Entrepreneurs Unplugged: Bryn Rees, Venture Partners at CU Boulder

• Flickr photo album

Join us for a dynamic Entrepreneurs Unplugged session featuring Bryn Rees, Associate Vice Chancellor of CU Boulder’s Innovation & Partnerships, in conversation with Silicon Flatirons’ Brad Bernthal. Rees has played a pivotal role in launching impactful startups from CU Boulder. After nearly a decade of leadership, Rees has helped build multiple programs to support innovations at CU Boulder, including the Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), NSF’s I-Corps, and the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator.

The results are notable. Under Rees’ leadership, CU Boulder hit the all-time #2 spot for startup production, by any university in 2024. Preceding that, in the five years spanning 2018 to 2022, a Leeds study found that Venture Partners contributed $8 billion to the national economy and supported 39,000 jobs.

This Entrepreneurs Unplugged session offers a unique opportunity to explore the strategies behind translating university research into market-ready innovations. Moreover, it explores industry sectors – batteries, space, and quantum – which are an increasingly important part of the Front Range emerging company community. Whether you’re a student, faculty member, or community entrepreneur, this conversation will provide valuable lessons on bridging the gap between academia and industry. Don’t miss this chance to connect with CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial community and gain inspiration for your own ventures.

Sessions

03/19/25 5:00pm - 5:45pm

Networking Reception

@ Wolf Law Bldg, Boettcher Hall

Light Dinner and Refreshments Provided.

03/19/25 5:45pm - 5:55pm

Welcome, Intro, and Community Announcements

@ Wittemyer Courtroom

03/19/25 5:55pm - 6:40pm

Fireside Chat, Audience Q&A

@ Wittemyer Courtroom

• Brad Bernthal
  Executive Director | Entrepreneurship Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons
• Brynmor Rees
  Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Partnerships, University of Colorado Boulder

03/19/25 6:40pm - 7:30pm

Panel Discussion

• Brad Bernthal — Moderator
  Executive Director | Entrepreneurship Initiative Director, Silicon Flatirons
• Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan — Panelist
  Founder and CEO, PrecisionTerra
• Mike Nelson — Panelist
  Partner, Cooley LLP
• Brynmor Rees — Panelist
  Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Partnerships, University of Colorado Boulder
• Justin Whiteley — Panelist
  CEO & Co-founder, Kioga

03/19/25 7:30pm - 8:00pm

Dessert Reception

@ Wolf Law Bldg, Boettcher Hall

Dessert and refreshments provided.