The second stage of the UVA Entrepreneurship Cup, the Discovery Competition, is all about customer and product development. $25,000 in total prize money will be awarded as part of the Discovery Stage.
The Discovery Competition is based upon the principles of effectuation, a problem solving process that expert entrepreneurs undertake after they have conceived of their idea (Stage I: Concept), but before they invested significant time and money into the project (Stage III: Launch!). By focusing upon the “fit” between customer needs or wants and the project’s product or service, as well as the personal skills, connections and effort students bring to this challenge, this stage of the competition requires students to—and rewards students who—demonstrate that they have taken steps to “de-risk” their idea, perhaps the most crucial step in the startup process.
The top five projects in the Discovery Competition will be awarded $5,000 each, for a total of $25,000 in total awards. Furthermore, these projects will receive additional, in-kind resources in the hopes of helping the projects to the next stage of development.
KEY DATES:
Friday, February 3, 2023 – Submissions due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (HIGH NOON)
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Finalists announced
Sunday, February 12, 2023 — Top 10 Finalists Video Presentations Due by 11:59PM EST
Thursday, February 16, 2023 – Final presentations at 4:30 p.m. at the Darden School of Business in Classroom 180/190 (iLab Classroom); RSVP HERE to attend!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FINALISTS AND AWARD WINNERS!
To view more information about the Discovery Competition, follow the links below: