Accelerate
your startup with programs and funding.
Founders
The Polsky Center helps founders grow their companies through accelerators, mentorship, and venture funding opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, we provide the support and connections to help your company succeed.
No affiliation with the University of Chicago is required to engage in these opportunities – they are designed to support founders across the broader innovation ecosystem.
If you are a University of Chicago student, please visit this landing page →
If you are a University of Chicago faculty member or researcher, please visit this landing page →
Programs
Alchemist Chicago
Alchemist Chicago connects deep tech founders to Silicon Valley best practices, capital pathways, and the University of Chicago ecosystem.
Duality
Duality is a first-of-its-kind accelerator program for next-generation startups focused on quantum and enabling technologies.
AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows
The program connects inception-stage AI startups with infrastructure, mentorship, and investors.
UChicago India Deep Tech Accelerator
This international accelerator is for deep tech startups emerging from India’s leading research institutions.
UChicago Science Incubator
The UChicago Science Incubator provides early-stage life sciences, quantum, clean energy, and data science companies with access to state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, cutting-edge wet lab space and equipment, and seasoned management expertise.
Located in Hyde Park Labs, a 300,000+ square-foot facility near the University of Chicago’s main campus and medical center.
innovation consortium
Third Coast Foundry
Third Coast Foundry is an innovation consortium of eight partner universities and includes physical space in San Francisco for investors, alumni, and other partners to engage in meetings, events, and programming.
deep tech fund
Harper Court Ventures
Harper Court Ventures invests in transformative technologies emerging from the University of Chicago ecosystem.