Chicago Booth, the College, and the Polsky Center Team Up to Launch the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor

The new offering expands the Polsky Center’s impact and marks Chicago Booth’s first undergraduate minor offering

The University of Chicago is strengthening its offering in entrepreneurial education with the launch of its Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor, available to undergraduate students beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.

The new minor — developed in partnership between the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Chicago Booth, and the College — represents a step forward in preparing students to think creatively and solve real-world problems no matter the industry or discipline.

This is the first undergraduate minor ever offered by Chicago Booth, and it opens the door for students across disciplines to gain practical, hands-on experience in building ventures and driving innovation.

“The new minor reflects our belief that an entrepreneurial mindset is not just for business students, but for every student who wants to make an impact in the world,” said Samir Mayekar, managing director of the Polsky Center. “By blending rigorous academic training with real-world problem solving, we’re giving undergraduate students all the tools they need to bring their ideas to life.”

Rooted in the University’s liberal arts tradition, led by Booth faculty, and supported by the resources of the Polsky Center, the program offers students the opportunity to explore topics such as business model development, financial strategy, leadership, and customer discovery.

Students will gain experience through coursework and electives, as well as practical learning opportunities through initiatives like the College New Venture Challenge (CNVC), which has a strong record of launching successful undergraduate ventures.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor is designed to be flexible, allowing students to tailor their coursework to their academic interests, including electives that may be petitioned from other departments to align with individual career goals.

For the Polsky Center, the new minor expands its impact across the entire University — not just Chicago Booth. With a long history of supporting undergraduate entrepreneurs through the CNVC, the Polsky Center has seen firsthand the talent and ambition of UChicago College students.

“Over the years, we’ve seen extraordinary undergraduate teams come through CNVC—launching startups that have gone on to raise capital, build products, and drive real-world impact,” said Starr Marcello, deputy dean for MBA and Masters Programs at Chicago Booth School of Business and professor of the CNVC. “The new minor allows us to build on that foundation and give more students across the University a chance to explore entrepreneurship in a structured, hands-on way.”

Click here for more information about the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor.