Sixty seconds to pitch your big idea and excite a crowd of 200. Could you do it?
On Thursday, Oct. 13, 30 teams will face this challenge as they participate in the annual New Venture Challenge (NVC) Quick Pitch Night.
“The event gives burgeoning entrepreneurs the chance to sharpen their pitch and deliver a meaningful overview of their business idea in less than a minute,” says David Camerucci, this year’s executive director of the NVC. “It’s fun for the teams, but it’s also a great opportunity for others on campus or in the community to connect with team members to potentially join or mentor and help bring a unique idea to fruition.”
Who: Campus and local startup community
What: New Venture Challenge Quick Pitch Night
When: 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13
Where: Wittemyer Courtroom, Wolf Law Building (2450 Kittredge Loop Dr.)
CU Boulder’s NVC, now in its ninth year, encourages students, faculty and staff on campus to learn about entrepreneurship. Running from September to April each year, the program pairs teams with mentors and provides workshops and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs develop their business ideas.
Each season concludes with teams competing for various prizes in April. In the 2016-17 season, $50,000 of cash prizes are anticipated to go to various track and prize winners.
Last year more than 40 teams participated and the winning team, Hive Tech Solutions, went on to participate in Catalyze CU Boulder.
Quick Pitch Night follows the NVC’s season kickoff, which took place on Sept. 21 with more than 200 people in attendance.
CU Boulder Entrepreneur in Residence Nigel Sharp addresses the audience at a New Venture Challenge event. (Photo courtesy of the NVC.)
Camerucci stresses that it’s not too late to get involved with the NVC, even if you missed the kickoff event and do not have one of the coveted slots to pitch on Thursday.
“There are opportunities to get involved until the end of February,” Camerucci said. “Anyone with an idea, or a desire to learn more about entrepreneurship, is invited to participate in the program.”
The NVC Quick Pitch Night will take place in the Wittemyer Courtroom at the Wolf Law Building.
Additional upcoming NVC events this season include a Mentor Matching Night on Nov. 2, 2016 and the NVC 9 Championships on April 6, 2017.
Visit the recently upgraded NVC website for an in-depth look at the program and to register for events.
