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!

Learn MoreÌý

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!

Register NOW

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!

Register NOW

Join a venture or find partners

Are you interested in joining a venture that is competing or looking for partners to join your competing venture? Learn more about how to build your team.

Build Your Team

Get email updates

Subscribe to our E-newsletter to get the latest news and updates.

Sign Up

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.

Learn MoreÌý

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.

High School NVC

The CU Boulder New Venture Challenge (NVC) is excited to bring entrepreneurial learning to Colorado high schools, culminating in the High School NVC competition in Boulder.

âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition is open!

Learn MoreÌý