Postdoc Venture Creation Challenge

A competition designed for University of Cambridge postdocs interested in taking their first steps into entrepreneurship.
Deadline for applications is 6 July, 2025

A challenge that supports you at every step

The PVCC is a 7-month programme designed to support University of Cambridge postdocs who are interested in taking their first steps into creating a venture from their research.

The challenge welcomes innovative ideas across deep tech, life sciences, AI, software, and social impact, with two tracks to support different types of ventures.

There is a series of online workshops to help all applicants shape and develop their ideas, running throughout May and June. Semi-finalists will be invited to take part in a bootcamp over the summer and finalists will pitch at the Grand Finale in November – with three prize categories in each track including an incredible £20k of funding + £30K of business support.
Application process

TRACK 1 business application:
Must contain information about the market, the competitors and competitive position of the business, the business’s product or service, the business/revenue model and the team.

TRACK 2 social venture application:
Needs to provide the same information as above, but to also include how societal benefit sits at the heart of the venture.

The application form, slide deck template and business model canvas required to apply can be found by clicking the button below. Also included is a handbook that provides you with all the criteria and key dates you need to know. This completed information should then be submitted to [email protected], specifying in the subject which track you are applying for.

Deadline for applications is 6 July, 2025.

Download the application form, template deck, business model canvas and handbook here
Workshops available to all
The following workshops will help you improve and finesse your business idea – they will be held online and are open to all postdocs, not just applicants.

They will each run from 0930-1100am. Please state in your email which workshops you would like an invite for – feel free to come to them all!

Workshop 1: Value Proposition – 29.5.25

Workshop 2: Product/Market Fit – 5.6.25

Workshop 3: Business Model Canvas – 12.6.25

Workshop 4: What is a Business Plan? – 19.6.25
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name Workshops Online

Name

First

Last

Department

Email

Online Workshops

Value Proposition – 9:30am-11:00am on 29/5/25

Product/ Market Fit – 9:30am-11:00am on 5/6/25

Business Model Canvas – 9:30am-11:00am on 12/6/25

What is a Business Plan – 9:30am-11:00am on 19/6/25

Please tick which workshops you would like to sign up for and we will email you a Teams invite