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Graduate

VCIC

ABOUT

The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is a global competition where graduate students step into the role of venture capitalists. At UC Berkeley, six of the top graduate teams will be selected to participate in intensive workshop trainings led by an attorney and a venture capitalist. Through these sessions, teams will learn how to: 

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  • Evaluate startups and business models

  • Conduct due diligence

  • Draft and analyze term sheets

  • Negotiate investment deals

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Following the workshops, teams will compete in Berkeley's campus-level competition. Only one team will advance to represent UC Berkeley at the Regional VCIC, where they will compete against leading universities. 

The winning school from each region will move on to the Global Finals in late March / early April at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill. 

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Timeline

October - December

January - February

March - April

Information Sessions

Team Formation Mixers
Application Deadline

UCB Teams Announced

Training Workshops 

UC Berkeley Competition 

Regional Competition (Silicon Valley/Southern California)

Global Finals at the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

important dates

2026-2027 Graduate VCIC Dates 

  • September - Grad VCIC Executive Committee (MBA Student Leaders)  *Apply Here*

    • Application Deadline Sunday, September 27 at 11:59 pm 

  • October - November (TBA) -  Information Session (Virtual) & Team Formation Mixer (On Campus)

  • November 9 - Applications Open! 

  • November 22 - VCIC Graduate Competition Application Deadline

  • December 7 - Grad VCIC Application Decisions Announced

    • Only the Top 6 Grad teams move forward in UCB Competition

  • January  15, 3-7pm - VCIC Workshop 1, in person [Berkeley Haas] *note: subject to change

  • January  22, 3-7pm - VCIC Workshop 2, in person [Berkeley Haas] *note: subject to change

  • January 29, 3-7pm - VCIC Workshop 3, in person [Berkeley Haas] *note: subject to change

  • February 12, 9a-5pm - UC Berkeley Grad VCIC Competition, in person [Berkeley Haas]

    • Top UC Berkeley Grad team moves forward to the VCIC Regional Competition​

  • Saturday, February 27 - VCIC Graduate Silicon Valley Regional Competition hosted at Berkeley Haas in 2027

    • Teams that win at regionals move on to the Global round​

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  • April 16-17 - VCIC Global Competition at UNC in North Carolina ​

Application process

Eligibility:

  • No prior VC experience required. 

  • Each team must be comprised of FIVE or SIX students.

  • All team members must be current UC Berkeley graduate students. 

  • Each team must appoint a Team Lead who will serve as the point of contact for the team. 

  • Teams selected to compete in the competition must also commit to: 

    • Sign the NDA and Code of Conduct, abide by all the VCIC rules​

    • Attend ALL of the training workshops and compete through the Regional competition if selected, and to the Global Finals. 

    • Ensure all team members named on the application are present on the day of the competition. No alternatives and no absences are allowed. 

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Application: 

  • The 2027 VCIC Application will be announced in October.

  • Access the startup pitch decks that you will be evaluating (sent via email)

  • For the investment case section, you are encouraged to conduct any research necessary, but you are not permitted to contact any entrepreneurs directly.

  • Teams must have 5 or 6 students.

  • Please only submit ONE document. It is sufficient if ONE person from the team turns it in.

  • Any screenshots (e.g. An Excel model used to derive your valuations) can be attached at the bottom of the document.

  • The deadline to hand in the applications is late November, to be announced. 

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