2025 HBS Alumni New Venture Competition
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Welcome to the 2025 HBS New Venture Competition - Alumni Track! The alumni New Venture Competition (aNVC) is a global regional competition that serves as a launch pad for innovative new ventures from HBS alumni, providing access and exposure to potential investors, mentors, and advisors. The annual event is sponsored by Harvard Business School's Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and Alumni Relations with regional competitions hosted by six HBS Alumni Clubs and Associations around the globe. 

APPLICATION ROUND

Apply by January 31, 2025, 12:00 pm ET (Boston time). You will apply to one of 6 global regions by completing the application herein and hitting the “Submit” button.  Applicants can apply to their region of choice based on HBS founder proximity or launch market. You can save and modify your application at any point up until the deadline.

REGIONAL COMPETITIONS ROUND

The first round begins at the regional level.  Once you've submitted an application, the regional host clubs will review applications and shortlist the teams for their regional competition. Regional Competition dates vary. After applications close, if you are chosen for the regional competition, your NVC host club will reach out with next steps.  If you win the regional competition, you will be invited to the Global Finals judging round.

GLOBAL FINALS JUDGING ROUND & NVC FINALE

The 6-8 regional winning teams will be invited to pitch virtually to a panel of prominent investors on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in the Global Finals judging round. Teams will have 10 minutes to pitch and 10 minutes of Q&A. The judges will choose the Grand Prize and Runner-up winners. The top 4 regional winners from that round will be invited to present a 90-second pitch at the NVC Finale on Thursday, March 27, 2025 to vie for the alumni Crowd Favorite Prize.

The NVC Finale will be held in a hybrid format, both streamed and in person on campus at Klarman Hall. The NVC Finale will include all 3 NVC tracks: Social Enterprise,  Student Business, and Alumni. Each track will showcase their top 4 teams through 90 second pitches where they will also compete for the Crowd Favorite Prize for their track.  Alumni participants will be invited to participate in person or virtually. All winners will be announced at the NVC Finale.

Prizes

Grand Prize Winner: $75,000
Runner-up Winner: $25,000
Crowd Favorite Winner: $5,000 (chosen via a live poll at the finale)

    GOOD LUCK!

    RULES/ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

    • Applicant must be an HBS Alumni from an alumni status granting program. View the full list of programs that grant alumni status. 
    • Alumni who won the student New Venture Competition must wait one year after graduation before applying to the alumni New Venture Competition.  
    • HBS Alumni must be a founder and have an active daily leadership role in the company. The HBS Founder must be represented at all events and be the pitch lead.  
    • HBS Investors are not eligible to submit companies unless they are identified as a founder and have an active daily leadership role in the company.  
    • Applicant must be a first or second-time founder/co-founder only. 
    • No Subsidiaries are eligible to apply. 
    • Investment funds, acquisitions, and consulting services are not deemed "new ventures" and are not eligible.
    • Outside funding must be <$2.5M total debt/invested equity capital.  
    • Invested capital is defined as funding appearing on the plan's balance sheet at the time of submission, which is no later than January 31, 2025 at 12pm noon ET (Boston time). Teams will disclose any prior funding received at the time of registration. 
    • Revenue must be < $2M as of January 31, 2025. 
    • Must have business model validation, traction, revenue, or customer commitments. 
    • Past aNVC regional winners are not eligible to apply. 
    • The HBS Rock Center for Entrepreneurship reserves the right to disqualify any entry that violates the rules or spirit of the competition. The decision of the Rock Center are final and binding.

    Regional Competitions

    • If selected to compete in the Regional competition and if travel is required, the applicant will cover their own travel to the Regional competition.
    • In the event that too few applications are submitted to a region, HBS has the right to cancel the regional competition.