"Embark Startup Founder"

Wanted: Entrepreneurs to launch new companies based on University of Colorado Boulder innovations! The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator by Venture Partners at CU Boulder matches motivated entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations developed at the University of Colorado Boulder. Through a competitive selection process, Embark will hire up to seven Embark Startup Founders to serve as CEOs of new deep tech companies built around technology developed in CU Boulder’s world-class research enterprise. This is an opportunity to lead a startup using cutting-edge technology, with the support of CU Boulder’s high-impact entrepreneurial resources and programs.

Embark is designed for aspiring founders who are ready to lead a startup but don’t yet have their own idea. If hired, you will spend six months forming your company, refining your business model, and accelerating your path to market through CU Boulder’s deep tech commercialization ecosystem, including entrepreneurial training and accelerators, as well as funding opportunities through investor introductions and grants. The selected startup founders will receive a free exclusive option to obtain an express license on special terms available only to companies forming around CU Boulder’s technology.

Prospective startup founders begin by applying for the position with a resume and cover letter. All applicants will also be invited to submit a short video. Then, from Oct. 2 - Dec. 11, selected candidates will be invited to explore dozens of CU Boulder’s most promising technologies, propose a startup concept, and pitch their vision for that technology. Hired startup founders will receive salary support as temporary employees from Jan. 1-June 30, 2026, reporting to the Director of Venture Development.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are: The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator is part of Venture Partners at CU Boulder. Set in the heart of the University of Colorado’s bold, innovative community of scholars and learners, Venture Partners brings the university’s world-class researchers together with the business, startup and entrepreneurial communities to translate groundbreaking solutions into economic and social impact. As a catalyst for innovation, our work is exciting, fast-paced, and multidisciplinary, bringing together the domains of business, science, and law.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be: Form a company and sign a free startup option agreement. Build and launch a new startup centered around a technology developed at CU Boulder. Provide executive-level leadership for your startup. Collaborate with university researchers who developed the founding technology for your company. Complete early startup benchmarks toward commercialization. Assess product-market fit and the viability of the overall business, and pivot to alternative strategies if necessary. Complete Venture Partners Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, and other training provided throughout employment. Provide regular reports to Venture Partners leadership on startup progress and achievements.

What You Should Know: The startup founder position is primarily remote, although in-person meetings are occasionally offered. Startup founders will go through the standard hiring processes at CU Boulder, which include a background check. This temporary position is not eligible for benefits or visa sponsorship. Up to two startup founders will win $50,000 for the CU Boulder lab that developed the technology to help further the development of the technology.