Student teams that compete at CMU VC are offered a unique value proposition: exposure, funding, and feedback. Early-stage companies require significant prototyping funds before a working product can materialize. In order to help teams grow from the experience, the CMU VC aims to objectively reward innovative teams with capital, services, and constructive feedback from experts in a variety of technical and legal domains.
We believe
in great ideas.
Abby Huang, Duke University 2023 Graduate, Launches Headquarters in New York!
"Dime, a venture-backed startup originally founded by Abby Huang at Duke University and now headquartered in New York, has successfully tapped into the Gen Z and university market, revolutionizing how businesses engage with the upcoming generation of consumers."
- Yahoo News
What is CMU VC?
For thirteen years, under the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association, CMU Venture Challenge has been bringing together brilliant students to launch their ideas, technologies, and talent.
CMU VC offers student entrepreneurs a strong network of resources, including mentorship from serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, attorneys, and business leaders. Finalists are invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Pittsburgh for the opportunity to pitch their ventures to a panel of distinguished judges and VCs, hear from industry-leading speakers, network with fellow innovators, and truly push their creations to the limit.
$50,000+
in capital funding distributed
Student entrepreneurs compete to secure monetary prizes to empower their ventures.
45
startups successfully backed
Finalists gain access to a network of resources, including mentorship from industry experts.
15+
schools represented across the U.S.
VC attracts aspiring students from renowned academic institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
demo day attendees
200
VCs, students, faculty, and other startup founders attend demo day to support and network.
Past Speakers
Lucy Guo
Blake Scholl
Vinod Khosla
-
I would like to sponsor, judge, or speak at the CMU Venture Challenge. What are the next steps?That's great to hear! Please contact us by reaching out to one of our directors for more information. We will gladly set up a meeting to discuss how we can work together to make our event as best as possible.
-
Who can apply to the CMU Venture Challenge?Anyone who is a current undergraduate can apply to participate in the startup pitch. Teams with the main founders as current undergraduate students can apply as long as the individuals pitching are also undergraduates. Please refer to the eligibility section on the details page for more information.
-
How many teams will make it to the final round of the CMU Venture Challenge?12 teams are chosen for the final round demo day.
-
What are the prizes offered?CMU VC 2025 prizes include a variety of cash prizes, accelerated applications to VC firms, and credits towards technologies created for cofounding teams. See more details on the prizes page.
-
When is the CMU Venture Challenge?The CMU Venture Challenge occurs annually in the spring. CMU VC 2025 is occurring on March 28, 2025. The first round of submissions closes on February 1, 2025 @ 11:59 pm EST.
-
What do I need to submit for the application?For first-round applications, teams are required to provide a short description of their startup, a preliminary slide deck, an executive summary (1-2 pages), and a 90 second video pitch. For more information, refer to the competitors page.
-
Where does the CMU Venture Challenge take place?CMU VC 2025 will be fully in-person in Pittsburgh, PA and the event will be live-streamed.
