News Celebrating Black in Tech: Insight and Advice from Black Startup Founders Jasmine Shells, MBA ’21, founded her startup in Chicago with the intention of building it in Chicago as well. But when it came time to raise money, the checks were...
Page Where Are They Now? Episode 6 Episode 6: Power2Switch May 20, 2021 As a Black founder, Seyi Fabode, MBA ’10, has experienced the challenge of investors taking him seriously. Fabode, an immigrant from Nigeria, recalls an...
News Blackcurrant: An Online Marketplace for Alternative Fuel A startup in the inaugural cohort of Transform, a data science and AI accelerator, Blackcurrant is looking to accelerate its aggressive growth strategy and capitalize on opportunities for federal funding....
News Innovating Hydrogen Trading: Blackcurrant Counts Another Win as the 2023 George Shultz Innovation Fund Awardee Blackcurrant adds to its accolades as the winner of the spring cycle of the 2023 George Shultz Innovation Fund – a win that follows its New Venture Challenge success and...
News A.M. Money Gets Google Grant and Expands Financial Support Services for Students Daniel Rogers graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with his MBA in 2013. He then worked in the finance and technology sectors. “[I] got to a...
News Celebrating Chicago’s Black Tech Innovators: ‘Leverage the Digital World’ The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in partnership with the Chicago Chapter of the National Black MBA Association recently hosted the virtual panel “Celebrating Chicago’s Black Tech Innovators.” Moderated...
News Small Business Spotlight: Eventnoire Succeeds by Super Serving its Community Jeff Osuji knew his latest business venture had legs during the 2019 Black Alumni Ball in Washington, D.C. His platform, Eventnoire, served as the registration site for this annual event,...
Event Entrepreneur-In-Residence/Investor-In-Residence (EIR/IIR) In-Person Office Hours January 13, 2026 On Tuesday, January 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. our Polsky Center Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and Investors-in-Residence will be available for in-person advising sessions in the Polsky Suite. You can sign up for...
Page Venture Gallery Venture Gallery View startups founded from across the University of Chicago ecosystem in a range of industries. Welcome to the Venture Gallery! The Polsky Center provides “first look” and early...
Page Where Are They Now? Episode 9 Episode 9: Grubhub June 10, 2021 Matt Maloney admits he had a bit of an ego when he entered the New Venture Challenge. He had already launched Grubhub, had a...
Event Entrepreneur-In-Residence/Investor-In-Residence (EIR/IIR) In-Person Office Hours April 9, 2026 On Thursday, April 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., our Polsky Center Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) and Investors-in-Residence (IIR) will be available for in-person advising sessions in the Polsky Suite. You...
News Small Business Spotlight: Larvetta Loftin Built L3 Agency To Deliver Culturally-Aware Content, Showcase Black Female Talent Larvetta Loftin, founder and CEO of full-service influencer marketing and communications firm The L3 Agency, has coined a motto that guides how she approaches her career: “Doing what you love...
