Burgess New Venture Challenge, hosted and organized by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, is the premier pitch competition for student entrepreneurs at Michigan State University. The Challenge provides a transformational experience for undergraduate and graduate students to bring big ideas and bold solutions to a large audience and compete for $50,000+ in funding.
Spartan entrepreneurs pitch their ventures to a panel of experienced judges, receive feedback, and accelerate their path forward. The Challenge offers time for finalists to connect with judges, mentors, and partners—providing meaningful access to early-stage and established investors across Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Save the date for the 2026 BNVC, taking place April 9, 2026, at the Marriott East Lansing at University Place in East Lansing, Michigan.
Applications to the 2026 BNVC closed on January 23, 2026.
Since 2019, BNVC has been an innovative, entrepreneurial experience that values collaboration, venture development and the power of the entrepreneurial mindset.
The Challenge enhances the probability of success for Spartans by providing mentoring and guidance, connections to Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities for investment.
The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation utilizes Qualtrics as its preferred platform for managing application submissions. To apply, one (1) individual from the team, the applicant, must complete the online application before Friday, January 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. Once an application is submitted, no changes can be made.
Teams invited to compete in BNVC will be notified via email on February 4, 2026. If you’re invited to compete, teams must affirm or deny the invitation to compete before Friday, February 6, 2026. Teams who do not confirm their participation will forfeit their invitation and the invitation will be extended to another team. To confirm your participation, you must sign the Semifinalist Agreement and return it to Aubrey Haase, haaseaub@msu.edu, by Friday, February 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET (noon).
To compete, you must consider the following:
To compete, participants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to these requirements.
The BNVC will award $50,000+ in prizes to competing teams. The top five finalists will receive winnings in tranches based on milestones.
First Place: $15,000
Second Place: $10,000
Third Place: $7,500
Fourth Place: $5,000
Fifth Place: $3,500
For further questions, contact the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, eship@msu.edu.
Applications for the 2026 Burgess New Venture Challenge are due Friday, January 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
To apply, visit: https://bit.ly/BNVC26-application Once an application is submitted, no changes can be made.
Any currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at Michigan State University who meets all eligibility criteria and is active in the Venture Creation Program (Discovery or Launch).
No. The 2026 BNVC is planned to be held fully in person at the Marriott East Lansing at University Place on April 9, 2026. While we don’t anticipate changes, any updates to the event format will be communicated to registered guests.
The Burgess NVC will award $50,000+ in prizes to competing teams. The top five finalists will receive winnings in tranches based on milestones.
The Institute will publicly announce the fifteen semifinalist teams competing in the 2026 BNVC on February 17, 2026.
During the 2026 BNVC, attendees will meet this year’s semifinalist teams in a trade show-style format. Guests can vote for their favorite teams to win the People’s Choice Award while enjoying food, beverages & live music. At 6:30 PM, hear five-minute pitches before all awards are announced.
While we highly recommend pre-registering for the Challenge, if you or your guests are unable to pre-register, on-site registration will be available at the door.
517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week is the Lansing Region’s premier celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation. To learn more about 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week and its events, visit https://www.517ei.com/.