Name: 5th Annual Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge
Start: 2027-04-30
End: 2027-04-30
Location: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

ECVC | Entrepreneurs Club Venture ChallengeRound-by-round guide to the Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge (ECVC). 4 rounds from online application to live pitch in Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on Mar. 19, 2027. Over $10,000 in cash awards.Entrepreneurs Club (EC) is a technology entrepreneurship program for high school students, founded in 2014 and based in the Sacramento region of California. Students build real businesses rather than simulations, working through 8 training modules over 10 weeks and competing in the Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge (ECVC).The 5th Annual Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge takes place Mar. 19, 2027 in Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, with $10,000 in cash awards. Teams of 2-4 high school students apply online by Jan. 29, 2027. Since 2014, EC has reached 500+ students across 30+ high schools, with 75+ teams having competed. In 2026, 39 teams from 20 schools competed in front of 462 attendees.Competition roundsRound 1: Application (Online)Submit a short online application describing your idea.Deadline: Jan. 29, 2027 at 11:59 PMTeams notified: Feb. 5, 2027

150 teams apply

100 teams advance to Round 2

The application asks for

Team member names (2-4 students)

Personal email of each student team member

Teacher, parent or mentor advisor name + email

Industry Sector (Tech-focused, choose from dropdown)

Short description of your business idea

Round 2: Deck Submission (Online)Create a 10-slide pitch deck explaining your business idea. To see an example, make an account in the portal.Deadline: Feb. 19, 2027 at 11:59 PMTeams notified: Mar. 5, 2027

100 teams submit decks

75 teams advance to compete in person

Round 3: Trade Show (In Person – Mar. 19, 2027)75 teams compete at the live event.

Sets up a 2' by 3' poster display (easels provided, NO tables)

Explains their idea to judges and attendees

Answers questions

Convinces as many judges and attendees as possible to invest/vote for them

Round 4: Pitch Presentation (In Person - Mar. 19, 2027)The top 10 teams present on stage (5 minutes, hard stop).

Present on stage

Pitch in front of judges

Present in front of a live audience of 462 attendees

Judges evaluate

Clarity of idea

Problem being solved

Business potential

Team understanding

Judges select the Top 5 Teams.

Those 5 teams return on stage for final rankings, award announcements, and distribution of cash awards.

Prize: Over $10,000 in cash awards distributedJudging criteria

Business Viability (25%): Is this a real business that could work in the real world?

Market Understanding (25%): Does the team understand their market, customers, and competition?

Pitch Quality (25%): Is the presentation clear, compelling, and professionally delivered?

Team & Execution (25%): Can this team actually build and run this business?

Eligibility

Must be enrolled as a high school student (grades 9-12)

Teams of 2-4 students

Cross-school teams are permitted

Must have a teacher, parent or mentor as an advisor

All team members must be present at the live event

Business concepts must be original student work

Event day schedule

3:30 PM: Check-in & Registration

4:00 PM: Pre-event Participant Meeting

5:00 PM: Trade Show Begins

6:30 PM: Trade Show Ends

6:45 PM: Pitch Presenters Announced & Presentations Begin

7:45 PM: Pitch Presentations End

8:00 PM: Awards Ceremony

Prizes$10,000 in total cash awards. 1st $5,000 / 2nd $2,000 / 3rd $1,500 / 4th $1,000 / 5th $500.