Competitions

Carnegie Mellon competitions provide an excellent forum for students to step outside the classroom and get a taste of what is needed to make a successful presentation that convinces investors to consider their venture. The following competitions are high-caliber events that put participants in front of expert entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship strongly believes its students should pursue experiential learning opportunities; these competitions are ideal examples of such an opportunity.   

Graduate Student Competitions:  

McGinnis Venture Competition
The McGinnis Venture Competition is one of the top intercollegiate business plan competitions in the country. The competition's three tracks (Technology, Life Science and Sustainable Technology) each provide grand prizes and in-kind services.  

Tepper 90-Second Challenge
EVC club members have 90 seconds to pitch their venture idea to judges who are experts in venture capital and angel investing. The top team earns a cash prize, and the Challenge is also open to undergraduate students.

Tepper Business Plan Competition
This annual event allows Carnegie Mellon graduate students to compete as entrepreneurs pitching a business plan to potential investors.

Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)
Participating EVC club members take on the role of venture capitalists and evaluate early-stage investment opportunities.

Undergraduate Student Competition:

Tepper Venture Challenge
Carnegie Mellon's Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association (UEA) holds an annual internal business plan competition for students of all majors.