Find workshops, info sessions, conferences, and key application dates all in one place.
Chicago Booth Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Faculty Advisor to the Svider Private Equity Program, Chris McGowan, will present on and discuss the changing PE landscape and the necessary skills for career changers focused on a transition into PE. Chris McGowan is the general partner of CJM Ventures (CJMV), a Chicago growth equity and private...
Small Business Financial Fundamentals begins with a 10-week intensive program occurring between January and March 2027 for South or West Side businesses to receive tailored technical assistance and consultation related to financial capital pathways and preparedness, business finance education, and coaching. South and West Side business owners with annual revenues approximately between $250,000 and $500,000...
The energy transition is one of the largest capital reallocations in modern history — and it needs people. Founders to build the companies, investors to fund them, and operators to scale what works. The question is where the real openings are right now. Join us for a conversation with three leaders working on the transition...
Join the Polsky Center and Melissa Byrn, Assistant Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, for an informative workshop on early stage customer discovery for startups. Understanding your future customers’ values, pain points, and current solution(s) is critical to ensuring that your product or service will be adopted by your...
Join us for an engaging session in the “Driving Growth” series, focusing on strategies for operating and scaling businesses within the private equity (PE) and entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) landscape. Our featured speaker for the session is Rachel Green, CEO of TEAM Services Group. Green will share her road to becoming a CEO in healthcare...
Entrepreneurs who have been operating their businesses, as well as those with brand-new ideas and ventures, are welcome to work with licensed attorneys to establish their legal entities. Attorneys will advise on entity choice and help founders prepare organization or incorporation filings in Illinois or Delaware. The Polsky Exchange is hosting this event for attorneys...
Join Polsky Center Entrepreneur-in-Residence Doug Monieson, MBA '89, and Isha Mehrotra in a fireside chat about being a first-year venture capitalist. Mehrotra is drawn to deeply technical early-stage software and AI teams that are building at the frontier, backing founders who turn cutting-edge technology into durable products. Her experiences as an engineer and entrepreneur define...
Join us at our monthly meetup for College founders and the founder-curious. This is a recurring space to meet other student builders, learn about entrepreneurship, and share what you’re working on.
Have questions about AI and how it could work for your business? Bring them to this session built around you. This is not your typical workshop. While we’ll kick things off with a 30-minute presentation on how small business owners are using AI to streamline operations, save time, and work smarter, the real value is...
Apply now for the Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit pitch competition! Duality is calling all early-stage quantum startups: We invite you to apply for the Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit Pitch Competition, an exclusive opportunity to showcase your startup on a global stage on December 8th at the Chicago Marriott Marquis. Apply now to fast-track...
The South Side Business Development Internship provides an opportunity for local businesses to work with University of Chicago College students. The program pairs Polsky Exchange member businesses with students for quarter-long projects in customer discovery, social media management, and AI implementation. To be eligible, you must: Be a current Polsky Exchange members in good standing....
Managed by the Polsky Center, the George Shultz Innovation Fund provides up to $250,000 in investment funding to early-stage science-based, deep-tech, and AI ventures spinning out of the University of Chicago. Beyond capital, finalists receive hands-on support to validate their market, sharpen their commercial path, strengthen their investor pitch, and prepare for diligence. Funding and...