University of Chicago GSB

What is the Global NVC?

The Global NVC is a unique platform to expand the Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge business plan competition to GSB Executive and Weekend MBA students and alumni worldwide. The format and schedule of the Global NVC does not require course enrollment and is designed to fit the needs of students and alumni in disparate locations.

The Global NVC feeds into the existing New Venture Challenge. The winner of the Global NVC automatically gets a place in the finals competition of the existing NVC. 

 Phase I finalists have been selected (PDF)

Why Participate?

Last year there was $85,000 in prize money to distribute to the NVC winners, plus pro-bono legal services and access to the ARCH incubator space in Hyde Park. We hope to provide some monetary awards to the first and second place winners of the Global NVC competition and the winner of the Global NVC will receive a free plane ticket to come to the finals competition in May.

However, the benefits of participating in the NVC competition go far beyond the prize money. This is a unique opportunity to vet your business idea with industry experts and venture capitalists from different parts of the world and meet people who could assist you in growing your business. Past participants of the NVC have said that the experience of preparing a business plan and investor presentation and obtaining valuable contacts have been the highlight of their GSB education.

Eligibility

Each team is required to have at least one student from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago as an active member of the team. To qualify, the GSB student must be registered as of the Phase I deadline on Wednesday, December 5, 2007. The student must be an integral part of the team, and should have equity in the company and/or a role on the management team.

Exception for Latin America

Given the relatively few Executive MBA students in Latin America, the eligibility will be expanded to include at least one alum or currently registered Executive MBA student of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. The alum or student must be an integral part of the team, and should have equity in the company and/or a role on the management team.

Investment to Date

Business plans for very early stage ventures may be acceptable if the company has not already received funding from venture capitalists or other institutional investors. Outside funding from friends, family and other individual investors up to $500,000 is acceptable.

 

NVC Global