About us

Venture Cup is a business plan competition for students, graduates and faculty at Danish universities. Participants submit their ideas and plans to an independent jury, who determines which teams win cash prizes. The competition runs during the academic year, and participants are free to use resources such as workshops, seminars, and advisors in their quest for the best idea and business plan.

Top | Read more: What is Venture Cup?

What is the goal of Venture Cup?

To get as many students as possible to consider opportunities in entrepreneurship, and to help create successful high-growth start-up companies in Denmark. Venture Cup aims to promote radical innovation as well as careers in entrepreneurship.

Top | Read more: Why Venture Cup?

Who can participate?

Am I allowed to participate?

You may enter the competition if at least one person on your team is enrolled (either a student, staff or first-year graduate) to a higher educational institution in Denmark. Furthermore, at least one team member must be a permanent resident of Denmark, which includes residents on student visas.

You can always sign up at Younoodle to find teams with eligible members you can join, if you are not eligible to participate yourself.

Top | Read more: Rules

Can I enter the competition if I participated last year?

If your team won any of the final three prizes in the final stage of a previous Venture Cup, you are not allowed to participate. If you did not win, please observe that you cannot participate this year with the same idea. As entrepreneurs evolve their ideas by nature, this is rarely a problem.

Top | Read more: Rules

We have already founded the company, can we still participate?

Yes, but only companies which have not received more than dkk 250,000 in funding may participate. This rule applies to the deadline of the first stage you enter, i.e. if you have participated in Stage 1 and recieve money after the deadline, you may still parcipate in the remainder of the competition. If you have not participated in Stage 1, you may only enter Stage 2 if you have not recieved more than dkk 250,000 in funding before the Stage 2 deadline.

Top | Read more: Rules

Participating in the Competition

Why should I participate?

You have everything to win and nothing to lose. Venture Cup is a platform where all participants get a unique opportunity to test their knowledge and talent in terms of teamwork, innovation & entrepreneurship. Our experience convinces us that you are significantly more likely to succeed with your idea if you participated in Venture Cup.

Furthermore, thanks to all of our sponsors, participating in Venture Cup and related activities is entirely free.

Top | Read more: What do I win?

When can I enter the competition?

In autumn we run idea competitions, which are 2-3 page summaries of an idea. The deadline is generally end of October. In spring we run entrepreneurship competitions where you have to submit a 10-20 page business plan. The deadline for this is generally around mid May. For all competitions you can submit your entry via our startup network (see network in the header menu)

Top | Read more: How to participate?

How do I enter the competition?

You can only submit your entry online. In doing this you go to our startup network (see network in the header menu) which is run by our partner "YouNoodle". Here you will have to create a profile and submit your idea through this profile. Follow the link below for a more detailed describtion and easy access.

Top | Our startup network

How do I stay informed during the competition?

During the year you can stay updated by joining our group on YouNoodle, also called our Startup Network, all members of this network receive regular updates (about 10 per year) with competition and workshop information. In addition to this Venture Cup also has a Facebook fan site, which is ideal for those who like to stay in touch on a less intentive scale.

In addition to this your regional manager would always love to hear from you and are more than happy to answer any queries.

Top | Sign-up: Sign up & upload!

What do I need to submit? What happens throughout the year?

Can I write in both English and Danish?

You, you are free to chose between these two languages.

But if you are serious about starting a company we strongly recommend writing your businessplan in English from the outset. This will give you the chance to get advice and assistance from international experts, both business people and investors, of which we have contact to quite a few in Venture Cup.

If you make it to the national final you will have to pitch in English since we have an international jury panel.

Top | Read more: Rules

How much are the prizes and are they exempt from tax?

No, the prizes are not exempt from tax, they are to be taxed as a B-income in Denmark. We do not deduct this tax upon payment of prizes, it is the winners' sole responsibility to ensure correct taxation of their prizes.

Follow the link to find out about the prizes on offer.

Top | Read more: How to participate?

What is the benefit if I don't win?

You will acquire important knowledge about how to write a business plan and start a company. You will also have the opportunity to make important contacts and build a network with people from corporate and academic environments in Denmark. We sincerely hope that you go out and start your venture even if you did not win Venture Cup this year.

Top | Read more: What do I win?

My Idea

I have more than one idea, what should I do?

Entrepreneurs are typically ideas people, therefore we encourage multiple submissions. You can submit as many ideas as you have. Submitting many ideas can help you chose which one to move forward with as each submitted idea will receive feedback from several very qualified people from the Venture Cup Jury

Top | Who is on the jury?

What if I don't have an idea?

Come along to one of our events and find teams who are looking for people with your skills. Also you should create a profile at younoodle.com, and this will give you access to search what teams and people are participating within your field so you have the chance to be proactive and contact them.

Top | Check our Startup Network for events, teams and networking opportunities.

Does Venture Cup have a phase 1 and 2 or is it independent competitions?

Venture Cup run several competitions throughout the year. They are all independent and you never have to have participated in one to participate in another.

However, it can sometimes be an advantage to have received previous feedback from our jury, as they advice can give you really good tips on how to proceed with your idea, and the improvements you make from this feedback naturally makes both your idea and businessplan stronger.

Top |

Is the competition only for high-tech ideas?

All ideas are welcome, but please note that growth potential is a key criteria for winning - something many high-tech ideas excel in. However, participating in Venture Cup can be very rewarding for everyone thinking about starting a new business, regardless of the field, as you get network and feedback still.

Top |

How do I protect my idea from everyone else?

Members of the jury, coaches, and Venture Cup staff have all signed confidentiality agreements as well as a set of ethical rules, which serves as your guarantee that we will not run away with your idea. The overwhelming evidence shows that entrepreneurs that talk about their idea to lots of different people have a higher chance of making it. But you should be aware that talking about your idea in public (e.g. at the Venture Cup finals) changes the novelty factor of a patentable idea, which means you often can't file for a patent. The way to avoid problem is to talk in general terms and avoid discussing the specifics technical parts that can be patented.

Remember, being open about your idea is a key road to success, as feedback from as many people as possible help shape your idea into something truly unique.

We recommend that you write mainly about which problem your idea solves, rather than the secret technical bits in your team profile, and use this when you tell other people about your idea. Consider how much you can tell without revealing the secret part, while still being able to convince others that your idea is good.

Top | Read more: Confidentiality

My Team

Must I be part of a team to enter?

For the sake of uploading your business plan, you need to have created a Startup linked to your profile at our Start Up Network hosted by YouNoodle.com. You are free to be the only member of your team, but your chances of winning are likely to be higher if you include people with other skills on your team. If you plan to find other team members, please write it in your Business Plan.

Top | Read more: Criteria & Resources or Sign up & upload!

How do I find teams I can join?

Once you have created your profile with younoodle.com you can browse Startups (teams and ideas).

You should also consider attending our networking events, where you can find other people looking for team members.

Top | Sign up & upload! or check our Events for networking opportunities

How do I find people to join my team?

Once you have created your profile and Startup with younoodle.com you can search other peoples profiles, and you can advertise that your Startup is interested in getting new team members.

You should also consider attending our networking events, where you can find other people looking for teams to join.

Top | Sign up & upload! or check our Events for networking opportunities

In Venture Cup's StartUp Network, how do I technically add people to my team

Team members who want to join must be approved by the team owner. In order to do that, the new team member must first have a profile within the Startup Network hosted by younoodle.com.

Top | Problems? E-mail your regional manager with your team name, your name and the name of the person you wish to add .