Chicago Booth Students
The Polsky Center offers a range of programs and events to support students interested in entrepreneurship, private equity (PE), venture capital (VC), entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), small business consulting, and technology commercialization.
Find a mentor
Book one-on-one meetings with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs and investors.
Form a team
Connect with other students who are building startups across campus.
Build your startup
Access programming and funding to launch and grow your startup.
Featured Programs
Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge
The Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge is recognized as one of the top-ranked accelerator programs in the nation. Through the NVC, the Polsky Center has graduated more than 600+ startup companies and created thousands of jobs for the economy.
Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Program
The Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) program comprises a suite of programs and resources designed to provide graduating students and alumni with access to the education, capital, mentorship, and resources necessary to acquire and grow small businesses.
Svider Private Equity Program
The Svider Private Equity Program harnesses the expertise and resources of the Polsky Center to create innovative experiential programs, a deep network, and an internationally recognized brand in private equity.
Rattan L. Khosa Student Entrepreneurs Program
The Rattan L. Khosa Student Entrepreneurs Program spans multiple initiatives, including fellowships and internships, as well as SeedCon, Chicago Booth’s flagship entrepreneurship and venture capital conference.
Internships, fellowships, and consulting opportunities
PE / VC / ETA
Merrick M. Elfman and Therese L. Wareham PE/VC Lab →
Gain hands-on investing experience through internships, coursework, and mentorship with leading PE and VC firms.
Innovation Fund Associates Program →
Perform diligence on emerging technologies and gain hands-on experience evaluating startup opportunities.
Access mentorship, educational programming, and hands-on experiences as you prepare for a career in entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Entrepreneurship and small business
Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3) →
Receive funding and venture support to help continue building your startup after graduation.
Entrepreneurial Internship Program →
Work directly with startups through paid summer internships as a full-time, first-year Chicago Booth student or a continuing second-year student.
Polsky Center Small Business Growth Program →
Help small businesses address key challenges and determine new strategies for growth.
The Essentials
Entrepreneurship Essentials (E2)
The Polsky Center’s Entrepreneurship Essentials (E2) is a workshop series designed to help entrepreneurs receive targeted support in a specific area of their business. Taught by subject-matter experts, the E2 workshops cover everything from marketing strategy to sales, competitive analysis, and more.
Investing Essentials
The Investing Essentials workshop series is led by our investors-in-residence, Chris McGowan, Dipa Mehta, MBA ’12, Duane Jackson, and Tim Kelly, MBA ’00, and is designed for students interested in learning about and pursuing careers in the private equity and venture capital space. Learn how to build strong investment theses, prepare for PE and VC interviews, navigate the industry, and much more.
Upcoming Events for Booth Students
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UChicago Tech Ventures Demo Day
The UChicago Tech Ventures Demo Day, hosted by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is a signature…
The Chicago Booth Curriculum
The entrepreneurship curriculum at Booth dates back to 1998. Today, the University offers a range of entrepreneurship courses that pair the fundamentals of finance, economics, and strategy with innovative, hands-on learning.
Canfield Private Equity Fellowship
The Canfield Private Equity Fellowship was established in 1998 by Phil Canfield, MBA ’96, to support incoming students pursuing careers in private equity. This fellowship is awarded to students with prior experience in investment banking or private equity. The fellowship includes a financial award and the opportunity to meet Phil Canfield.
Selection based on information provided in application to Chicago Booth.
Herman Family Fellowship
The Herman Family Fellowship was established in 1995 by Karen and Michael Herman, MBA ’64, to provide incoming students with an opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial interests. In addition to joining the fellows group, this fellowship provides an opportunity to participate in annual reunions hosted by the Herman family and the Polsky Center.
Selection based on information provided in application to Chicago Booth.
Hyde Park Angels Venture Capital Award
This graduating Full-Time, Evening, or Weekend MBA Program student will be selected based on demonstrated leadership and interest in VC through the courses he or she has taken and his or her participation in VC programming. This may include participation in the VCIC competition; participation in VC internships, potentially through the Elfman Wareham Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab; volunteerism with VC conferences and events; and leadership in the student Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital student group. The student must also have met a minimum 3.5 GPA taken in the entrepreneurship sequence.
Madison Dearborn Partners Private Equity Award
The Madison Dearborn Partners Private Equity Award is a monetary award granted to a graduating student who has demonstrated leadership and interest in private equity through the courses he or she has taken and his or her participation in private equity programming. Recipients are chosen through a nomination process by entrepreneurship faculty and staff.
Moulder Student Entrepreneur Award
The Moulder Student Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Lonnie Moulder, MBA ’97, provides a monetary award to a graduating student who has launched or significantly grown a new venture while at Chicago Booth and benefited from Polsky Center programs and the entrepreneurship curriculum to advance the venture. Recipients are chosen through a nomination process by entrepreneurship faculty and staff.
Rattan L. Khosa, ’79, “Against All Odds” Student Entrepreneurship Award
This award is open to any Full-Time, Evening, or Weekend MBA Program student who has overcome significant obstacles and demonstrated a spirit of entrepreneurship to launch or significantly grow a new venture. This student will have benefited greatly from Polsky Center programs and the entrepreneurship curriculum to advance the venture. The venture should have an established revenue stream and sustainable business model and be poised for growth post-graduation. While there is no minimum GPA required, the student must have achieved the entrepreneurship concentration and shown leadership at Booth and in the greater business community. Recipients are chosen through a review process by entrepreneurship faculty and staff in the Spring Quarter.
Vijay and Sita Vashee Promising Entrepreneur Award
The Vashee Promising Entrepreneur Award, generated from the Sita and Vijay Vashee, ’77, and Promising Entrepreneur Endowment Fund, provides a monetary award to a graduating student who has demonstrated leadership in entrepreneurship. Recipients are chosen through a nomination process by entrepreneurship faculty and staff.