About the Competition
The Baylor New Venture Competition is underwritten by an anonymous gift to Baylor University and the Hankamer School of Business. The differentiator in the Baylor New Venture Competition and other competitions is the focus on encouraging student entrepreneurs worldwide to catalyze and grow their business.
Applicants will receive expert advice throughout the competition cycle.
- Executive Summary Feedback
- Business Plan Feedback
- One-on-One Mentorship
- Rounds of Pitch Coaching
- Feedback Sessions
- Final Presentation Feedback
The day of finals will include pitch presentations with Judge Q&A, networking, booths, audience participation and awards.
The Baylor New Venture Competition is successful because of the support from hundreds of experienced entrepreneurs, business leaders and sponsors.
Important Dates
Please note that all submission deadlines are firm.
| September 1, 2021 | Entry Period Opens |
| November 1, 2021 | Executive Summary Deadline (11:59 p.m. Central Time) |
| December 10, 2021 | Announcement of Top-50 Teams |
| January 17, 2022 | Business Plan Submission Deadline (11:59 p.m. Central Time) |
| February 18, 2022 | Announcement of Top-10 Finalist Teams |
| March 24-26, 2022 | Baylor New Venture Competition at Baylor University |
2022 Eligibility
The 2022 Baylor New Venture Competition is open to all not-for-profit accredited university students and recent alumni. There is no limit to the number of teams from a single university that may apply. For further information on team eligibility, visit the 2022 Official Guidebook for details.
Competition Format
Below is a brief description of how the rounds take place as the applicant pool is narrowed during the course of the competition:
- Round 1: Executive Summary (Online)
Teams submit a two-page Executive Summary of their business concept and verification of student status. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on November 1, 2021. The top-50 teams will be notified of advancement to the next round. -
Round 2: Business Plan (Online)
The top-50 teams will submit a full business plan, cap table, verification of establishment of a legal entity and tax forms by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on January 17, 2022. The top-10 finalist teams will be assigned a mentor and will compete in the finals at Baylor University. -
Live Presentation Rounds at Baylor University in Waco, Texas
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Pre-Competition Activities (Thursday and Friday)
Thursday, March 24, 2022: Individualized, in-depth coaching sessions
Friday, March 25, 2022: Kickoff events and feedback sessions -
Finals (Saturday Morning)
Five of the top-ten finalist teams will be randomly chosen to present to a panel of judges. Judges will score each team and will record feedback comments. -
Finals (Saturday Afternoon)
The remaining five teams will present to the panel of judges. Judges will score each team and will record feedback comments. -
Judging Review and Final Scoring
Judges will review presentations and will finalize scoring. Award winners will be announced at the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening. -
Elevator Pitch Competition during Awards Banquest (Saturday Evening)
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Round One
A member from each team will present their 90-second pitch for audience polling. The top four teams will advance. -
Round Two
A different member from the top-four teams will present their 90-second pitch for audience polling. The top-three winners will be chosen according to the number of votes from the audience.
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