Read three real deals
Two days before, you receive three startup pitch decks and your fund’s profile: its size, stage and focus.
For students
Compete for your university.
Act as a VC firm, question real founders, and defend an investment decision before the investors who make them for a living.
What you do
Question the founders
Fourteen minutes of due diligence with each founder, then the judge questions you.
Write the deal
One-page summary of all three deals, a one-page term sheet for the startup you back.
Defend it
A partner meeting before all judges, no slides, then one-to-one meetings with each judge.
What you get
Feedback on your judgement
From practising investors, on how you think, not how you present.
A scored record
Three scored rounds that show how your team compares.
Investors and founders
Direct contact with the judges and the startups on the day.
The title
Europe’s student deep tech investment champions.
Who can compete
Teams of 5–6 from one university, plus up to 2 observers who do not compete.
- Level
- Enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD programme, or graduated within the last six months. MBA and executive programmes are not eligible.
- Experience
- At most 2 years of full-time work outside research per competitor.
- Mix
- Each team needs at least one engineering or science member and at least one business or economics member. No more than half the team may be PhD candidates.
- Conflicts
- No current or recent (last 12 months) work at a VC or PE fund, angel network or corporate venture unit. Internships of up to 3 months are fine.
- Past finalists
- Past VCIC global finalists are not eligible.
How to get on a team
You can’t enter alone. Each university enters one team through its student club or faculty.
- 01
Ask your entrepreneurship or finance club, or your faculty
- 02
If your university isn’t entered yet, register below
We’ll help your club enter.
- 03
Your club selects and trains the team
With our ready-to-run training pack.
In Greece?
Greek students qualify through Venture Academy Greece, an eight-week programme in Athens.
Register your interest
Tell us your university. We’ll connect you with your club or help it enter.