Launch a Startup

The Texas Venture Labs Investment Competition (TVLIC) mimics the real-world process of raising venture capital. Graduate students from the University of Texas System present their ideas for new businesses and receive invaluable feedback from entrepreneurs and investors. Many TVLIC competitors go on to launch their businesses and countless others leverage the experience in their careers as leaders in their fields.

The Spring 2021 TVLIC included 15 of the top graduate student startup companies competing in three divisions. After narrowing the field to three division winners, the finals kicked off with some fantastic pitches. The winning team was NiSOC, which is developing a less expensive and more reliable solution to current radiation detection capabilities at US ports of entry. NiSOC also received the James D. Pippin Veteran Award given to the most promising startup in TVLIC with one or more veteran co-founders. Congrats to this team for taking home this exceptional award along with the Texas Champion grand prize! 

The Texas Superstar Award went to Bold Move Beverages in second place and the third place Texas Rising Star Award went to Root Medical Translation, who also won the ScaleHealth Innovation Award. The E. Craig Nemec Elevator Challenge Award is given to the best elevator pitches delivered by TVLIC competitors. The three winners of the quick-pitch component were NiSOC, Root Medical Translation and GRIT Chew.

The Fall 2021 TVLIC will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021. Apply now!

Join a Startup

Gain real-world experience and course credit working for startups in the TVL Practicum class. All majors are welcome with a good many from the MBA, law, engineering, pharmacy, and natural sciences programs.

Graduate students enroll in the TVL Practicum to experience the startup reality. They solve meaningful cross-disciplinary problems and learn to apply academic principles in the real world. They build valuable job skills and strengthen their resumes with proven experience. Not to mention the ability to network with top-tier startups, founders and investors and possibly find a job, raise funding or identify team members.

The TVL Practicum offers students the chance to participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders. If admitted to the program, students will work closely with two startup companies on: market validation, competitive analysis, financial analysis, and business model assessment. Practicum students also receive extensive funding guidance from professors and entrepreneurs.

Applications for the Texas Venture Labs Practicum Spring 2022 are open.  UT Austin graduate students with a taste for entrepreneurship should apply.  

Questions?  Contact us at infoTVL@mccombs.utexas.edu.

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TVL Startup Fellows

TVL Startup Fellows is a none month engagement that provides an opportunity for UT-Austin graduate students and alumni to gain valuable experience while working with the most exciting startups in Texas. 

TVL Startup Fellows gain experience in a variety of industries and functions while building their expertise and networks in their target careers. They get first-hand experience leading projects and solving problems while reinforcing classroom learning. Fellows can bridge the gap between their career aspirations and current skill set.

TVL Startup Fellows can choose between three distinct tracks based on their interests and the types of companies with which they want to work. The Commercialization track focuses on translational research, new technologies and company launch while the Growth & Scale track focuses on established products and company expansion. The Venture track is focused on startup investment and fundraising activities within firms. 

JBTVL serves as a gateway for graduate students and graduate student alumni to connect with the Texas startup ecosystem. In addition to their project work, Startup Fellows enjoy access to a range of programming. This includes guest speakers, networking opportunities and mentoring from members of the JBTVL Advisory Board which represents many early-stage investors and accelerator programs across Texas.

Interested UT-Austin graduate students and graduate student alumni can apply here.

TVL Practicum Course

We leverage the Austin ecosystem with unique, hands-on programs that extend across graduate programs on campus and the greater Austin startup community. Since 2010, 816 Master’s and PhD students have gone through the TVL Practicum.

TVL Practicum students work with a wide range of startups both pre revenue and post revenue.  Since 2010, 816 students have worked with more than 270 startups.  Check out the list of this semester's cohort of companies. 

Applications for the Texas Venture Labs Practicum Spring 2022 are open.  UT Austin graduate students with a taste for entrepreneurship should apply.  Questions?  Contact us at infoTVL@mccombs.utexas.edu.