Entrepreneurs of UCF will have the opportunity to grab hold of $75,000 in cash and business services at the Joust New Venture Challenge this April.

The Joust New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a way for student entrepreneurs to showcase their
startup proposals by introducing them to community leaders and providing resources necessary to launch their ventures.

“The Joust is one of a handful of events in the college that squarely align with the vision for the college,” said #UCFBusiness Dean Paul Jarley. “It is at the intersection of town and gown –facilitated by faculty and judged by seasoned business professionals. It is open to any student at UCF and it takes courage to enter, research to prepare a convincing plan and swagger to win.”

The competition will judge the new ventures on criteria including proposed product/service and market opportunity, financial/revenue model and financial projectionsm team and execution plan and impact.

The winning team will received a cash prize of $10,000 and receive a portfolio of in-kind services to help launch their startup. The second-place winner will receive $5,000, and the third and fourth-place winners will take home $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

The Joust is open to all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at UCF during 2014-2015. While the management team of the venture may be composed of alumni or non-students, at least one UCF student must have a key role and ownership stake in the venture.

The Joust finals are open to the public and will be held at The Venue at UCF on April 17, 2015 beginning at 1:00 p.m.