Applications are accepted from January 27 to February 17, 2025 at 10am.  Applicants selected to participate in the Nisbet Venture Fund will pitch at a live competition on April 16, 2025 at 6:30pm. 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 2025 Nisbet Venture Fund application period closes on February 17 at 10am. Finalists will be selected and informed by Feb 21 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 and will be notified by Feb 21.

• Individuals or teams must include an enrolled Davidson College student or recent Davidson alum from a graduating class between 2019-2024.
• 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 Incubation Prize do not need to be incorporated/organized.
• To participate in the Acceleration Track, Davidson College alumni from the classes of 2019-2024 and/or currently enrolled Davidson student(s) must own 50% or more equity in the business to be eligible for an investment. If more than one Davidson College alumni and/or currently enrolled Davidson student(s) own equity, combined, those team members must own 50% or more equity in the business.
• The Davidson College student or recent alumni must deliver the pitch in person at the competition and answer the judges’ questions.
• Past equity winning ventures of the Davidson/Nisbet Venture Competition are not eligible to participate in the pitch competition. Past finalists whose venture did not receive funding from the Davidson/Nisbet 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

Confidentiality of information is not guaranteed and teams should not include any confidential information in their submissions, including trade secrets or other proprietary information that would be at risk for disclosure. Entry into this competition may be considered a public disclosure for patent purposes. If teams plan to file patent protection on an aspect of their business, they should consult with an intellectual property attorney before entering. Intra-team confidentiality is the sole responsibility of team

Additional & Permissions members.

Teams are subject to the Davidson College Honor Code and Code of Conduct. Teams may be disqualified at any time before, during, or after the pitch competition for failing to comply with these general rules or the conditions set forth in the program participation agreement.

Note for International Students (F1 Visa)

As an international student, this funding may be subject to federal tax (20% max; 14% federal, 6% state, unless treaty benefits apply). The grant will be grossed up to include tax obligations.

Upon signing the agreement, you are agreeing to check your email for correspondence from Sprintax Calculus/Susan Caldwell in the Controller’s Office and respond quickly to any inquiries concerning the Foreign National Tax Assessment. As an International student (Non-Resident Alien), you will receive IRS form 1042/1042-S for all taxable payments. You will be responsible for filing the Form 1040NR in the following year.