Polsky Founders Circles
The Polsky Center and the Harry L. Davis Center for Leadership at the University of Chicago present the Polsky Founders Circles, a virtual place where early-stage and growth-stage company founders can connect with fellow founders to take stock of their company’s current challenges and opportunities, receive coaching from an expert, and also learn from their fellow founders.
There are two circles: one for early-stage company founders and one for growth-stage company founders.
The circles meet once a month from October through March. Interested applicants must commit to attending all six meetings. During these monthly meetings, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Connect with a group of fellow founders to share experiences and learnings
- Share your current opportunities and challenges, and receive support from your peers and coaching from a Chicago Booth Alumni coach
- Identify a key action or two that you can commit to that will make a difference for you or your company during this 6-month period
- Create ways to support each other and be supported through collaborative learning and shared experiences
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
No events currently available. Browse our events calendar.
Program Timeline
There will be three total circles: one for growth-stage founders and two for early-stage founders. You can find their respective meeting dates below. All meetings are held virtually from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Central Time.
- Early Stage Group 1: October 14, November 11, December 9, January 13, February 10, and March 10
- Early Stage Group 2: October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, and March 3
- Growth Stage: October 14, November 11, December 9, January 13, February 3, and March 10
Application and Eligibility
- Founders must be UChicago alumni
- Companies must be in operation for at least one year
- The early-stage ventures circle is for pre-revenue companies
- The growth-stage ventures circle requires approximately $1 million in revenue and at least 15 employees