With over $90,000 in non-dilutive funds awarded annually, Darden and UVA’s competitions include concept and traditional business plan competitions, providing MBA students multiple opportunities to pitch their businesses ideas to peers, faculty, alumni, the venture and angel communities.  In addition, Darden sends student teams to compete in national and global competitions.  In 2009, Husk Power Systems, led by Darden graduates Manoj Sinha (MBA ‘09) and Chip Ransler (MBA ‘09), won the Cisco-DFJ Global Business Plan Competition and received a $250,000 investment to help take their company to the next stage.

Concept Competition - $5,000 awarded at each of eight schools across UVA. $3,000 for each first prize winner.
Preliminary event for the UVA Cup. Its primary purpose is to encourage the development of new ventures, either for profit or social benefit, by Darden students.

UVA Cup - $40,000 awarded in total, $20,000 for first prize.
Cross-university competition that will decide the ultimate entrepreneurial concept champion of the year for the entire University of Virginia.

VCIC 
Preliminary event for th annual international Venture Capital Investment Competition organized by UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

B-Plan Competition - $15,500 awarded in total, $10,000 for first prize. 
Encourages the development of new business ventures by members of the Darden and UVA communities including students, faculty and staff.

Strategic Competition Initiative 
Darden will sponsor a limited number of student teams to attend certain strategic competitions in the areas of global leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation, sustainability, ethics, and diversity.