CU New Venture Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 final challenge and all who participated.  We are pleased to announce the following awards on April 17:

First Place:  Knova Learning;   Second Place:  3QMatrix;     Third Place:  Fetcht

CS award:  TechoShark, Inc.;   honorable mention CS award:  Ap.igy

Most Innovative:  Conifer Quantum Technology

The CU-NVC is searching for the next big thing. Have an idea? We’ll give you the chance to develop it. Want to join a start-up team? We’ll introduce you to others. Want to get to know the entrepreneurial community? The CU-NVC will make the introduction.

In its inaugural year, the CU-NVC provides the opportunity for CU students, faculty, staff and the outside community to join interdisciplinary teams and compete in a new venture business plan challenge. Monetary prizes are available to the challenge winners. Each participant will learn how to “think like an entrepreneur.” The opportunity to attend workshops, discuss the application of ideas, and receive feedback from local experts in represented fields offers an unprecedented incentive to “put your idea to the test”.

• What is it?
  • Workshops: Structured for “new venture” rookies and pros alike. A series of workshops and entrepreneurial crash courses on how to identify, analyze, and act upon any new venture ideas.
  • Networking: Meet and converse with like-minded individuals who are looking to launch a new venture of their own. The perfect way to develop inter-disciplinary teams across the CU campus and in the Boulder community.
  • Competition: A unique venue to “pitch” your idea to actual entrepreneurs and investors while competing for a cash prize. A great way to gain exposure!
• Who is it for?
  • Anyone with a CU ID (All CU Students, Faculty, & Staff): Undergraduate, Graduate, Business, Law, Engineering, Art & Sciences, Music, Architecture and Planning, Education, Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Members of the non-CU community may join teams, as long as at least one member of the team has a CU id AND a significant role in the business case creation. For a complete explanation of the rules and requirements for the final spring challenge, please refer to the rules downloadable from clicking button “3″ on the right-hand side of this website.
• What qualifies as a new venture?
  • Open Competition: High-tech, sustainability, natural products, manufacturing, arts, health, non-profit, social venture, etc.

Additional Questions?

Further information about the challenge may be found on this website under FAQs and Events. If you have any additional questions or are interested in sponsoring or volunteering for the CU NVC, please contact the following:

Brad Bernthal (Silicon Flatirons, law) Brad.Bernthal@colorado.edu, phone: 303.492.0610

Frank Moyes (Deming Center, business) Frank.Moyes@colorado.edu, phone: 303.492.2062

Kurt Smith (E-ship, engineering) Kurt.Smith@colorado.edu, phone: 303.492.2570

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