Elevating Innovation

• June 2 - July 11, 2025: Accepting Applications  
• August 5, 2025: Finalists Publicly Announced
• September 2025: Finals Public Showcase in San Francisco, CA 

 

The application for Alumni VentureCat 2025 will open in June 2025.

VentureCat Application Components:

• 10-slide pitch deck 
• 60-second elevator pitch video (no graphics/animations, just you speaking to the camera)
• Application questions based on the program's evaluation criteria.

 

Alumni VentureCat is a startup competition intended to support and showcase high-growth Northwestern University alumni-founded ventures with viable business models that will allow their businesses to efficiently scale, and that have the potential for significant financial growth.

Please read the complete Official Rules & Guidelines prior to applying. The program reserves the right to disqualify any participant, or submission if Northwestern University determines, in its sole discretion, that there has been a violation of rules and guidelines or if it determines that an entry does not meet all eligibility requirements.

• Ventures founded more than five years prior to the application open date (June 2, 2025) are ineligible to compete.  
• Venture must have at least one Northwestern University alum who is a founder or co-founder and substantial equity holder in the business who is actively involved full-time in day-to-day operations, and who graduated from Northwestern prior to August 31, 2024.
  • To be considered a Northwestern alum, you must have completed an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree from Northwestern University. Graduates of Northwestern University certificate programs are not eligible to participate.
• The Northwestern alumni founders invited to participate as finalists must fully commit to participate in-person for the Finals Public Showcase at Northwestern’s educational space in San Francisco, CA and must serve as the lead pitch presenters (non-alumni co-founders can participate in the Q&A).
• Ventures must have less than $2 million USD in annual revenue. 
• Businesses that have raised more than $ 2.5 million USD in total debt/invested equity capital are ineligible to compete. This amount includes money received through grants, awards, and other funding sources.

• Northwestern alum investors are not eligible to apply on behalf of a company unless they are identified as a founder and involved full-time in the day-to-day operations. 
• Investment funds, acquisitions, and consulting services are not deemed "new ventures" and are not eligible to apply/participate.
• Subsidiary companies are not permitted to apply.
• Venture must be a U.S. based registered business entity and applicants must provide a completed W-9 form (with Employer Identification Number) at the time of application. Payments cannot be made to foreign business entities. All prize payments are made to companies, not individuals.
• Companies that have previously won the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place Finals prizes at the annual student VentureCat competition are ineligible to compete in the Alumni VentureCat competition.
• Companies that have previously competed as Finalists in Alumni VentureCat are ineligible to compete in subsequent years. 

 

The evaluation criteria for all stages of application and competition include:

Problem

• Significant problem/need identified.
• Customer groups sized and identified.

Proposition (Value Prop & Business Model)

• Compelling solution with path to scalability or growth
• Differentiated customer value
• Demonstrated understanding of the competitive landscape
• Business model outlined with realistic revenue sources.

Progress (Progress & Traction)

• Progress beyond idea stage (e.g., proof of concept, customer research, customer outreach, testing, product development, patent or trademark application, sales)
• Proposal for additional funding to accelerate progress.

People (Team)

• Presentation materials and responses to questions demonstrate expertise, commitment, and a thoughtful approach.
• The founder, key team members, and advisors have the required industry knowledge, skill sets, leadership abilities, and established relationships/networks needed to operate and scale the business successfully.

 

The Grand Prize will be awarded as a $100,000 SAFE Note with a 15% discount and no valuation cap.