THE CLIMB | Jake Jabs Business Plan Competition
SPRING 2025
Have a brilliant business idea but aren't sure where to begin? THE CLIMB may be your next step toward entrepreneurial success—and a chance to win cash for your venture!
Since 2001, THE CLIMB | Jake Jabs Business Plan Competition has supported the growth of collegiate startups and the entrepreneurial community across the Front Range.
Backed by the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship at CU Denver and renowned entrepreneur, Jake Jabs, THE CLIMB is an annual event series and business plan competition that helps students and future business owners transform concepts into viable companies through mentorship, education, financial support, and real-world industry exchanges. With more than 600 mentor hours shared and $1.2 million awarded to date, the competition continues to grow and shape student experiences, local businesses, and the Colorado entrepreneurial community.
How It Works
Spring 2025 Cash Awards:
STUDENT TRACK
First Place – $10,000
Second Place – $5,000
Mission-Driven Award – $2,500
TECHUP TRACK
First Place – $8,000
Second Place – $4,000
Team Eligibility Requirements:
If you are a participant of the TechUp Seminar Series and/or Access Mode, please start an application and select the “TechUp” track on the first question of the application. For all other applicants, please apply under the “Student” track and adhere to the following:
- At least one member of the team has to be a student (currently enrolled) at a college or university within the state of Colorado.
- Total sales and revenues must be under $75,000. (An official company tax ID number is required to receive award money.) Please note that we cannot invest in ideas using cannabis or any other goods, services, or industries incompatible with the mission of CU Denver.
- The concept being submitted cannot have received any seed/angel/venture capital (VC) funding before the application deadline.
- Teams selected as finalists are REQUIRED to have at least one team member present at THE CLIMB | Pitch Night on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
- Teams selected as finalists are REQUIRED to submit a full business plan (download template below).
- Winners must form an appropriate business entity if they have not done so previously. Proof of business entity must be shown to the Jake Jabs Center team in order to receive prize money.
- If you/your team applied for THE CLIMB in a previous year, you/your team can compete under the same concept/business as long as you did not make the top finalists pitch round (and meet the above qualifications). Teams that did apply and were chosen as a finalist can compete again BUT must submit a new concept/business (and meet the above qualifications).
Application Requirements:
- A complete online application submitted through Startup Space.
- A pitch video (max 90 seconds) of your business idea or existing startup.
- A full business plan, including a partner agreement and financial ask.
- Applications are due on Friday, March 21, 2025 at midnight. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Please email our team at [email protected] if you encounter any issues on the platform.
- There is NO application fee!
Why Should I Enter?
THE CLIMB gives aspiring student entrepreneurs (and now through TechUp, Denver community members!) the opportunity to connect with and pitch to some of the most successful entrepreneurs and VCs in the Rocky Mountain West. For those willing to make THE CLIMB, the benefits of participating include:
Scheduled Events
THE CLIMB | Spring 2025
Kickoff Info Session (ONLINE) | Thursday, January 30 @ 5:30 p.m. | Register
New to THE CLIMB? Join this online event for a quick overview of the competition, its requirements, the application process, upcoming workshops, and more to help you prepare. This is the time to ask questions and form a group with students from other CU Denver schools and colleges! Even if you cannot attend live, register via this RSVP form to receive the session recording via email.
Idea Generator | Thursday, February 13 @ 5:30 p.m.
Check out this workshop to learn how to come up with an innovative business idea. We’ll go through thought-provoking questions and brainstorming methods that can help you identify unmet needs, market gaps, and potential business ventures.
Pitch Market | Thursday, February 27 @ 5:30 p.m.
Bring your best elevator pitch to wow mock investors at this “speed dating”-style pitch event! Competitors and non-competitors alike can practice sharing their business idea to a variety of audiences throughout the room. See who can earn the most “investments” by the end of the night for the chance to win fun prizes.
Startup Consulting | Thursday, March 6 @ 5:30 p.m.
Now that you have a business idea, here’s your chance to get expert feedback and guidance on how to move forward. Ask your most pressing questions to a group of entrepreneurial experts in their respective fields, including marketing, branding, law, R&D, management, finance, and more.
APPS DUE | Friday, March 21 @ MIDNIGHT
Practice Pitches (INVITE ONLY)
Finalists will get to practice and refine their pitch presentations in front of a group of mentors to obtain feedback before Pitch Night. Final slides will be due to the Jake Jabs Center team shortly after.
Pitch Night | Thursday, April 24 @ 5:00 p.m.
It all comes down to this! Attend this evening event to see finalists and teams from across Colorado pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Vote for your favorite and see who wins THE CLIMB!
Our startup pitch competition and event series exists due to the amazing support (via both monetary and in-kind contributions) we’ve received from our sponsors.
By sponsoring THE CLIMB, you can help students and aspiring entrepreneurs contribute to our growing startup and business community. Every semester, the Jake Jabs Center is able to provide students with exclusive scholarships for entrepreneurship courses as a result of fundraising events such as this. Help us support these hardworking individuals and be a part of this prestigious competition. With cash and in-kind prizes, we want to give competitors the financial and professional support they need to jumpstart their business ideas.
If you or your company is interested in sponsoring THE CLIMB, please contact us at [email protected].
Sponsorship Levels:
- Presenting Sponsor: $25,00
- Platinum Sponsor: $15,000
- Gold Sponsor: $10,000
- Silver Sponsor: $7,500
- In-Kind Donations
THE CLIMB Sponsors:
