New Venture Challenge Resources
You have a chance to win big.
All CMU students can enter into the New Venture Challenge and compete. No matter your major or minor or student status. Are you a CMU student in good-standing? You can compete in NVC!
NVC is one of the largest venture competitions in the state. As a CMU student, you have the special opportunity to win thousands of dollars in cash awards, build amazing connections to boost your career and launch your dreams! It is an incredible opportunity, and we want to see every team successfully make it to NVC Finals next April.
We designed the NVC process so you can start working on your venture idea and join NVC at almost anytime during the academic year. If NVC sounds like a competition you would like to participate in, we highly recommend you start working on the NVC requirements as early as possible. We want to see your big ideas on the big stage! But it's important to note - there are thousands of dollars on the line -to stay in the competition it's imperative you meet all competition deadlines and submit your materials on time.
All interested students should attend our free NVC Mentor Meetups and NVC 101 workshops throughout the academic year. Make sure you check out this resource for assistance on your venture development and for tools like team agreement templates, prototyping help, one-pager and financial table examples and more.
Do you have additional questions about getting started? Contact our team.
Are you ready to pitch and compete? The first deadline you must meet for the chance to win thousands of dollars in cash prizes is the submission of your venture idea through the Intent to Compete form. The Intent to Compete form opens on Monday, January 13 and closes Friday, February 28, 2025.
Please check out all NVC competition resources and support below.
Competitor resource folder
The competitor resource folder contains:
- Competition rubrics for each full presentation category (high growth high potential, social mission, and main street)
- NVC Team Agreements
- Business Model Canvas tools
- An NVC app for your phone and desktop to track your venture development
- NVC mentor bios
Graphic design
Schedule an appointment with Graphic Design Coordinators, Skky Lawrence and Amy Adams for logo and brand design assistance.
All student competitors gain access to free prototyping and graphic design support to help develop their ventures.
Prototyping
Schedule an appointment with Tech Coordinator, Connor Johnson for prototyping assistance.
Events
NVC workshops and mentor meetups will help you build your skills, meet other student entrepreneurs and NVC mentors who can help you grow you idea. Participating in other competitions and programs through the year will keep your skills sharp for NVC.
Workshops and Mentor Meetups
RSVP for the NVC Mentor Meetups and NVC 101 workshops on the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship eventbrite page.
NVC Mentor Meetups run on Fridays twice a semester. As a NVC participant you will attend sessions from 5:00pm - 8:30pm with NVC mentors to help build up your business idea and the skills you need to know to successfully participate in The New Venture Challenge. Mentors are available during this time to assist you and your team. Participants head over to another location alongside other students, mentors, supporters and staff for a fun activity and networking. You can ask mentors questions, and learn from experienced entrepreneurs. Food and drinks are provided. All CMU students are welcome to attend NVC Mentor Meetups.
Students who plan on participating in the New Venture Challenge competition should attend at least two NVC Mentor Meetups during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Mentor Meetup topics include but are not limited to:
- Business model canvas
- Financials
- Customer validation
- Market segmentation
- Website building and design
- Logo design
- Pitch practice
- PowerPoint presentation practice
Check out the next meetup and register today!
Make-A-Pitch competition
Practice for the big New Venture Challenge presentation by pitching your idea at the Make-A-Pitch competition in the fall! This competition involves a short 90 second to two minute pitch. The top prize is $1200.
NVC mentors and faculty fellows
Every New Venture Challenge team will be paired with a primary mentor who will routinely check-in with you and your team. Students can ask mentors to be their primary mentor and vice versa. Mentors are limited to three primary teams, so you may not get your first option. Your primary mentor will stay the same throughout the NVC process, but feel free to reach out to different mentors based on your needs and questions. Your primary can also help point you toward other mentors that can assist you in different areas of your venture development.
Venture exploration fund
Students who plan on competing in the New Venture Challenge can apply for funding to help grow their venture.
Other campus resources
Graphic Design Bureau
A whole class of aspiring graphic designers will work with you as a their client in the spring 2025 semester. Email Professor David Stairs to sign up for the Design Bureau's services.
Presentation Skills Center
Students can practice pitching on a virtual stage and gain tips from public speaking experts at the presentation skills center.
The Writing Center
Brush up on your writing skills and present a polished pitch deck and website to the judges.
Off-campus support
An outside organizations dedicated to supporting small businesses may be able to help you with yours. Explore off-campus opportunities for support.
The CMU Research Corporation
CMU Research Corporation is a 501(c)(3) organization with professional and diverse co-working space and accelerator programs. It is focused on product and strategic development for entrepreneurs to positively impact the economy in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Middle Michigan Development Corporation
The Middle Michigan Development Corporation's mission is to support the economy with services designed to retain, expand and attract businesses in Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Osceola Counties to foster economic vitality and resilience in our region.
Michigan Small Business Development Corporation
Located within Mid-Michigan Community College, the Michigan Small Business Development Corporation's mission is to help your Michigan small business succeed and offer free support with small business consulting, tools and resources. Provided or developed by experts, each one is geared to help you with a key aspect of Michigan entrepreneurship.