About the NVC

The Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge encourages students to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. The NVC spans the entire academic year to prepare students for what it takes to launch and run a business.

NVC Process

The NVC includes two phases and a finals competition. During the fall, students pitch their business ideas, collaborate, and form teams, which must include at least one current GSB student. In early February, teams submit feasibility summaries about their proposed venture, and approximately 25 are selected to advance to the second phase.

Advancing teams register for BUS34104 - Special Topics in Entrepreneurship, where students develop their ideas into full business plans with instructor guidance and critique from venture capitalists, private investors, and established entrepreneurs.  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.

Prizes

Prizes in the form of cash, legal services, professional consulting, and incubator space are awarded to the top teams that make it to the final phase of competition. The distinguished panel of judges typically awards prizes to the top three to five businesses, with the winning team receiving $25,000. In 2008, a total of $80,000 was awarded to the top businesses. 

NVC finalists also have access to the ARCH Venture Partners New Business Incubator, housed within the Polsky Center, where they can continue to develop their businesses.

Global NVC

The NVC expanded globally in 2008 to allow Executive MBA students and alumni from around the world to participate. The unique Global NVC track does not require course enrollment, and is designed to fit the needs of students in disparate locations by engaging alumni and industry experts throughout the world to assist in marketing, coaching, and individual mentoring. Global NVC teams submit business plans and an investor presentation video, which are evaluated during a finals round in March, and may advance to the larger NVC finals in May.

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