Track Requirements

Customer Discovery Challenge Requirements

Want a chance to win up to $1,500 for your venture?

Take on the Customer Discovery Challenge to strengthen your venture, work with a mentor, and compete for additional prize money. Compete against a smaller pool of teams and advance your venture for future rounds by working with a mentor early. This challenge also serves as preparation for Pitch George, another way to win extra prize money!

Competition Dates & Deadlines:

• Application submission deadline: October 30th, 11:59 P.M.
• Customer Discovery Period: From date of acceptance - November 30th, 5:00 P.M.
• Assignment submission deadline: November 30th, 5:00 P.M.

Why participate:

• Compete for up to $1,500 in additional prize money.
• Receive feedback and guidance from an experienced mentor.
• Prepare for Pitch George, another opportunity to compete for prize money.
• Strengthen your venture before the New Venture Competition.

Who can participate:

To be eligible, you must be:

• A current GW student (undergraduate or graduate, part-time or full-time, domestic or international), or
• A GW-affiliated team member, which includes:
  • Current GW faculty or staff
  • GW alumni who graduated no earlier than Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
• Your team must be at least 50% GW-affiliated (see definition above).
• Your team leader must be a current GW student.
• Maximum team size is 5.
  • Teams of 2: Must include at least 1 GW-affiliated member
  • Teams of 5: Must include at least 3 GW-affiliated members

Note: Alumni, faculty, staff, and non-GW individuals may only participate as part of a team that includes a current GW student.

How to participate:

• Register your team for the challenge
• Complete 10 customer discovery interviews
• Complete the Innovator’s Academy worksheets
• Have your interviews and worksheets reviewed by our Mentor-in-Residence (MIR)
• Prepare a “Customer Discovery Insights Report” presentation.

This challenge is optional and will take place this fall, before New Venture Competition Round 1 applications open. To learn more of what to expect and general submission guidelines click here.