The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is a highly competitive event in which teams from universities across the world compete against each other in a simulated venture capital investment process. Our team from the University of Waterloo (myself, Matthew, Alyzeh, Aryaman, Vireshaar and Daniel) were thrilled to have made it to the global finals after winning the Canadian regional competition held in Halifax.
During the regional competition, we had to evaluate real-world startups, conduct due diligence sessions, and prepare a written report outlining our investment recommendations. The top teams from each region of the competition were then invited to compete in the global finals held in a beautiful location in North Carolina. It was exciting to meet other teams from around the world and to learn about the different approaches they took to evaluating startups.
The competition was intense but also friendly. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many bright and motivated individuals. We had the opportunity to listen to pitches from some amazing startup companies, and it was inspiring to see the passion and drive of these founders and to hear about their innovative ideas.
The due diligence sessions were the most challenging part of the competition, but also the most rewarding. We had to conduct in-depth research on the companies we were evaluating, which involved interviewing the founders. This process helped us to gain a deeper understanding of the market opportunity and the potential for growth.
One of the most exciting parts of the competition was the panel partner meetings. We had to present our investment recommendations to a panel of experienced venture capitalists, who provided feedback and asked tough questions. It was nerve-wracking but also a great learning experience, as we had to defend our decisions and be prepared to answer any questions the panelists had.
The individual partner meetings were also incredibly valuable. We had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with venture capitalists who provided personalized feedback and advice on how to improve our analysis and decision-making skills. It was great to get such detailed feedback and to learn from industry experts.
Overall, the Venture Capital Investment Competition was an incredible experience. We learned so much about the venture capital industry, met some incredible people, and had a lot of fun along the way. It was an honour to represent the University of Waterloo, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have participated in such a prestigious competition.
If you are interested in venture capital or entrepreneurship, we highly recommend participating in the VCIC competition. It is a great way to gain real-world experience and to learn from some of the best in the industry.