The John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) has helped to jump-start more than 100 startups that went on to raise more than $35 million. The SNVC is the social impact track of the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC), the University of Chicago’s nationally ranked accelerator program.

The program will culminate with a virtual event on Tuesday, June 2, with finalist teams presenting to a panel of distinguished judges and competing for at least $100,000 in cash prizes.

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The SNVC is operated by the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, along with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The startup competition is the cornerstone of the Rustandy Center’s Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, a university initiative named in recognition of a 2016 gift by John Edwardson, ’72. Edwardson is retired chairman and CEO of technology solutions provider CDW and co-chair of Advance Illinois, an independent statewide education organization.