TVL Investment Competition

2026-12-11 · 09:00:00 · Austin

Robert B. Rowling Hall, UT Austin campus

2110 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712

University of Texas graduate founders compete for cash prizes, legal services, and incubator access at Robert B. Rowling Hall on December 11, 2026.

The Texas Venture Labs Investment Competition (TVLIC) is a prominent pitch competition where graduate students from the University of Texas System pitch their startups to local investors and judges. Participants compete for over $15,000 in cash prizes, incubator memberships, and mentoring. The public is invited to attend the Finals and Awards Ceremony.

Founder brief

Who should attend

Graduate students across the UT System leading independent early-stage startups can apply to pitch. Community founders and local tech professionals can attend the public afternoon finals to scout emerging university-born ventures.

What happens

Semifinals take place from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Finalists then move to Crum Auditorium from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, delivering both a 20-minute pitch and a 2-minute elevator pitch before the awards ceremony concludes the day.

Who's in the room

Local investors, judges, and speakers such as Iman Salafian of Imagine Devices and James Clarke of Longhorn Life Sciences will gather alongside teams supported by sponsors like Capital Factory, LeanStack, Austin Technology Incubator, and Kastner Gravelle.

How to prepare

Compromise neither depth nor brevity in your rehearsals, as you must deliver a comprehensive 20-minute presentation alongside a punchy 2-minute elevator pitch. Arrive ready to field rigorous questions about early traction, unit economics, and growth strategy.

Organizer: Texas Venture Labs

Register

At a glance

Tickets
Free
Format
Teams give a 20-minute pitch and a 2-minute elevator pitch. Semifinals run 9 AM–12:30 PM, Finals 2–5 PM, followed by an awards ceremony.
Theme
Unleash the Power of Innovation
Who can apply
Open to current degree-seeking graduate students from any University of Texas System program; excludes certificate programs and postdoctoral fellows. Ventures must be independent operating companies in seed, startup, or early growth stages.
Prizes
Grand prize: $15,000, 3-month Capital Factory membership, LeanStack access, up to $2,500 in legal services from Kastner Gravelle. First runner-up: $5,000; second runner-up: $2,500. One finalist receives six months mentoring through Austin Technology Incub
Attendance
The public is invited to attend.
Sectors
Agnostic

Agenda

  1. 09:00 - 12:30 · Semifinals
  2. 14:00 - 17:00 · Finals — Crum Auditorium
  3. Awards Ceremony — Immediately after the Finals

Speakers, judges and hosts

  • Iman Salafian — PhD Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, Imagine Devices (Speaker)
  • James Clarke — Ph.D. in Physics, College of Natural Sciences, Longhorn Life Sciences (Speaker)

Sponsors and partners

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