Compete
About the New Venture Challenge
Ranked 15th among U.S. collegiate entrepreneurship competitions and a signature program of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, the New Venture Challenge (NVC) is the heart of CU Boulder's entrepreneurship engine. Participants attend year-round events, network and collaborate with mentors to refine their ideas, and form startup teams to pitch for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding at the NVC Finals.
Who can participate?
Everyone is invited to compete from all majors and departments across the university. NVC participants can earn a microcredential while gaining experience in creating a startup venture. We also sponsor the High School New Venture Challenge, which fosters budding entrepreneurs and provides CU tuition scholarships.
General Competition
The general competition of the New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a multi-round, multi-event entrepreneurial competition and signature program of CU Boulder's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, where teams can win up to $50,000 and pitch to a live audience at the Boulder Theater.
⚠ Registration for the 2025 competition will open on November 1.
Additional Competitions
NVC and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship host this additional competition for ventures founded by women, where teams can win up to $5,000.
⚠ Registration is closed for the 2024 competition.
NVC and Venture Partners at CU Boulder host this additional competition for ventures built around a scientific or technological innovation that has been developed using fundamental scientific disciplines, where teams can win up to $50,000.
⚠ Registration is closed for the 2024 competition.