New Venture Competition

An annual student and alumni business plan contest with prizes totaling $315,000. Please watch the 2025 New Venture Competition Finale.
Professor Shikhar Ghosh introduces the New Venture Competition Finale.
$3M.
Cash & in-kind prizes since inception
2,800
Student teams since 1997
15,000
Jobs generated by new ventures

Business Track

Ventures with economic returns that drive substantial market value.

Social Enterprise Track

Ventures that drive social change using nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid models.

Which Track is Right for You?

Unsure of whether your idea is right for business or social track? The decision is not cut-and-dry. Here are some helpful questions to ask as you are considering the right track for you.

Eligibility

Do I meet eligibility requirements for the track?

See details for Business Track and Social Enterprise Track.

Focus

What is the primary focus of your idea – economic or social returns?

The Business Track focuses on ventures whose economic returns drive substantial market value. Ideas may also have social impact, but social impact is not the focus of your decision making, market entry, or funding.

The Social Enterprise Track focuses on ventures that create social change, and can include nonprofit, for-profit and hybrid models. In recent years, approximately half of SE entries have been for-profit or hybrid. In all cases, ideas are evaluated for financial sustainability; and in for-profit plans, the focus is on social return while having economic returns.

Judging

How do you want to be evaluated, where do you want feedback, and which judges do you want to make connections with?

See more on Business Track judging and Social Enterprise Track judging.


Winners & Success Stories

  • Video duration:1:30

    2025 New Venture Competition Winner, Business Track: Argus Systems

    Argus Systems accelerates AI model development for physical AI. Team: Lisa Yan (MBA 2025), Drew Borinstein (MBA 2025)

  • Video duration:1:34

    2025 New Venture Competition Winner, Social Enterprise Track: Lexi

    Lexi is an AI-powered medical interpretation platform that enables instant, accurate, and HIPAA-compliant communication between providers and patients across the care continuum. Team: Linh Pham, Siddharth UR, Jen Li (MBA 2025), Luke Fiorante.

  • Video duration:1:32

    2025 New Venture Competition Winner, Alumni Track: Noolie

    Noolie creates first-of-its-kind supplements for children in the form of a snack, revolutionizing how nutrition is given to kids through childhood and beyond. Cofounder & CEO: Claire Wu (MBA 2023), Asia/Pacific Region.

The Entrepreneurial Journey

Students, alumni, faculty, and investors share insights from Harvard Business School’s annual New Venture Competition, our flagship business plan competition, spotlighting early-stage startups and social ventures from the HBS community.

Video duration:1:30
  • Resources

    Across Harvard Business School and beyond, resources are available for you—regardless of track—as you consider and bring to life an idea for the New Venture Competition.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Find out about eligibility, judging, prizes, seed capital limitations & more.

  • Alumni New Venture Competition

    Global competition hosted with six regional competitions around the world hosted by alumni New Venture Competition (NVC) lead clubs around the world. The winning team from each regional competition advances for a chance to win up to $105,000 cash prize at the NVC Finale in April.