What is the New Venture Challenge?
The fourth annual CU New Venture Challenge (NVC IV) is CU-Boulder’s entrepreneurship championships. It is a cross-campus business plan development competition that offers CU students and faculty the chance to learn about entrepreneurship, form teams to develop business ideas, and collaborate with others from across CU’s various departments and schools. Presented by several sponsors from across the campus (see list at bottom), and supported by a terrific group of mentors from the Front Range community, the NVC answers an important question for the next generation of entrepreneurs from CU-Boulder: “Where do I start?”
NVC participants learn about new venture creation through their own team’s efforts, their work with faculty, and their presentations to judges. The NVC is open both to pre-existing teams that have formed independently through academic or professional relationships and also to teams that form specifically to compete in the NVC. NVC participants learn about entrepreneurship and business creation through NVC workshops, mentoring, team building events, and competitions with cash prizes of up to $10k per team.
CU NVC Finals and Reception will be held at the CU-Boulder campus on April 5, 2012. The public is invited to attend. (Registration available soon.)
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Learn, Mentor or Support
Whether you’re a student, alumni or a member of the entrepreneurial community, you can get involved in the CU New Venture Challenge.
Events are open to the public. Any team including at least one member with a current CU student or staff ID may enter the NVC business plan competition (submission deadline in March 2012). Though participation is highly encouraged, teams do not have to attend NVC workshops or events to submit a plan for competition.
Please contact Jacqui Dietrich or Dave Mangum with questions: info@cunvc.org
Compete
Students with an original idea are encouraged to participate in the NVC to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into successful business plans. Each team is required to have at least one current CU-Boulder student in order to participate in any NVC competition. From November to March, NVC teams attend several educational and networking events to help participants assemble teams and develop successful business plans. Students should read the NVC Rules & Guidelines and review the other resources information. Sign up to receive news of NVC opportunities and events.
General Category + 4 Specialized Tracks
This year’s NVC has four tracks: Cleantech, Information Technology, Music, and Social Enterprise; businesses not fitting into these four tracks will be in the general NVC category. Each track holds a semi-final competition. Winners of each track can win cash prizes and move on to NVC Finals for a chance to take home additional cash prizes!
- Submission Deadline (Cleantech): March 5, 2012
- Submission Deadline (IT/General): March 12, 2012
- Submission Deadline (Music): March 8, 2012
- Submission Deadline (Social Impact): March 8, 2012
- Semifinal Rounds: Week of March 19
- Finals: April 5, 2012
See tracks for more information.
Cleantech General IT Music Social Impact
Become a Coach or Mentor
Members of the business or alumni community can support CU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by serving as NVC mentors or coaches. Mentors provide valuable feedback, advice and personal insight to teams as they go through the NVC. Each mentor is matched to a team for the duration of the NVC based on need and fit (thus, not all mentors who volunteer each year are matched with a team.) The mentor and mentee team structure the relationship, typically meeting once per month for the duration of the program. Mentors can meet with teams in person or virtually.
NVC coaches advise teams on an ad hoc basis on how to improve their business plans and presentations. Coaches who volunteer will be called to assist teams at important phases of the program.
- Timing: November – March
- Commitment: 1-2 hours per session, once per month for 4 months
If you wish to become a coach or mentor, please email NVC co-managers Dave (Silicon Flatirons) and Jacqui (Deming Center) at info@cunvc.org.
Sponsor the NVC
Individuals and companies in the entrepreneurial business community can partner with the CU NVC consortium to support the New Venture Challenge. The NVC is successful, in large part, because of the generous gifts from supporters. We are currently looking for sponsors for the 2011-12 competitions. If you are interested in supporting entrepreneurship and the NVC, please email NVC Director Brad Bernthal (Brad.Bernthal@colorado.edu)
Partners
The NVC relies on a consortium of CU organizations working independently and collaboratively to create an entrepreneurial culture at CU-Boulder. That consortium supports the NVC and ultimately injects talent and ideas into the Front Range startup ecosystem; it includes:
