ABOUT NVC

Traditional New Venture Challenge (NVC)

Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is one of the nation's premier business competitions, allowing students to act upon their entrepreneurial ideas within a supportive and highly rewarding environment. Just one of the many ways the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship fosters hands-on learning, the NVC program has expanded to include social and global challenges. Since its inception, the NVC has helped launch more than 75 companies, which have gone on to raise more than $242 million in equity capital and create over 1,000 jobs.

Edward L. Kaplan, '71, is the cofounder of Zebra Technologies, an international company and industry leader for on-demand printing solutions. Zebra Technologies designs and manufactures on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. Kaplan served as its chairman and CEO for 37 years.

NVC Process

The NVC process includes two phases and a finals competition. Please see the calendar for important events and deadlines. Typically, 60 to 90 student teams submit ideas for the competition.

Judges and Mentors

The NVC engages more than 100 experienced professionals who serve as judges and individual mentors during the classroom phase and finals competition. The contributions by the judges and mentors are invaluable to the students who participate in the conversation.

Winners

From GrubHub.com to Bump Technologies to CaptainU, NVC winners have gone on to become successful start-up companies. Since its inception in 1996, more than 75 companies have launched out of the NVC. In the past two years alone, 13 companies have received more than $135 million in funding from investors. Read about past NVC winners >

Prizes

Prizes in the form of cash, legal services, and professional consulting are awarded to the top teams that make it to the final phase of competition. The winning team typically receives $25,000. In 2011, a total of $75,000 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.

Contact

For more information or to become involved in the Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge, please contact Starr Marcello, director of operations, at 773.834.2838, or see the the Polsky Center contact us page.

New Venture Challenge Chicago Booth