Established at Chicago Booth
Originally established at Chicago Booth in 1998, the Polsky Center has provided over two decades of venture support for students interested in entrepreneurship and robust training for students interested in pursuing a career in venture capital and private equity.
In 2016, with a generous gift from University trustee and Chicago Booth alum Michael Polsky, MBA ’87, the Polsky Center’s mission expanded to include an additional focus on supporting all University of Chicago faculty inventors in commercializing their discoveries. This effort was further accelerated in 2022 with the launch of Deep Tech Ventures, a new initiative offering a suite of sector-specific accelerators and investment opportunities dedicated to translating deep tech innovations into startups that bring lifesaving, world-changing science and technology to market. The Polsky Center also supports local South and West Side community entrepreneurs and small business owners as well as University of Chicago alumni around the globe.
Today, the Polsky Center is a 60-person professional staff responsible for advancing all University of Chicago entrepreneurship and research commercialization innovation activities through the creation of new ventures and partnerships. By igniting a spirit of innovation and fostering connections that extend across the University, city, region and world, the Polsky Center enables more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society.
Expansion Over the Years
Michael Polsky, MBA ’87
Michael Polsky, MBA ’87, is the founder, president, and CEO of Invenergy, which specializes in developing and owning various power generation reserves with an emphasis on renewable resources. With nearly 30 years of experience in the energy industry, he is widely recognized as a pioneer and an industry leader in the power industry.
In 2002, Polsky endowed the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which is named after him. After an additional $35M gift in 2016, Michael Polsky expanded the Polsky Center’s mission across campus and around the world.