The Venture
Challenge
What ventures for the ecosystem have you been dreaming about?
You tell us.
We’ve launched a new way to turn an idea into a business—a path that will get you in front of decision makers with a budget, and help you actually build your venture, not just dream about it.
We’re especially looking for high-risk, high-reward opportunities that can serve customers outside OCP.
If your idea for solving one of our key challenges is selected, you will be invited to join the Venture Builder Program, a full-time immersive program that will help you build your startup in a protected environment with access to resources, mentorship, and a proven methodology. You’ll benefit from both the stability of the OCP and UM6P ecosystem as well as the agility of a startup.
Welcome to the Venture Challenge:
The Venture Challenge is your chance to use your entrepreneurial spirit to solve our most pressing challenges. So if you have a venture idea that could be a game changer, this is the place to bring it.
Challenge Themes for October 2025
What solutions do OCP and UM6P need most? The Growth Engine will conduct different Venture Challenges every year, based on the needs of the ecosystem.
We are looking for ideas that leverage the existing infrastructure, resources, and assets of our organizations to create an innovative new business in one of the categories below.
Green Energy Generation and Management
How might we support the production, distribution, and optimization of renewable energy to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels?
Sample areas to solve for include solar and geothermal systems, energy storage and efficiency, data analytics from distributed energy sources, and support integration of renewables (e.g. grid stability).
Theme 1
Mining Exploration & Processing
How might we boost Sustainable Mining by enhancing the assessment, analysis, discovery and processing of mineral resources through advanced techniques and digitization?
Example topics could include bioleaching, AI for mineral discovery and drilling sensor technology.
Theme 2
Water Production
How might we enhance water availability, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts in water sourcing and treatment?
Sample areas could include desalination, atmospheric water generators, and membrane reactions.
Theme 3
The Venture Challenge is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who have a venture idea addressing one of the challenge themes. If you have a bold idea to advance our goals in Green Energy, Mining, or Water Production, we want to hear from you.
All full-time OCP employees are eligible to apply, as well as researchers, faculty members and full-time staff of UM6P.
However, note that winners will be offered a spot in the Venture Builder Program, which is a full-time commitment for a minimum of three months.
Please see the FAQs for other requirements for participating in the Venture Challenge and Venture Builder Program.
Who Should Submit a Venture Proposal?
Timeline for The Venture Challenge
Step 1
Submissions Start
October 6, 2025
October 24, 2025
Submissions Close
Step 2
Week of November 3, 2025
Finalists Notified
Step 3
December 3, 2025
Final Pitch Event
Step 4
Finalists will be selected to attend a final pitch showcase, where you’ll gain exposure to the leadership of both OCP and UM6P, including leaders of the Growth Engine and the Venture Builder Program.
Each finalist team will be paired with a dedicated mentor to refine your venture proposal and prepare you for the presentation. Finalist teams will also be invited to exclusive sessions to learn from experienced founders and their insights and advice, and preview the next steps of the startup journey.
What to expect
The Venture Challenge is open to submissions now.
Do you have what it takes?
Submissions close:
October 24, 2025
About The Venture Challenge
FAQs
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The Venture Challenge is designed to source high-potential venture ideas in domains of exploration deemed strategic by OCP and UM6P. It provides a clear pathway across all organizational functions in the ecosystem for ideas to be evaluated through a consistent set of criteria and surfaced to the key decision makers for venture building. Winning teams will be offered the opportunity to develop their proposal in the Venture Builder program.
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The Venture Challenge seeks “ventureable” business ideas that have a large and growing market globally but might be risky and require further validation. These ideas should be able to serve customers beyond OCP with high ROI potential, and have potential to operate independently from OCP and UM6P.
The idea must fit one of the key themes prioritized for each round of the Challenge
The idea does not need to have existing customers, traction, or development work already completed. We do ask that you have done some research and have developed strong hypotheses that you are looking to test.
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The Venture Challenge is only looking for ideas that pertain to priority Domains that represent leadership’s current desired areas for venture building.
While participants will gain valuable knowledge and insights along the way, the main focus of the Challenge is to identify the best candidates for the Venture Builder program, where participants will develop, test, and grow a scalable business from the ground up.
The Venture Challenge is designed for the boldest ideas and most driven builders: only a small subset of applicants will be selected as finalists and an even smaller subset will proceed to the Venture Builder Program.
Furthermore, the Challenge is currently open to only employees and staff of OCP and UM6P.
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All applications are evaluated on a rolling basis until the submission deadline. A panel will assess the applications based on the criteria outlined on this website. After submission, the evaluation team may request additional clarification or information on your idea or application. You will receive a notification with instructions on responding if this is the case.
The evaluation process will involve multiple stages of review, including assessment from technical experts from the relevant domain.
Following evaluation, up to 8 finalist teams will be selected to pitch their ideas to a group of experienced investors that includes members of the Growth Engine, Venture Builder Program, and other venture building experts. The finalist teams will also be eligible for mentoring and virtual coaching sessions to refine their idea in preparation for the pitch.
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If your team is selected as a winner of the Venture Challenge, you will receive the opportunity to participate full-time in the Venture Builder Program, designed to develop selected founders and their ideas with guidance, resources, and expertise from experienced advisors.
See the Venture Builder page for further detail on how the program works. Winner(s) of this round of the Venture Challenge will start the program in 2026.
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If you are selected as a finalist, your team will have the opportunity to receive mentoring sessions to refine your presentation ahead of the pitch day. This mentoring and coaching will help you further develop your venture idea and refine your pitch. These may be conducted virtually or in-person depending on your mentor assignment.
Finalists may also receive invites to speaker sessions and other optional events on entrepreneurial topics. Specific details and further instructions will be provided if you are selected as a finalist.
About the Program
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Please answer every question to the best of your ability. We understand that ideas will be in various stages of maturity, and the length or completeness of an application does not necessarily indicate quality. However, we expect you to have given some thought to each question.
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Yes, please submit your application and the evaluation committee will determine if it is the right fit for the Venture Builder Program.
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Yes, you may submit multiple entries for consideration. However, only one venture or idea per team can move forward into the Venture Builder Program.
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Yes, you may proceed through the Venture Challenge as a solo founder. However, if your idea is selected to move forward into the Venture Builder Program and additional capabilities are needed, we may help recruit complementary team members, as the minimum number of team members in the program is 2.
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You should expect a response regarding any next steps by November 3, 2025. This may be a request for additional information to evaluate your idea or feedback on the fit of your submission.
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Each application will be evaluated by a committee composed of technical advisors, venture-building experts, and, if relevant, representatives of SBUs. Each application is expected to undergo multiple rounds of review.
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You do not need your manager’s approval to submit an application and participate in activities if you become a Finalist. However, if you are selected into the Venture Builder program to build your idea, you will need your manager’s approval.
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For additional questions, contact us at challenge@growthengine.ventures. We will respond as quickly as possible.