Six Elon students once again demonstrated their venture capital savvy, securing a second-place finish in the 2025 Undergraduate East Regional Finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition.
Elon University’s team once again clinched a second-place finish at the 2025 Undergraduate East Regional Finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition or VCIC at the University of Florida.
Six students at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business faced off with students from Miami University, Georgia Tech, Indiana University, University of Pittsburgh and American University.
This year marks the second consecutive year that the Love School of Business team placed second, previously the team placed fifth in 2022 and third in 2023.
Much like professional investors, VCIC participants conduct due diligence on real startups, assess business models, and craft investment proposals to present to experienced judges active in the venture capital industry. The Elon team engaged in multiple rounds of pitching and Q&A under the guidance of Alyssa Martina, assistant professor of management, and Drew Peabody, assistant professor of finance.
“VCIC provides a rigorous, real-world platform for students to integrate finance, strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing, negotiation, and legal complexities including drafting term sheets,” said Martina. “Each year, our participants leave with invaluable, hands-on experience that truly bridges theory and practice.”
This year’s team included:
- Sam Abner ‘26, a finance major from Westchester, New York
- Justin Betts ’26, 3+1 business analytics major from Baltimore, Maryland
- Henry Chen ’26, 3+1 business analytics major from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Andrew Glas ’26, a finance major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Sam Khavinson ’26, a finance major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sarah Magnus ’26, an entrepreneurship major from Monson, Massachusetts
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see a completely new team replicate last year’s success,” said Peabody. “That continuity really underscores the effectiveness of FIN 4790, an elective course Professor Martina and I created in 2023, to prepare students for the real demands of venture capital. Even with a different roster, we’ve maintained strong results at VCIC.”
Most of the students have completed FIN4790 – Venture Capital Financing, a course taught by Peabody and Martina. The course offers an in-depth look at valuation models, deal structuring, and the overall landscape of venture capital.
“The preparation for VCIC was intensive, but it was also incredibly rewarding,” said Khavison. “The competition itself brought the venture finance concepts we learned in class into a real-world context, which made the experience all the more enriching.”
Leading up to the competition, the Elon team spent countless hours participating in pitch sessions with entrepreneurs, valuation exercises, and due diligence drills with faculty, VCs, and alumni who had previously participated in the competition.
“Participating in the VCIC has been one of my most rewarding experiences at Elon,” said Henry Chen. “We addressed every detail—conducting extensive due diligence, fixing weaknesses, and sometimes pulling all-nighters—and our camaraderie was what truly held it all together. The lessons I gained from our venture finance coursework, especially around valuations and legal nuances, were essential to our team’s success.”
While the primary goal was to perform well at VCIC, the event also offered networking opportunities.
“Stepping into the role of a venture capital firm for a few days was eye-opening,” said Justin Betts. “The venture finance course acted as a major catalyst, equipping us with the insights and confidence to navigate everything from pitch sessions to negotiating term sheets, and it helped us forge valuable connections along the way.”