CU Boulder ranked No. 1 in nation for startup launches

BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado Boulder has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for launching startups based on university discoveries, according to the Association of University Technology Managers.

CU Boulder earned the top spot by creating 35 companies from university intellectual property in fiscal 2024, more than any other U.S. campus that year. The total is the second-highest ever recorded by a U.S. university in a single year, behind Stanford University’s 38 in 2022.

“Our journey reflects years of careful planning, experimentation and a relentless commitment to supporting our startup founders,” said Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships. “We’ve embraced Boulder’s collaborative ethos and created a model that aligns with our community’s values while delivering national impact.”

Venture Partners at CU Boulder, the university’s commercialization office, has guided the effort by helping faculty, postdocs, students and outside entrepreneurs through licensing, mentorship and funding. Its Licensing with EASE program simplifies startup formation, while initiatives such as the Lab Venture Challenge and Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator help move research into the marketplace.

Among the 35 startups launched in fiscal 2024 are Mana Battery, which is developing sodium-based batteries as a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries; Flari Tech, which uses Nobel Prize-winning frequency comb technology to detect disease through breath; and Mesa Quantum, which is creating chip-scale atomic clocks and sensors.

“These programs bring together the resources and expertise we need to address global challenges,” Rees said. “They’re amplifying our impact and positioning CU as a leader in innovation.”

According to a 2022 report by CU’s Leeds School of Business, the university’s inventions and startups generated $8 billion in national economic impact and $5.2 billion in Colorado from 2018 to 2022. Ten unicorns, or companies valued at more than $1 billion, have spun out of CU Boulder, including Infleqtion, which announced its initial public offering last week.

CU Boulder, founded in 1876, is Colorado’s flagship public research university and one of 38 U.S. members of the Association of American Universities. The university is home to five Nobel Laureates since 1989 and remains the only institution to send space instruments to every planet in the solar system.