Compete
About the New Venture Challenge
Ranked 15th among U.S. collegiate entrepreneurship competitions and a signature program of theÌý, 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.Ìý
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.
The New Venture Challenge
The New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a multi-round, multi-event entrepreneurial competition and signature program ofÌý, where teams can win up to $144,000Ìýand pitch to a live audience at the Boulder Theater.
Participants can compete in one of two NVC categories: Deep Tech and Open.
âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition is open!
NVC Categories
Deep Tech Category
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and Venture Partners at CU BoulderÌýhost this competitionÌýtrack for ventures built around a scientific or technological innovation that has been developed using fundamental scientific disciplines, where teams can win up to $144,000.
âš ÌýRegistration is open for the 2025 competition!
Ìý
Open Category
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and Venture Partners at CU BoulderÌýhost this competitionÌýtrack, where teams can win up to $144,000.
âš ÌýRegistration is open for the 2025 competition!
Join a venture or find partners
Additional Opportunities
You might be interested in the following competitions:
Additional Competitions
Women Founders Competition
NVC and the Deming Center for EntrepreneurshipÌýhost this additional competition for ventures founded by women.
âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition opens on Feb. 8.
Social Impact Competition
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative hosts this competitionÌýtrack, where teams can win up to $5,000. First and second place teams have automatic acceptance into the July Sea Change Accelerator Cohort.
âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition opens on Dec. 1.