News

National Success for Student Venture Capital Team


March 2017

Elizabeth Jenike

Over the weekend of March 25, the Farmer School team of student venture capitalists did it again - in their first-ever entry into the national 2017 Venture Capital Investment Competition, they brought home second place!

A few weeks ago, the team took first place in the regional 2017 Venture Capital Investment Competition in Chicago, which hosted teams from 78 business schools from around the world. Miami was one of only seven schools in the Midwest to be invited to the regional competition, and the only school from Ohio. Then, they went to the national level, challenged seven other teams from across the country and came home with another trophy!

These budding venture capitalists, who were supported by a team of data analysts back at home in Oxford, were given three very real business plans for startup companies and told to choose which one they, as venture capitalists, would invest in. They were given 36 hours to research the companies and analyze the market - all things real-life VCs would do before making a decision.

The fact that the Miami team captured first in the regional competition and second in the national is evidence enough of the first-class ability of the students at the Farmer School.

“This is a significant moment for not only the Institute for Entrepreneurship, but Miami University as a whole,” said Tim Holcomb, Cintas Chair of Entrepreneurship and faculty advisor to the group. “The caliber of the competition that the team faced was world class and this achievement speaks volumes about the students’ capabilities and ability to tap into an amazing network of regional support.”

Check out their first success and don’t forget to send them a hearty congratulations!

Venture capitalist team photo Venture capitalist team working in conference room