About

The CU New Venture Challenge

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 second year, the CU-NVC is an interdisciplinary competition presented by entities across campus. The goal is to provide an experiential educational opportunity for CU students and faculty. This hands-on approach to entrepreneurship is a critical part of catalyzing a start-up culture across CU-Boulder.

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.
  • Connections: 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!
  • Get a Job: The competition will help match mentors with mentees, and prospective employers with potential interns and students. The CU NVC should also show up very well on resumes with prospective employers.
  • Have Fun: CU-NVC emphasizes the creativity, risk-taking, and innovation inherent in entrepreneurship and is guaranteed to be fun, eclectic, and educational.
• 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. See the FAQs or email Lindsay.Brust@gmail.com with questions.
• What qualifies as a new venture?
  • Open Competition: High-tech, sustainability, natural products, manufacturing, arts, health, non-profit, social venture, etc.