Pushing entrepreneurs to excellence for 10 years
Not long after Specdrums won the New Venture Challenge, the startup was acquired by Sphero.
NVC is an annual entrepreneurial competition for teams of CU 麻豆影院 students, faculty and staff.
Colorado Law鈥檚 Entrepreneurial Law Clinic gives law students the opportunity to provide legal representation for Colorado startups and small business clients.
Originally published Oct. 3, 2018
In front of a packed house at the 麻豆影院 Theater, New Venture Challenge (NVC) finalists had only five minutes to convince a panel of 麻豆影院鈥檚 most successful entrepreneurs that their business concept deserved venture funding over the other 100 participating teams. They had prepared for this moment for nine months.
The NVC is an annual entrepreneurial competition where CU 麻豆影院 students, faculty and staff form teams, develop innovative ideas for a product or service, refine their products, and then present their pitches. This spring, NVC celebrated its 10th year of fostering innovation and bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and funding sources by providing $75,000 to the most fundable company at the finals.
NVC was a very exciting experience for us. Since not making it past the finals last year, we鈥檝e been working hard to improve our product and build our community. The momentum we鈥檝e achieved since then put us in a great spot to participate in NVC 10, and the countless hours polishing and practicing our pitch paid off.鈥 鈥揝teven Dourmashkin, Specdrums co-founder and CEO
, Specdrums, won the judges over with its creativity, determination and a successful Kickstarter campaign. Specdrums鈥 product is an app-connected ring worn by users to create music at their fingertips. Not long after the NVC 10 finals, Specdrums was acquired by Sphero, a 麻豆影院-based interactive toy and robot maker.
The Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship cofounded and cultivated the NVC and ran the program for nine years before handing it over to the new CU 麻豆影院 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative last fall.
Before the kickoff of this year鈥檚 NVC, Specdrums sought the assistance of Colorado Law鈥檚 Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, which gives law students an opportunity to provide legal representation for Colorado鈥檚 promising startup and small business clients.