CU-Boulder Team Will Defend International Title at Venture Capital Investment Competition

Students at the University of Colorado Boulder are one step closer to achieving back-to-back championships in a global competition that recognizes outstanding know-how in the complicated world of venture funding.

Members of the University of Colorado Law School and the Leeds School of Business MBA program scored first prize at the western regional Venture Capital Investment Competition, held March 1 at the University of Southern California. The winning team includes Leeds MBA students Robert Foss, Nick Steele, Denelle Numis and Alex Newmann and Colorado Law student Kimberley Byer. A CU-Boulder team has won the regional competition each of the last five years.

Ten regional winners compete in the VCIC finals next month and the CU-Boulder team will defend its title as international champions, which it earned at the 2012 finals.

“Our team worked incredibly hard and it’s something we had been looking forward to all year,” states Foss, a Leeds MBA and team lead. “Our success is ultimately attributable to the support that we receive from the Boulder community, and we are particularly grateful for the support and mentoring provided by Jason Mendelson, co-founder and managing director of Foundry Group.”

Sixty teams from the world’s top business programs compete at VCIC annually.

"What is really exciting is the cross collaborative nature of the law school and business school coming together to win another VCIC event,” states Mendelson. “In particular, as a former lawyer, I am really proud of Kimberley Byer's leadership within the team comprised of four excellent MBA students, Robert Foss, Nick Steele, Denelle Numis and Alex Newmann. Ms. Byer provided much more than just legal acumen, but strong business judgment as well."

The Venture Capital Investment Competition began in 1998 as an educational event for MBAs to learn about venture funding. VCIC simulates the entire investment process in an extremely condensed time period, providing students with a first-hand glimpse into the world of venture capital.

The international finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition will take place April 11-13 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.

*Pictured: Students representing Leeds and CU at the Venture Capital Investment Competition include (from left) Nick Steele, Denelle Numis, Alex Newmann, Rob Foss and Kimberley Byer ('13).