About the Competition:
The Texas Venture Labs Investment Competition is the flagship program of the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship (aka BIG-E) portfolio. Dating back to 1984, the competition has evolved from a competition for MBA students to a global competition and most recently to a competition open to graduate students across the UT System. The competition mimics the real-world process of raising venture capital and provides participants with invaluable feedback from entrepreneurs and investors. Beyond the top prizes there are unique categories such as Sustainability Innovation, Health Innovation, and Technology Commercialization.
This year’s competition will be held on May 1, 2026 on the UT Austin Campus at Rowling Hall. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 5, 2026. The competition will include a quarterfinal round to narrow the pool down to 30 students that will compete in person. The application as well as Rules & Regulations and FAQs can be found here.
Prior to the competition, BIG-E offers both info sessions and preparation workshops – links are included below. Virtual sessions are available to support students outside of Austin.
Links
Eventbrite for Workshops
Eventbrite for Info Sessions
Prize Overview:
Texas Champion ($15,000)
Texas Superstar ($5,000)
Texas Rising Star ($2,500)
Additional award categories:
- 3 Elevator Challenge Awards ($2,500, $1,500, $1,000)
- James D. Pippin Veteran Entrepreneurship Award ($1,000)
- Health Innovation Award ($5,000)
- Sustainability Innovation Award ($5,000)
- Energy Innovation Award ($5,000)
- Commercialization Award ($10,000)