• DNVC
  • Eligibility Rules
  • Registration
  • First Round - Venture Summary
  • Semifinals - Business Plan
  • Finals - Presentations
  • Competition Calendar

Eligibility Rules

Registration

Participants must complete and submit a Registration Form no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, January 18, 2008.

Team Composition

Registered teams must consist of three to five participants, at least one of whom must be a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at any college of DePaul University OR a recent alumnus (having graduated in the year 2007).  Should the team qualify as a finalist, the DePaul student/alumnus must be one of the presenters.

Only one team per person is allowed.  Each team is required to have a faculty mentor or professional advisor. 

Submission Requirements

The Venture Summary, Business Plan and Final Round presentation must be the original work of registered team members.  Assistance from your advisor is allowed.  Neither the DePaul New Venture Challenge nor DePaul University will take any equity stake in a participating team as a result of entering or receiving prize money from the competition.  Each team is responsible for determining individual shares of their business among themselves.

Status of Idea/Venture

The competition is for new, independent ventures in the business planning, seed, start-up or early stage, defined as being in business for no more than one year as of the registration date. Generally excluded are the following:
* Buy-outs
* Expansions of existing companies
* Real estate syndications
* Tax shelters
* Franchises
* Licensing agreements for distribution in a different geographical area (except for university-based research/technology)
* Spin-outs from existing corporations.

The venture must not have generated revenue prior to 12 months before registration. Proper disclosure is required if the venture has generated revenue within the 12 month period.

The New Venture Challenge will be judged on the viability of the management team to execute the proposed venture. All ventures besides those listed above are acceptable, but team members should consider its sustainability and profitability. If the proposed venture is positioned as a not-for-profit, its ability to address a community or widespread need should be considered.

Funding Status

If the venture has already raised funds, the amounts and sources must be clearly disclosed.

Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality

Submitted ideas are protected in the spirit of non-disclosure, where all entry materials will be treated as company confidential. The only persons with access to the entry materials will be judges and select members of the organizing committee. Materials will not be distributed to any other party, unless requested by entrant team. No other or special provisions are made to protect intellectual property.  Intra-team confidentiality is the sole responsibility of team members. Please refer to the Non-Disclosure Waiver below.

Download the eligibility rules here.
Download the non-disclosure waiver here.