SPARK Awards bridge the gap between academic discovery and the clinic through product development-based funding and hands-on advising from industry experts.
A SPARK Award is not a traditional grant. SPARK Awards focus on commercial product development and do not support basic science research. Full applications are solicited by invitation only, following review of a Letter of Intent. Applicants will work with the SPARK and CU Innovations teams to develop product definition plans with critical go/no-go milestones.
The goal of the awards is to accelerate the commercial development of promising technologies that have proven science and a high potential to impact patients. Projects coming out of the program will be ready for licensing opportunities or the next round of independent financing through startups competitive for small business development grants (SBIR/STTR) or private capital investment.
Letter of Intent (LOI) submission period opens.
LOI deadline - extended.
Bootcamp session 1:
What is the problem and how is the solution positioned?
Bootcamp session 2:
Who are the customers, opportunities and risks?
Bootcamp session 3:
Intellectual property and business aspects around the solution.
Bootcamp session 4:
Regulatory and reimbursement considerations.
Full application deadline.
Pitch Day.
Anticipated cohort 7 start date.