Venture Challenge
Nov. 14, 2025
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
About Xscent
The Xscent Venture Challenge, launching in 2025 at Duke University, aims to ignite innovation across the East Coast and beyond.
Focusing on frontier fields such as AI, fintech, biotech, robotics, and gaming, etc., Xscent empowers breakthrough ventures with transformative potential.
Hosted by DukeCEO in collaboration with Silicon Valley’s leading ecosystems, it aspires to bridge talent, capital, and the future.
-
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Nov 14th, 2025
-
Geneen Auditorium, Fuqua Keller Center, Durham, NC 27708
-
Founders: Nov 1st, 2025
Investors & Sponsors: Nov 13th, 2025
Attendees: Nov 13th, 2025
Today’s Agenda
1:30 PM Attendee check-in and registration
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Networking
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM Pitch Competition (Session I)
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM Break
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM Pitch Competition (Session II)
4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Break
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM Awards Ceremony
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM Closing Remarks
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Reception
Winners’ Prices
First Place: $25,000 AWS Cloud Credits + 1st Place Trophy
Second Place: $4,500 AWS Cloud Credits + 2nd Place Trophy
Third Place: $4,000 AWS Cloud Credits + 3rd Place Trophy
All Participants: Eligible to apply for $500 AWS Cloud Credits
* All prizes are subject to eligibility under the AWS Activate Program.
Judges
-
![]()
Anita Ali
SVP, Enterprise Observability and AI Solutions, Wells Fargo
-
![]()
Maggie Ma
Global Account CFO, Lenovo
-
![]()
Yiran Chen
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University
-
![]()
Patrick Musau
Senior Software Engineer, Google
-
![]()
Miao Hong
Director, Strategic Business Transformation, Lenovo
-
![]()
Brandon Gregor
Executive Director, Investment Banking Power, Utilities & Renewables, Wells Fargo
-
![]()
Jennifer Feng
Core Judge for Microsoft and Tencent Accelerator and Global DCD Dynamic
-
![]()
Nagsen Meshram
Director of Software Development, SAS
-
![]()
Sisy Zhou
HR Director, Lenovo
-
![]()
Patrick S. Repko
Vice President of Business Development, TrueBridge Capital Partners
-
![]()
Amanda Stockwell
Adjunct Associate Professor, Duke University
