Compete

The New Venture Challenge

NVC offers a variety of opportunities for you to develop and share your ideas!

About the New Venture Challenge (NVC)

Ranked 15th among U.S. collegiate entrepreneurship competitions and a signature program of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, NVC is the heart of CU Boulder's entrepreneurship engine. During this multi-round, multi-event entrepreneurial competition, teams can win a share of $320,000 and pitch to a live audience at the Boulder Theater.

Who can participate?

Everyone at CU Boulder is invited to participate; students, faculty, and staff. NVC participants can earn a microcredential while gaining experience in creating a startup venture.

How Does it Work?

Participants can compete in one of two NVC categories:

  • Deep Tech Category – for ventures built around a scientific or technological innovation that has been developed using fundamental scientific disciplines.
  • Open Category – for ventures not meeting the Deep Tech criteria.
âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition is open!

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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?Ìý

Learn more about how to build your team.

Build Your TeamÌý

Get email updates

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

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Additional NVC Competitions

Women Founders Competition

NVC and the Deming Center for EntrepreneurshipÌýpartner to host this additional competition for ventures founded by women.

âš ÌýRegistration for the 2025 competition opens on Feb. 8.

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Social Impact NVC

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative hosts this offshoot of NVC, 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.

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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!

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Additional Opportunities

In addition to our CU Boulder competitions, you might be interested in the following external opportunities: