CU Anschutz Innovations Toolbox Microgrants are open for the 2026–2027 rolling award cycle to support eligible CU Anschutz innovators developing next-generation healthcare technologies. The program supports commercialization work for therapies, devices, software and other health innovations.
Funding: Toolbox awards are flexible, one-time allocations of up to $25,000. CU Anschutz states that funds may be used for commercialization services and may be bundled across more than one service, including product development, prototyping, regulatory strategy, reimbursement strategy, market analysis, business and financial planning, legal or corporate guidance, and SBIR/STTR grant-support consulting.
Deadline and availability: the 2026–2027 cycle is open on a rolling basis through May 2027 or until available funds are exhausted. The controlling program page does not publish a fixed closing date, clock time or time zone. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: eligible applicants generally must hold an appointment at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Employees of UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado or other affiliates may be eligible on a case-by-case basis. The technology must have been disclosed to CU Anschutz Innovations and evaluated for intellectual-property protection potential. In general, already licensed intellectual property can receive Toolbox funding only when the license occurred within the prior two years. Prior Toolbox awardees from earlier HIE cycles may reapply for a follow-on award.
Gates Institute pathway: Gates Institute members developing regenerative-medicine technologies may have access to additional startup Toolbox funding. Eligible Gates technologies include therapeutics, diagnostics, manufacturing approaches and platforms.
Match and cost share: the controlling public Toolbox page does not state a mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement. References to matching support on the page describe program funding contributed by CU Anschutz Innovations rather than a published applicant contribution requirement.
Application and required information: applicants use the official 2026–2027 Toolbox funding form. CU Anschutz states that the application is short and requires the requested budget. Applicants who already know the service provider or project need should have a quote or invoice available for the proposed work. Applicants needing help identifying a service provider may use the CU Innovations Hub resource database or seek guidance from CU Anschutz Innovations.
Submission mechanics: application is through the official online Toolbox funding form linked from the CU Anschutz Innovations program page. The public page does not publish a solicitation number or a universal separate attachment checklist beyond the application guidance described above.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 58/100.
This is a legitimate Colorado healthcare-technology funding source, but applicant eligibility is tied to CU Anschutz appointments or case-by-case affiliate status and to technologies already disclosed to CU Anschutz Innovations. Atlas therefore does not manufacture an applicant pathway for a specific commercial device, platform, or named vendor. A limited external service-provider pathway could exist only if an independently eligible CU innovator selects that provider for a genuinely relevant commercialization service and CU Anschutz approves that cost. This is not a current direct-vendor solicitation.
Outreach classification: publish for Colorado healthcare innovation intelligence, but do not initiate applicant outreach or direct-vendor capture without a verified eligible CU innovator, a documented project need and confirmed program fit.
Authoritative source: CU Anschutz Innovations’ current Toolbox Microgrants program page controls award size, rolling availability, eligibility, technology disclosure requirements, allowable commercialization services and application mechanics.