Competitions

Chicago Booth-Sponsored Competitions | Other Entrepreneurial Competitions

Competition sparks innovation and creativity, which are especially important for entrepreneurs. As an important part of the learning experience at Chicago Booth, competitions are carefully planned to allow students to interact and network with a distinguished panels of judges, many of whom are Chicago Booth alumni. These prominent business leaders provide valuable advice, offer guidance to students in their entrepreneurial endeavors, and sometimes even finance ventures.

The Polsky Center also supports Chicago Booth students who participate in other entrepreneurial competitions hosted by outside universities and national organizations.

Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge

The Edward L. Kaplan, '71 New Venture Challenge (NVC) is one of the nation's premier business plan competitions, designed to encourage students to act upon their entrepreneurial ideas within a supportive and highly rewarding environment. Since it began in 1996, the NVC has awarded $530,000, and has helped launch more than 40 companies, which have gone on to raise more than $100 million to date. Learn more about these companies started at Chicago Booth.

The NVC spans the entire academic year to prepare students for what it takes to launch and run a business. During the fall, students pitch their business ideas, collaborate, and form teams, which must include at least one current Chicago Booth student. After submitting feasibility summaries in early February, approximately 25 student teams are selected to advance to the second round of competition and take Bus 34104 to develop their ideas into full business plans. During the class, venture capitalists, private investors, and established entrepreneurs provide critique and guidance. Between eight and ten teams are selected to present at the day-long finals competition in May before a world-class panel of investors and entrepreneurs. In 2008, a total of $80,000 was awarded to the top businesses. Visit our resources page for NVC particiants.

Venture Capital Investment Competition

The Glencoe Capital Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) begins at Chicago Booth as a day-long,school-wide investment competition that provides students with the opportunity to play the role of venture capitalists to real-life entrepreneurs. Students teams meticulously evaluate promising start-up companies and present their investment decisions to a panel of alumni members of the venture capital community. Winners of this competition go on to the regional and national competitions, hosted by the University of North Carolina. Read about the 2008 and 2007 event coverage. Review the 2008-09 team rules and the 2008-09 application.

Case Writing Competition

Chicago Booth students who have participated in the Entrepreneurial Internship Program and have taken Bus 34105 are able to write cases based on their summer internship experience. The two best cases are awarded $500 each from the Polsky Center.