The New Venture Competition Alumni Track 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 the Harvard Business School’s Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and Alumni Clubs & Associations. The competition is open to alumni with early-stage ventures, and winners receive an invitation to the Global Finals Round and NVC Finale.

KEY STEPS

1. APPLY. Applications open October 19, 2020 and close January 11, 2021.
2. CONNECT. Apply to one of 8 global regions and participate in local programming, mentorship and early-stage feedback opportunities. *Club activities vary by region.
3. COMMIT. The deadline for submission is January 11, 2021 at 12:00pm noon ET (Boston time). A pitch deck (pdf) is required.
4. REGIONAL COMPETITIONS. Each region will shortlist applicants to pitch their plans at their local competition—an opportunity to gain invaluable feedback, exposure, and experience. The regional winners will move forward to the global finals round.
5. GLOBAL FINALS ROUND & NVC FINALE. The selected regional winners will present to a panel of judges on March 30, 2021. The top 4 teams will also pitch at the Finale event where the Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners will be announced.

Tough Tech Prize

The Rock Center in collaboration with the HBS Digital, Health Care, and Business and Environment Initiatives, offers the Tough Technology Prize as part of the HBS New Venture Competition. Through our collective efforts, we want to recognize (co)founders where the venture has challenging proof-points of development typical of tough technology ventures.

Tough Tech ventures are those working on transformative technology that solves the world's most important challenges through the convergence of breakthrough science, engineering, and leadership. It can also be thought of as being a breakthrough idea in which founders and investors are not likely to realize an early profit.

If you believe that your venture is eligible to be considered for the Tough Tech Prize, then you will find an option to self-select your venture for this prize in the application form.