Applications for the first round of the George Washington University’s 2026 New Venture Competition (NVC), a nationally recognized, three-round, business model competition are open through Feb. 1.
New to this year’s competition is the Food Innovation Track–thanks to an exciting new partnership between the GW Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE) and the Global Food Institute at GW (GFI). This new track supports ventures that seek to transform how food or beverages are cultivated, processed, produced, stored, distributed, consumed or upcycled/disposed. It welcomes mission-driven solutions that improve food security, nutritional quality, food safety, sustainability and/or affordable healthy food access through innovative products, services, technologies or business models. The new Food Innovation Track also marks the first time that regional and international universities will be invited to participate in NVC.
“The Global Food Institute is committed to providing students—our next generation of food leaders—a first-class education and experience,” said Carbonell Family Executive Director of the Global Food Institute Stacy Dean. “That includes real opportunities to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship can help ensure everyone has access to healthy, affordable food. The NVC Food Innovation track is an exceptional chance for students to bring bold ideas for a better food future to life.”