FSB Venture Capital Investment Competition team ties for 2nd at Global Finals
Farmer School team last placed 2nd in 2024
FSB Venture Capital Investment Competition team ties for 2nd at Global Finals
Farmer School team last placed 2nd in 2024
The Farmer School of Business Venture Capital Investment Team took second place in the VCIC Global Finals this past weekend at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The team (Elena Hentz, Liam McAllister, Logan McGuire, Tommy Sullivan, Tyler Williams, and Shayla Williamson) tied with a University of California-Berkeley team for the No. 2 position among 10 finalists.
Earlier this semester, the team earned their trip to the finals by winning the regional VCIC competition at the University of Florida, continuing a streak of winning regionals every year the VCIC has been held.
“This win is truly a testament to the work that has been put in this semester. We began with individual preparation back in January, followed by 11 weeks of Wednesday evenings and several Saturdays dedicated to intense team training,” Hentz said. “Being part of this team has opened doors I didn't even know existed, and I'm so incredibly grateful for that opportunity. To say we are the second-best team in the world still feels surreal – I'm honestly still processing it. “
FSB teams have placed in the top three teams in eight out of the competition’s 10 years and most recently placed second in the world in 2024.
"I was so proud of how this team represented Miami. They were tenacious, but also knew when to pause and take a breath. They balanced incredibly well thought out and challenging questions with an ease and comfort at asking them that was admired by judges and founders alike. They were confident and still relatable; showed poise and humor when moments called for each,” advisor Theresa Sedlack said. “Most of all, they worked hard to develop their team culture and camaraderie. The extent to which they trusted each other and looked out for one another was evident throughout their work together. It was a pleasure to get to work with them throughout the competition preparation and to see everything they worked for come together with a fantastic body of work at the final event."
“I want to extend my gratitude to Theresa Sedlack for making this experience possible,” Hentz said. “I'm deeply proud of my teammates, not only for the work they've put in but for who they are as individuals. I will miss them all dearly when they graduate in just a few short weeks but excited to see the impact they’ll make on the organizations they join.”
“VCIC has been the most impactful learning experience I've had at Miami and it was very rewarding to finish it off with being the runner up at Globals,” McAllister said. “It was amazing to see the Miami community come together to support us, we couldn't have done it without them!”
In the VCIC, teams assume the identity of a venture firm. On the first day of the three-day competition, each student venture team receives a profile of the firm’s venture fund and business plans for three seed stage companies. Teams are given 36 hours to conduct due diligence of the companies, their founders, and the market, then prepare a term sheet for an investment in one of the companies.
On the final day of the competition, teams evaluate pitches made by each company and participate in a one-on-one Q&A with the founder or founders, after which teams have two hours to finalize their investment decision. Each team defends its investment recommendation to a panel of current venture capital investors who assess each team’s investment decision and logic and then negotiate final terms with the founders of the selected company.