Lab Venture Challenge (LVC)

About

The Lab Venture Challenge is a significant funding opportunity for researchers at the University of Colorado campuses in Colorado, supporting early-stage technology innovations and deep tech startups with up to $125,000 in funding and comprehensive commercialization support, making it an ideal program for tech startup teams to apply for.

Benefits

• Up to $125,000 in funding, divided into $100,000 for proof-of-concept and $25,000 for business development
• Requires at least 25% matching funds with a 1:3 ratio
• Funding duration can be up to 24 months for physical sciences and 36 months for biosciences
• Access to early-stage commercialization mentoring
• Participation in professional entrepreneurship training and customer discovery workshops
• Opportunities for pitch practice and investor presentations
• Potential to transition into deep tech startups and secure follow-on investment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be CU Boulder professors or postdocs, or eligible CU Denver or UCCS professors or postdocs who can serve as project leads
• Innovations must belong to one of the following fields: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biosciences, electronics, energy and natural resources, infrastructure engineering, technology and information
• An invention disclosure form must be submitted before the deadline
• Applicants must complete the NSF I-Corps Hub West Starting Blocks customer discovery workshop
• Prior approval is required if the same invention has received LVC or OEDIT funding
• No simultaneous OEDIT or LVC funding is allowed.