Fall 2022 applications will open on August 22.
Get help to develop your new idea, invention, or venture in the Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC).
The SVC provides expert mentorship to new WashU ventures and startups to ready them for commercializing their idea, launching, and pitching to investors. Teams will develop materials focused on explaining the idea they are working on to a broad audience.
Teams will develop an IdeaBounce® post, a 2-minute video pitch, and a one-page written summary. If selected as a finalist, teams will create a financial projections page and pitch with slides that will be presented for a Q&A session with judges.
Up to $25,000 in awards available – Thank you to Kishore Kanakamedala for supporting the SVC each year.
Who is eligible: All current WashU students and all WashU alumni within one year of graduation with an early-stage venture or idea.
*Please note if you have won a past SVC cycle, you are no longer eligible to compete.
Timeline:
- Initial application due by Monday, September 19 at 5 p.m.
- IdeaBounce® post and two-minute video pitch due Monday, September 26 at 5 p.m.
- Executive summary due Monday, October 3 at 5 p.m.
- Semifinalists announced Monday, October 10
- Customer Discovery form due Monday, October 17 at 5 p.m.
- Semifinalists Pitch Wednesday, October 19
- Finalists announced Wednesday, October 19
- Revised executive summary with financial projections due Monday, November 7 at 5 p.m.
- In-person final presentations Wednesday, November 16 (at Washington University)
- Winners announced November 16 at the Washington University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards, presented by the Skandalaris Center
PAST SVC WINNERS
1st Place: $10,000 Grapevine Biosciences, Victoria Mityul (ME ’25)
2nd place: $7,500, Multiflex Neurovascular Catheter, Vinay Chandrasekaran (BS ’21)
3rd Place: $5,000, Tylmen Tech, Lloyd Yates (GB ’22).
JUDGING CRITERIA
IdeaBounce® Post
Post your idea for a new invention, service, or startup concept
Two-Minute Video (Selection of Semi-Finalists)
Videos will be judged on the following criteria on a 1-5 scale:
- Problem: Clear, concise description and understanding of the problem.
- Solution: The solution is feasible and implementation is achievable by team and highlighted collaborators.
- Target customer: Team has spoken to potential users and has a plan for ongoing customer discovery.
- Value Proposition: This is an original solution and differentiated from established competitors.
- Use of Medium: Creativity of video and storytelling using this medium.
Presentations (Selection of Finalists)
Final Presentations (60% of final score)
Contact the Skandalaris Center with questions: sc@wustl.edu.
