Applications will open on January 17, 2023 at 10am and close on February 15, 2023.  Applicants selected to participate in the Nisbet Venture Fund will pitch at a live competition on April 19, 2023 at 6:00pm. To prepare finalists for a strong pitch, a series of educational workshops, experiences, and mentoring opportunities are available throughout the spring term.

In order to encourage both idea-stage as well as established ventures, selected applicants have the opportunity to participate and pitch on one of two tracks: the Incubation track or the Acceleration track. 

Description of the Tracks

The spring 2023 application will open on January 17, 2023 and close on February 15, 2023. Finalists will be selected and informed by February 24th through email.

When a student or recent alumni applies for the Nisbet Venture Fund they will have the option on the application to select if they would like their venture to be considered for the Incubation Track, the Acceleration Track, or Either Track.

Once the applications are received, they will be sorted and scored by a committee in their respective categories. Finalists are chosen on the merits of their written application. 

• Individuals or teams must include an enrolled Davidson College student or recent Davidson alumni from a graduating class between 2017-2022.
• In order to receive the $25,000 investment, the venture must be a formed legal entity (corporation or limited liability company). Teams competing for the Audience Choice or Incubation Prize do not need to be incorporated/organized.
• To participate in the Accelerated Track, Davidson College alumni from the classes of 2017-2022 and/or currently enrolled Davidson student(s) must own 25% or more equity in the business to be eligible for an investment. If more than one Davidson College alumni from the classes of 2017-2022 and/or currently enrolled Davidson student(s) own equity, at least one of those team members must own 25% or more equity in the business.
• The Davidson College student or recent alumni must deliver the pitch and answer the judges’ questions.
• Past equity winning ventures of the Davidson Venture Competition are not eligible to participate in the pitch competition. Past finalists whose venture did not receive funding from the Davidson Venture Fund competition remain eligible.
• Teams with generated revenue or venture capital funding in excess of $250,000 are not eligible to compete in either pitch. This includes funding from both institutional and non-institutional sources (pitch contests, grants, bank loans, etc.)
• Teams with generated revenue or venture capital exceeding $5,000 are only eligible to pitch on the Acceleration Track and not the Incubation Track.
• The following entities are ineligible to compete in the Nisbet Venture Fund Competition: endowments, capital campaigns, lobbying organizations, political parties, labor organizations, and entities that may be connected to prohibited drug-related activities.
  

Confidentiality & Permissions

Additional & Permissions members.