NVC Newsletter - February 2024

Hello everyone,

The New Venture Challenge is ramping up! Ventures are registering to compete and looking for mentors. The next few months are all about taking an idea and pushing it as far as possible to fruition to be ready to pitch. To that end, there will be several ways for the community to plug into NVC through mentorship, judging, speaking and more. In fact, our first mentor-matching event is Feb. 7 at the CMCI Studio in Boulder. If you are free, please register to join us and get a glimpse of the ventures that are competing this year. If a team is in your entrepreneurial wheelhouse, maybe you can mentor them over the next few months to help them prepare for the competition. And while you are at it, mark the evening of April 17 on your calendar to join us at the Boulder Theater for the NVC Finals.

Finally, I'm pleased to introduce our new Program Manager, Leah Shafer! We are thrilled to have Leah join the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative team full-time.

Thanks for being a part of the Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem! I look forward to seeing you soon.

Stan Hickory
Director of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and the New Venture Challenge

Meet Leah Shafer!

Program Manager for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and New Venture Challenge

Leah has a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, events and making great things happen. Keep an eye out for her at the next event you attend and introduce yourself. She is excited to get to know all of you who are involved in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Mentor Matching for the 2024 NVC

Join us at the 2024 New Venture Challenge Mentor Matching events! These events are for mentors eager to share their expertise and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs. In this free, two-hour gathering, you'll have the opportunity to meet various teams, understand their unique challenges and offer your invaluable insights. It's a perfect platform for experienced professionals to forge meaningful connections with up-and-coming ventures.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
CMCI Studio 1301 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302 · Register Now

Thursday, Feb. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Koelbel Building, Room 100 · Register Now

Registration now open to compete in the 2024 NVC!

General Competition

The general competition of the New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a multi-round, multi-event entrepreneurial competition and signature program of CU Boulder's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, where teams can win up to $50,000 and pitch to a live audience at the Boulder Theater. Initial registration closes Feb. 8, 2024

Women Founders Competition

NVC and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship host this additional competition for ventures founded by women, where teams can win up to $5,000. Application closes March 13, 2024

NEW! Deep Tech Competition

NVC and Venture Partners at CU Boulder host this additional competition for ventures built around a scientific or technological innovation that has been developed using fundamental scientific disciplines, where teams can win up to $50,000. Application closes March 14, 2024

Ways to support NVC this year

Join our mentor network

CU Boulder's entrepreneurial mentor network supports innovative activity on campus led by students, faculty and staff. CU Boulder entrepreneurs at any stage of development—from idea to launch—need experienced professionals—with industry and business experience to help them on their journey to success in NVC. Contact Stan Hickory at hickorys@colorado.edu for more information on becoming a mentor.

Become a sponsor

NVC would not exist without the monetary support we get from our sponsors. Over the next few years, our goal is to increase our prize pool for winning teams to $500,000. This money allows our new ventures to take their companies to the next level, and we have a generous sponsor recognition structure. Learn More About Sponsoring or Give Now

Volunteer at an event

We are always looking for people to help us at one of our many events. Time commitment is about 3-7 hours. Apply to Volunteer

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