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Sponsor Northwestern University once and your brand appears on the Northwestern University page and across every one of its programs and student-startup pages — not just this page.

Pitch CompetitionNo equityVerified

VentureCat

Also known as: NU Venture Challenge, NUVC

Northwestern University · Evanston, Illinois

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Quick fit check

  • No equity required
  • Currently active
  • Verified by research

Key numbers

Funding range

—

Equity

None

Application

Annual

Institution Wide

Last activity

2026-05-27

High confidence

Known startups and winners

Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.

See every startup

DoseUp

Northwestern University

Competition winner

GLP-1 tracking app; Consumer Products & Services track winner at Northwestern VentureCat 2026.

EdgeLine

Northwestern University

Competition winner

Construction design review automation; Energy & Sustainability track winner at Northwestern VentureCat 2026.

HaptE

$100,000

prize won

Northwestern University

Grand prizeCompetition winner

Warehouse computer vision startup; $100,000 grand prize winner at Northwestern VentureCat 2026.

HydroFlo

$50,000

prize won

Northwestern University

Competition winner

Smart catheter for hydrocephalus; $50,000 winner at Northwestern VentureCat 2026.

nLab

3rd place

placement

Northwestern University

Competition winner

World's smallest electronics lab; 3rd place at Northwestern VentureCat 2025.

Symbia

Northwestern University

Competition winner

Carbon-neutral leather grown from kombucha; Social Impact track winner at Northwestern VentureCat 2026.

VentureCat

Northwestern's annual student startup competition. One of the largest non-dilutive prize pools among university pitch competitions. 12th year in 2026.

Key Details

  • Prize pool: $175K+ non-dilutive (2026)
  • Grand prize: $100K
  • Tracks: Business Products & Services, Consumer Products & Services, Energy & Sustainability, Life Sciences & Medical Innovation, Social Impact
  • Semifinalists: 25 teams (2026)
  • Format: 4-week Pitch Prep Program + private semifinals + public showcase
  • Partners: Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center, Farley Center, Kellogg, The Garage

Notable Winners

HaptE ($100K grand prize 2026), HydroFlo ($50K), nLab (3rd place 2025)