Translational Funding Resources and Events
Unlock Funding to Move Your Research or Venture Forward
Through educational events held throughout the year—alongside resources and expert guidance—the Center for Translational Research (CTR) connects researchers and startup teams with key non-dilutive funding opportunities and helps them navigate the path to competitive proposals.
Events and Opportunities
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
CU ǸԹ Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Community (SEEC) Building
For Researchers and Inventors at CU ǸԹ and Deep Tech Industry Representatives
Add to Calendar:
Research to Impact—Funding and Industry Partnership Strategies
Research funding requires a diversified approach. Join CU ǸԹ's Venture Partners, Industry Research Partnerships and Center for Translational Research to explore practical strategies to expand beyond traditional funding sources and position research for greater impact.
Faculty and research teams will gain actionable funding insights, while industry participants can discover emerging innovations, explore collaboration opportunities and provide valuable feedback to help researchers communicate the potential of their work.
Dennis J. Pretti
Senior Member of Technical Staff
Micron Technology Inc.
Dennis Pretti received a BS in electrical engineering from CU ǸԹ in 1995. He began his career at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho, the same year as a parametric test device engineer in the company's high-volume manufacturing facility, a role he held until 2000. From 2000 to 2022, Dennis designed parametric test devices supporting process development within technology development. During this period, he developed and led a team of test device design engineers from 2000 to 2013. From 2013 to 2019, his work focused on CMOS automation, test device quality and optical design quality. Between 2019 and 2022, he led test device and optical design roadmap pathfinding initiatives. In 2022, Dennis shifted his focus to STEM outreach, K-12 education engagement, university technical partnerships, the co-development, ongoing support and communication of Micron's Educator Hub and the development of technical engagement and career pipeline opportunities for Micron team members.
Dennis joined the Technical Leadership Program (TLP) community in 2015 as a senior member of technical staff and has since served in a variety of leadership, mentoring, innovation and technical expert roles. In 2018, he became Micron's technical ambassador for CU ǸԹ, a role he still holds today. An active contributor to the university community, Dennis has served on the CU ǸԹ Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE) External Advisory Board since 2022 and on the Engineering Advisory Council since 2024. He holds one U.S. patent and has authored five publications. His contributions to industry and higher education engagement have been recognized through the CU ǸԹ ECEE Alumni Engagement Medal in 2025 and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2026.
His involvement in technical engagement and STEM outreach has provided some of the most meaningful experiences and cherished memories of his 31-year professional career.
Sarah Hughes
Director of the Center for Translational Research
CU ǸԹ
Kelly Fleming
Assistant Director for Industry Research Partnerships
CU ǸԹ
Kelly Fleming is assistant director for industry research partnerships at CU ǸԹ, where she works at the intersection of academic research and industry to build meaningful collaborations that move the needle on technology development. Her work focuses on advanced energy and sustainability.
Kelly brings deep expertise in clean energy and the energy transition, spanning power grid modernization, low-carbon fuels and the electrification of transportation. Her career has spanned academia, industry, government and nonprofit sectors, giving her experience in each and bringing diverse stakeholders to the table. She has held roles at the Federation of American Scientists, Boundary Stone Partners and the Policy Institute at the University of California, Davis, an affiliate of the Institute of Transportation Studies.
Kelly served as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, an experience that deepened her understanding of how policy, research and industry must work in concert to drive the energy transition forward.
Kelly holds a PhD and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and a BS in chemical and biochemical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
Lab Venture Challenge and Colorado State Grants Information Session
The University of Colorado’s Lab Venture Challenge and grants from the represent premier opportunities to secure translational funding to advance laboratory research and early-stage startups. This informational session features the directors of CU’s Lab Venture Challenge and the Center for Translational Research, as well as representatives from the OEDIT. Attendees will gain the information and guidance they need to successfully apply and compete for these programs, including key timelines, eligibility criteria, best practices and the opportunity to get their questions answered directly.
