ACC 2019 InVenture Prize

ACC InVenture Prize

Working on an idea for an innovation?  Here is your chance to showcase it at the ACC InVenture Prize, a $30,000 startup competition giving Atlantic Coast Conference schools a chance to showcase top student innovations and catalyze undergraduate entrepreneurial activity.

Applications are due February 8, 2019, so winter break is a great time to refine your idea.  The Blackstone LaunchPad team at SU Libraries is available to work with you to refine your concept, and turn it into a commercialization plan.

It is rare that the top student entrepreneurs from 15 highly innovative and diverse universities have a chance to pit their best inventions against one another, each vying a first ($15,000), second ($10,000), or people’s choice ($5,000) finish.

A top student team from each of the 15 ACC schools is invited to pitch live to an audience of innovators, investors, and public leaders.  Syracuse University’s qualifier event will be held February 22, and the top campus team will be selected to travel to NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, the site of the fourth annual competition on April 16 -17, 2019. Judges will evaluate teams on the quality of their ideas, business models, entrepreneurship, and probability of success.

The ACC competition kicks off with a preliminary round on April 16, in which five teams will be selected to advance to the final round on April 17.  The final round is broadcast live across PBS broadcasting affiliates, as well as streamed online.

In addition to conference bragging rights, competitors meet incredible peer collegiate entrepreneurs, network with industry leaders and investors to get feedback, find mentors, and make valuable connections.

The Blackstone LaunchPad powered by TechStars at Bird Library, is managing the campus competition.

Other ACC teams include:  Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State University, University of Notre Dame, University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest University.

Details

Application Deadline: Friday, February 8, 2019

Syracuse University Qualifying Campus Competition: Friday, February 22, 2019

Finals at NC State University:  April 16 – 17, 2019

Eligibility: Any full-time undergraduate student, or recent graduates within one year of graduation from an undergraduate program (idea must have been conceived while student was enrolled as an undergraduate).  Teams with revenue or investment in excess of $100,000 are not eligible to compete (including from contests, grants, friends and family, angels, loans, etc.)  Teams with university-owned IP are not eligible.

How: Apply Here

Learn more:  https://accinventureprize.com/

Contact the LaunchPad via email or stop by the center’s Bird Library location with questions: launchpad@syr.edu