The 2026 U Startup Launchpad brought together researchers, founders, investors, civic leaders, and innovation partners for a practical look at building companies from university research and emerging technologies. Hosted by the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office, the event highlighted Salt Lake City’s growing startup ecosystem, founder journeys, AI-enabled company building, fundraising, commercialization pathways, legal essentials, and non-dilutive funding opportunities.
Startup Launchpad 2026 Recap
Highlights from Startup Launchpad 2026, including key themes, speaker insights, and takeaways for researchers, founders, investors, and innovation partners.
Session Recordings
Startup Momentum in Salt Lake City: Talent, Capital, Sports & the University of Utah
Speakers: Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City; Troy D’Ambrosio, Vice President for Innovation, University of Utah; Catherine Bennett, Executive Editor, Utah Business
Salt Lake City’s startup ecosystem is gaining momentum, shaped by a strong talent base, access to capital, major opportunities in healthcare, technology, and sports, and a culture built on collaboration. This conversation explores why the region is a compelling place to build and how the University of Utah helps connect research, talent, and ideas to company creation.
From PhD Research to Multi-Billion-Dollar Biotech Startup: Chris Gibson on Recursion’s Origin
Speakers: Chris Gibson, Founder, Recursion; Jenna Barbari, Communications Director, BioHive
Chris Gibson shares how University of Utah research helped spark the early idea behind Recursion, a company using AI and computational tools to accelerate drug discovery. The conversation traces the risks, decisions, early proof points, storytelling, hiring, and culture-building that helped turn a research direction into a fast-growing biotech company.
Building AI-Enabled Companies
Speakers: Warren Pettine, Co-founder & CEO, MTN AI; Carmen Kivisild, Co-founder & CEO, Elnora AI; Penny Atkins, Associate Director, One-U Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative
AI is giving founders new ways to move faster, stretch limited resources, and build stronger workflows from the start. Panelists discuss how startups can identify useful AI applications, stay focused on real customer problems, and build with privacy, trust, accountability, and human judgment in mind.
Funding Advice for Founders: How to Raise Startup Capital & Pitch Investors
Speakers: Nick Efstratis, Partner, Epic Ventures/UofU Ventures; Noah Nasser, CEO, datma; Chandana Haque, Executive Director, Altitude Lab; Annette Lavoie, University of Utah
Raising capital takes more than a polished pitch. This panel offers practical guidance on understanding the market, building a venture-backable company, knowing your numbers, preparing for diligence, and choosing investors who can become true advocates. Speakers also emphasize the value of relationships across Utah’s innovation ecosystem.
From Researcher to Founder: Commercializing University Research
Speakers: Ainsley Lloyd, Doman Innovation Studio Partner/Advisor; Daniel Greiner, Ph.D., Researcher and Co-founder, CaLycia Biosciences; Rachel Detweiler, Ph.D., Researcher and Founder, Lontra Bio
Moving from research to startup founder means learning a new language: customers, markets, product development, funding, storytelling, and team-building. This session highlights how researchers can evaluate startup potential, think through early commercialization decisions, and connect with campus and community resources that help move discoveries toward real-world impact.
Startup Legal Basics: IP, Company Formation & Founder Agreements
Speakers: Scott D. Marty, Ph.D., IP Attorney and Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP; Ryan Udell, Corporate Attorney and Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
Legal and IP decisions can shape a startup from its earliest days. This presentation walks through practical considerations for founders, including entity formation, founder agreements, university-connected IP, patents and trade secrets, early contracts, financing preparation, and common legal mistakes that can create problems later.
SBIR & STTR Funding 101: Non-Dilutive Grants for Startups
Speaker: Dylan Doty, Program Manager, Nucleus Grow
SBIR and STTR grants can help startups advance proof of concept, technology development, and commercialization without giving up equity. This session explains where these programs fit in the funding landscape, how founders can assess fit, what agencies look for, and what steps can improve the chances of securing non-dilutive support.
