Baylor New Venture Competition 2027
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Quick Answer
Baylor University's business plan competition for student and recent-alumni teams worldwide. First place wins US$50,000 cash (about ₹47.5 lakh). The 2027 entry round has closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Baylor University
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 2 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Baylor University. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2027 round of the Baylor New Venture Competition is closed: Round One entries were due by 11:59 PM CST on 1 October 2026, which was 11:29 AM IST on 2 October 2026. The official page announces no 2028 dates yet, so treat the next round as unconfirmed and use the months before it to get ready. If you are a student or recent graduate with a venture, this page explains how the competition works.
The New Venture Competition (NVC) is a business plan and elevator pitch competition run by the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business in Waco, Texas. It is open to teams of students and recent alumni of not-for-profit accredited universities anywhere in the world. The finals are held in person at Baylor, so a team from India must plan for travel to the United States if it reaches the last stage.
What the program offers
The top prize is US$50,000 cash (about ₹47.5 lakh) plus in-kind awards. Second place receives US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) and third US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh), each with in-kind awards. Teams placing fourth to tenth receive US$1,500 each, also with in-kind awards. A separate elevator pitch contest on finals day pays US$1,500, US$1,000 and US$500 to its top three. The in-kind awards can include things like website hosting, consultations, co-working space and legal services.
Money is not the only benefit. The page lists feedback on the executive summary and the business plan, one-on-one mentorship, pitch coaching and feedback sessions. Finalist teams are assigned an industry-specific mentor.
Who can apply
Entry is for teams of students and recent alumni from not-for-profit accredited universities around the world. There is no limit on how many teams one university can send. The full team rules sit in the official 2027 guidebook linked from the application, and the web page does not set out separate rules for international teams, so read the guidebook before you build a team.
This suits an Indian student or recent graduate founder who studies or studied at an accredited non-profit university and has a venture that is, in the competition's words, student-created, managed and led. It does not suit established companies run by non-students or teams without a university link. A practical tip: confirm with the guidebook how "recent alumni" is defined and whether your institution counts before you invest time.
How to apply
- Round One (online): a two-page executive summary of the business concept and verification of student status. In the 2027 round this ran from 1 April to 1 October 2026.
- Round Two (online): the top 50 teams, announced on 20 November 2026, submit a full business plan, a cap table, verification that a legal entity has been established, and tax forms. The page gives the Round Two window as 20 November 2026 to 18 January 2027.
- Finals (in person): the top 10 are announced on 26 February 2027. Pre-competition kickoff events and feedback sessions are on 16 April 2027, and the finals, elevator pitch contest and awards banquet are on 17 April 2027.
The page says teams must set up a legal entity to advance to Round Two.
How applications are judged and what happens next
In the finals, the top 10 teams are randomly chosen to present to a judge panel. Judges score each team and write feedback comments. Finals day also includes questions and answers, networking, a business showcase and audience participation. The elevator pitch contest uses 90-second pitches: the first round is audience-polled and the top five go on, then a different team member from each of those five pitches and audience votes choose the top three. The page does not publish detailed judging criteria.
About the Baugh Center and Baylor
The competition is hosted by the Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation in Waco, Texas. The page says it is underwritten by an anonymous gift to Baylor and the Hankamer School of Business, and that nearly US$1 million in cash and prizes has been awarded since it began. The 2027 edition is its 14th.
Things to check before you apply
- Legal entity: you must have a registered business entity before Round Two, along with a cap table and tax forms. An Indian team should ask an adviser which entity type and which tax forms the guidebook expects.
- Travel: the finals are in person at Baylor and the page mentions no travel support. Budget for flights, visas and accommodation.
- Timing: Round One closes in early autumn and the full business plan follows within weeks of the top 50 announcement, so draft the plan early.
- Fees: the page lists no entry fee.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
First place wins US$50,000 in cash (about ₹47.5 lakh), second US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) and third US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh). Fourth to tenth place each win US$1,500 (about ₹1.4 lakh). All placed teams also get in-kind awards, which can include website hosting, consultations, co-working space and legal services. A separate elevator pitch contest pays US$1,500, US$1,000 and US$500 in cash.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Cohort size
- 10 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Judges narrow entries from the Round One summaries to 50 teams, then pick the top 10 from the Round Two business plans. In the in-person finals the top 10 present to a judge panel, who score each team and give feedback. A separate 90-second elevator pitch contest is decided by audience votes.
Application Process
- 1
Executive summary
Submit a two-page summary and student status proof in Round One.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we still apply to the Baylor New Venture Competition 2027?
No. Round One closed at 11:59 PM CST on 1 October 2026, which is 11:29 AM IST on 2 October. Only the top 50 teams from that round go on to Round Two. The official page does not yet announce 2028 dates, so check it for the next round.
Who can enter the Baylor New Venture Competition?
Teams of students and recent alumni of not-for-profit accredited universities around the world. There is no limit on teams per university. The full team rules are in the official guidebook linked from the application.
Can Indian student startups apply?
The page says the competition is open to teams from around the world and gives no separate rules for international teams. An Indian team from an accredited non-profit university should check the guidebook, and must be ready to travel to Waco, Texas if it reaches the finals.
How much can a team win?
First place gets US$50,000 cash (about ₹47.5 lakh), second US$25,000 and third US$10,000, each with in-kind awards. Fourth to tenth place receive US$1,500 each. The elevator pitch contest pays US$1,500, US$1,000 and US$500.
Is the prize a grant or equity?
The page describes cash prizes and in-kind awards won in a competition and does not mention equity. It does not state any tax or payout rules, so check the guidebook and take tax advice for an Indian team.
Do we need a registered company?
Not for Round One. To move into Round Two a team must show proof that a legal entity has been established, plus a cap table and tax forms.
Do we have to travel for the finals?
Yes. The pre-competition events on 16 April 2027 and the finals on 17 April 2027 are in person at Baylor in Waco, Texas. The page mentions no travel support.
Is there an entry fee?
The official page lists no application or entry fee.
What support do teams get besides prize money?
The page lists executive summary and business plan feedback, one-on-one mentorship, rounds of pitch coaching and final presentation feedback. Finalist teams are assigned an industry-specific mentor.
When are the results announced?
For the 2027 round, the top 50 were announced on 20 November 2026 and the top 10 on 26 February 2027. The finals and awards are on 17 April 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
