New Venture Challenge
Launched in 1996, the New Venture Challenge program is recognized as one of the top-ranked accelerator programs in the nation.
Today, the program includes four tracks tailored to different students: the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) for Chicago Booth students, the College New Venture Challenge (CNVC) for undergraduate students, the Global New Venture Challenge (GNVC) for Executive MBA students, and the Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) for students developing ventures with a social impact focus.
Through the NVC programs, the Polsky Center has graduated more than 600 startups and created thousands of jobs for the economy. NVC alumni include household names such as Grubhub, Braintree/Venmo, and Simple Mills, as well as more than 200 companies that remain in business today.
200+
Companies
launched still in business
$2+
Billion
funding raised
$11+
Billion
in mergers and exits
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NVC@30
The NVC@30 initiative celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC), one of the nation’s leading accelerator programs. As part of the yearlong celebration, the Polsky Center hosted a series of fireside chats featuring NVC winners and entrepreneurial leaders who share lessons learned from building successful companies. The series highlights the lasting impact of the NVC and its role in supporting founders who continue to drive innovation and create meaningful economic impact.