college Students
Explore entrepreneurship, join startup teams, build innovative ideas, and gain real-world experience while completing your undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago.
The front door of the Polsky Center for College students is Julie Colhoff. She is available to connect with you for 1:1 meetings, in person, or via Zoom. View her upcoming office hours and schedule a time to connect.
Find a mentor
Meet with industry experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors.
Form a team
Connect with other students who are building startups across campus.
Fund your startup
Explore funding opportunities to launch and grow your startup.
Access in-kind resources
Access free and discounted resources from external organizations.
New Venture Challenge Program
College New Venture Challenge
Launch your startup as an undergraduate with mentorship, guidance, and hands-on support to build, test, and refine your idea.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor
The Polsky Center is proud to support the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor—an exciting opportunity for undergraduates to blend liberal arts learning with entrepreneurial skills.
Led by Chicago Booth and open to undergraduate students across all College majors, the minor emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking and encourages connections between entrepreneurship and students’ areas of study.
Featured Programs
Entrepreneurship
AI Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs →
A five-week bootcamp that teaches students how to build an AI-assisted go-to-market engine for early-stage ventures.
A monthly, low-pressure meetup where student builders swap ideas, share feedback, and connect with others exploring entrepreneurship.
College New Venture Challenge →
A track of the New Venture Challenge dedicated to University of Chicago College students, with the option to enroll in a Winter quarter course through Chicago Booth.
Test assumptions, validate ideas, and engage directly with customers to better understand problem-solution fit.
Entrepreneurship Essentials (E2) →
Build foundational startup skills through workshops covering strategy, finance, marketing, sales, and venture development.
Build and Launch Accelerators →
Spend the summer advancing your startup through immersive programming designed to help founders at different stages.
Science and technology
Connect with researchers looking to explore the commercialization opportunities and business applications of their work.
Polsky Center I-Corps Program →
Identify and address real-world problems and learn how to assess “technology-problem fit,” the first critical step in the commercialization process.
Join an interdisciplinary team learning to think like an investor; evaluate real UChicago startups and help decide which ventures the Innovation Fund should support.
Private equity
Engage with investors, operators, and industry leaders shaping the future of private equity. Applications and program details are managed through Career Advancement.
Additional programs open to undergraduates are available on the Programs page >>
Small business
South Side Business Development Internship →
Support local businesses through paid internships focused on strategy, operations, and growth.
monthly meetup
College Founders Forum
Join us every month for an evening of candid conversation and community for college founders and the founder-curious.
