Competitions

Sharpen your competitive edge

At Kellogg, we recognize that business competitions provide a highly valuable and rigorous learning experience, regardless of whether your career goals include launching a business, growing an enterprise or designing a corporate innovation initiative.

Competitions allow you to gain feedback from customers and industry experts, the ability to expand your network, hone your pitch, receive non-dilutive startup funding and test your innovative ideas early and often.

They also give you the chance to win funding — something that Kellogg students have an incredible track record of accomplishing. Learn more about some of our recent students’ successes on our Highlights page.

Beating the odds

A team of Kellogg students took home 11 awards and nearly $200,000 at business competitions for their medical-device startup, Innoblative.

Apply for funding

To help manage the competition costs, Kellogg invites students to apply for this special funding:

Entrepreneurship at Kellogg

The Entrepreneurship at Kellogg Competition Travel Program helps cover travel expenses, such as economy airfare, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation for entrepreneurship competitions related to a Kellogg student’s project or venture. To learn more about this program, please visit our Funding webpage here.

Heizer Center

The Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital may provide reimbursement to students participating in private equity and venture capital competitions. Contact the Heizer Center at heizer@kellogg.northwestern.edu for more information.

Social Impact

Project Impact helps cover travel expenses to business plan competitions with a focus on promoting a sustainable positive impact on people and/or the planet. Learn more about opportunities and resources at Kellogg for travel to business plan competitions that promote social impact.

Business Competitions at Kellogg and Northwestern University

Please contact us for more information.

Corporate Innovation

Kellogg Business Design Challenge Fall Quarter / Open to Kellogg students only Sponsored by Kellogg’s Innovation and Design Association (IDEA), this annual competition invites students to apply design thinking to a real-world business challenge. In previous years, 3M’s Scotch Brand, McDonald’s Sustainability Group and Hyatt’s Gold Passport Loyalty Program have participated as partners in the challenge. The competition is ideal for students who are interested in working in corporate innovation after graduation. If you have any questions, please reach out to the IDEA Club at idea-club@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

Kellogg Business Design Challenge

Fall Quarter / Open to Kellogg students only

Sponsored by Kellogg’s Innovation and Design Association (IDEA), this annual competition invites students to apply design thinking to a real-world business challenge. In previous years, 3M’s Scotch Brand, McDonald’s Sustainability Group and Hyatt’s Gold Passport Loyalty Program have participated as partners in the challenge. The competition is ideal for students who are interested in working in corporate innovation after graduation. If you have any questions, please reach out to the IDEA Club at idea-club@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

Entrepreneurship

Kellogg Venture Challenge Winter Quarter Sponsored by Entrepreneurship at Kellogg and the Kellogg Founders (KF), the Kellogg Venture Challenge gives students an opportunity to pitch their startup idea and gain valuable feedback from members of the startup and Kellogg School community. The competition offers $10,000 in prizes.
VentureCat Spring Quarter / Open to Northwestern students only VentureCat is a showcase and celebration of Northwestern’s most promising student startups, culminates in a pitch competition that offers cash prizes, mentors, graphic design assistance for presentations, pitch prep and more for the semi-finalists. For this coming year, thanks to a generous gift from Larry and Carol Levy, there will be over $250,000 in cash prizes distributed to student ventures. VentureCat distinguishes itself from other competitions around the globe by organizing competitors in five industry-specific tracks, which leverages the rich expertise of distinct schools from across the University in both graduate and undergraduate programs.	Learn more
Kellogg Real Estate Venture Competition (KREVC) Spring Quarter / Open to graduate students only The Kellogg Real Estate Conference and Venture Competition is hosted by the Guthrie Center for Real Estate Research. The Conference will bring together global leaders in real estate who will provide industry updates and relevant market information. The Venture Competition is an opportunity for MBA students to pitch to a high-profile panel of judges for significant cash and in-kind prizes. Visit the 2022 conference webpage	Learn more

Venture Capital & Private Equity

Kellogg Venture Capital Investment Challenge Winter Quarter / Open to Kellogg students only This internal competition is designed to help Kellogg students prepare to participate in the international Venture Capital Investment Challenge, Students must submit an application to the challenge. Those selected will receive mentorship, coaching and support from Kellogg faculty and the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital.	Learn more

Kellogg Venture Capital Investment Challenge

Winter Quarter / Open to Kellogg students only

This internal competition is designed to help Kellogg students prepare to participate in the international Venture Capital Investment Challenge, Students must submit an application to the challenge. Those selected will receive mentorship, coaching and support from Kellogg faculty and the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital.

Learn more

In addition to these NU- and Kellogg-sponsored competitions, Entrepreneurship at Kellogg supports the participation of MBA students in external competitions. For a list of recommended competitions, deadlines and opportunities for financial/mentorship support, please contact us.