Translational Funding Day
Join this discussion on translational research funding, with a focus on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Get a practical overview of the programs—including updates on recent developments—learn how to refine your funding strategy, and explore the resources at the Center for Translational Research (CTR) to support your next steps. Bring your questions for a panel of founders who have received SBIR/STTR awards and a federal program manager overseeing their agency’s SBIR/STTR portfolio.
Translational Funding Week
Unlock Funding to Move Your Research or Venture Forward
Are you a university researcher, inventor or deep tech founder exploring ways to translate your innovation into real-world impact? Join us for Translational Funding Week—a series of engaging lunchtime sessions designed to demystify the landscape of non-dilutive funding opportunities that support the journey from lab to market. These sessions are tailored to faculty, postdocs, PhD students and startup teams who want to learn how to secure early-stage funding to commercialize research, build ventures and scale innovation.
Whether you're applying for the first time or looking to sharpen your funding strategy, Translational Funding Week will connect you with insights, tools and experts to accelerate your path forward.
Topics
- NavigatingSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)grants across federal agencies
- The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Grant Program
- Opportunities through the NSF ASCEND Engine in Colorado and Wyoming and other regional resources
- How to align your innovation with funder priorities
- Tips from successful applicants and agency insiders
Whether you're applying for the first time or looking to sharpen your funding strategy, Translational Funding Week will connect you with insights, tools and experts to accelerate your path forward.
Resources
Commercialization Text for Grant Writers
Full Text - 430 Words
Venture Partners at CU ǸԹ is the commercialization arm of CU ǸԹ, UCCS, and CU Denver (except CU Denver biosciences) and a recognized national leader in translating university research into market-ready solutions and products, having received the 2021 Innovation Award from the APLU. Venture Partners provides an array of resources for researchers to commercialize their innovations, including intellectual property management, entrepreneurial training, an external mentor network, translational grant funding, a startup accelerator, an investor network, and an affiliated venture capital fund.
With over 300 patent applications filed each year, Venture Partners has a well-established intellectual property management system. Importantly, Venture Partners has a streamlined licensing process calledLicensing with EASE®, which ensures that the university’s patents are made available under transparent, reasonable, and pre-negotiated rates, simplifying and accelerating the licensing process.
Entrepreneurial training is provided through theNational Science Foundation’s I-CorpsTM Hub West. Venture Partners offers the renowned I-Corps methodology, designed to teach scientists and engineers the skills to test and validate product-market fit. Participants learn and apply the fundamentals of “customer discovery,” an experiential process to map out the ecosystem surrounding a technological innovation, and then test the value proposition for that innovation through key stakeholder interviews. The I-Corps programs at CU ǸԹ are available to all university innovators, lead to grant funding opportunities with NSF, and are essential training for aspiring startup founders and inventors who wish to partner their technology with established corporate partners.
Venture Partners offers translational grants for researchers with high-potential inventions through theLab Venture Challenge (LVC). LVC awards $125,000 grants to help de-risk the technology to get it ready for commercialization ($100k) and fund early business development expenses ($25k).
For innovators with startup aspirations, theAscent Deep Tech Startup Creator, designed specifically for startup founders building companies around science and engineering innovations, provides basic training in building a new company, including finance, raising capital, and product development. For startup company funding, Venture Partners offersSBIR/STTR grant-writing assistance,an annual investor showcase, and a fully integrated partnership withBuff Gold Ventures, a $25 million venture capital fund that invests exclusively in CU ǸԹ startup companies.
The impact of Venture Partners is well supported.CU ranked in the top 5 of all US universities in 2021 for startup creation, according to AUTM. In 2024, CU ǸԹ produced 35 spinout companies, one of the highest totals ever by any university.A study by Brian Lewandowski at the Leeds School of Business determined that between 2018 and 2022, Venture Partners’ commercialization activities resulted in an $8 billion national economic impact, including 39,000 supported jobs.