO; Mike McGehee, Co-Founder, Chief Scientist
Contact: Tyler Hernandez,
Affiliation: University of Colorado Boulder
Funding Round: Series A
Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Environment and Sustainability, Hardware and Instrumentation
Vital Foams
Vital Foams develops flowable, bioabsorbent foams for advanced wound care. Engineered for adaptability, our non-solidifying formulations enable field-ready delivery of hemostatic, anti-infective, wound healing and analgesic therapeutics in both civilian and military trauma settings. Visit Website
Team: Kirk McGilvray, Co-Founder, CEO; Steve Dow, Co-Founder, CTO; Lynn Pezzanite, Co-Founder, CSO; Nicholas Alfonso, Co-Founder, CMO
Contact: Kirk McGilvray,
Affiliation: Colorado State University
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Medical Devices, Biotech
X-Centric Sciences
X-Centric facilitates a more efficient, sustainable and resilient agricultural system driven by better soil measurement for people, planet and profit. We are replacing inefficient lab analysis with portable multimodal AI-enabled hardware, leveraging X-rays for instant geochemical insights spanning beyond carbon. Visit Website
Team:Roozbeh Ravansari, Co-Founder, CEO; Junghyun Lee, Co-Founder, Engineer; Matt Tighe, Advisor in Soil Science; David Weindorf, Advisor in Soil Science
Contact: Roozbeh Ravansari,
Affiliation: Texas Tech University System
Funding Round: Seed
Industry Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Financial Technology (Fintech), Food and Agriculture, Hardware and Instrumentation, Sensors, Information Technology, Software, Quantum
