The Polsky Center offers several hands-on learning opportunities aimed at helping students, researchers, faculty, and community members pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavors or careers in private equity, venture, capital, entrepreneurship through acquisition, or social entrepreneurship. Don't miss out on a wide variety of experiential learning-based programs, events, workshops, speakers, panels, conferences, challenges, and more.
Additionally, to help facilitate team formation, the Polsky Center maintains a team-building spreadsheet and encourages those looking to participate in our programs to add their details to the spreadsheet and to check it regularly for updates.
For a list of resources, please visit our COVID-19: Small Business Resource page.
Learn more
Programs & Events
Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC)
The Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a top-ranked accelerator program in the nation and is run by the Polsky Center.
Svider Private Equity Program
On the investing side, the Polsky Center supports the aspirations of students and alumni interested in a career in private equity and venture capital.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Program
A suite of programs and resources designed to provide graduating students and alumni access to the education, capital, and mentorship necessary to acquire and grow small businesses.
George Shultz Innovation Fund
The George Shultz Innovation Fund invests in proof-of-concept and early business development work for viable new startups created by faculty and students.
Alumni Entrepreneurs Growth Forum
Great things can happen when founders get together to learn and share their stories with each other.
Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC)
Polsky’s Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC) is open to all University of Chicago alumni across the globe looking to launch and grow their early-stage venture.
C200
Award that supports Booth students with demonstrated commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and the advancement of women.
Collaboratorium
The Collaboratorium unites UChicago students with researchers, technologists, and faculty who want to explore the commercialization opportunities and business applications of their work.
College New Venture Challenge (CNVC)
The College New Venture Challenge (CNVC) is open to all University of Chicago College students who are able and interested in launching a startup.
Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC)
Elfman-Wareham Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab (PE/VC Lab)
The Elfman-Wareham Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab provides students with a combination of an intensive internship at a PE or VC firm and an academic course, students become active participants...
Entrepreneurial Internship Program
The Entrepreneurial Internship Program (EIP) gives full-time first year Chicago Booth students, as well as second year students continuing their coursework in the following fall, the opportunity to in...
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference
The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Conference, cohosted by Chicago Booth and Kellogg, is the first-of-its-kind conference aimed at educating and inspiring students, alumni, and the communi...
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Symposium
The Chicago Booth Search Fund Investor Summit is an annual event that connects search fund investors with University of Chicago students and alumni who are raising search funds.
Global New Venture Challenge (GNVC)
The Global New Venture Challenge (GNVC) gives second-year students in the Chicago Booth Executive MBA program the rare opportunity to work closely with alumni and members of the business community and...
Innovation Fund Associates Program
Students and post-docs receive robust training and perform diligence on innovation projects.
John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC)
In partnership with the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at Chicago Booth, the Polsky Center runs the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC), which is committed to contin...
MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT)
MIINT is a learning opportunity that allows student teams to source early-stage impact investments.
PE/VC Lab: San Francisco Initiative
The PE/VC Lab: San Francisco Initiative (SFI) is a new track of the longstanding Elfman-Wareham Private Equity and Venture Capital (PE/VC) Lab. The
Polsky Accelerator
The Polsky Accelerator, launched in June 2012, gives student teams the opportunity to work intensively and solely on their businesses and social enterprises in a collaborative and dynamic environment...
Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3)
The Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3) is a resource available to graduating University of Chicago and Chicago Booth students and decelerating Chicago Booth students who are committed to growing a...
Polsky Global
The Polsky Center’s Global Expansion makes resources available across the world to foster connections that help more ideas have a meaningful impact on society
Polsky I-Corps
Supported with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and run by the Polsky Center, the I-Corps program is specifically designed for participants working on projects related to the STEM (s...
Polsky Small Business Growth Program
The Polsky Small Business Growth Program focuses on supporting small businesses owners and helping them grow and scale their businesses to the next level of success.
Private Equity Case Challenge (PECC)
A case competition that enables teams from both institutions to assess the potential for a leveraged buyout of a publicly-listed company.
Private Equity Conference
The Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company Private Equity Conference brings together financiers, students, and entrepreneurs to network and share insights into the dynamics of investing in a constantly chang...
Rattan L. Khosa Student Entrepreneurs Program
The Rattan L. Khosa Student Entrepreneurs Program is a multi-pronged program for students launching businesses, managed by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
SeedCon
Bringing together successful entrepreneurs and seasoned venture capitalists to share ideas and advice, foster creativity, and ignite the entrepreneurial-spirit within.
Start-up Networking Night
Start-up Networking Night creates an opportunity to bring a strong community of entrepreneurs together with talented students from Chicago Booth for a productive night of networking.
Startup Summer
Start-up Summer offers incoming students who are curious about entrepreneurship the opportunity to work for a Booth-led start-up during the summer before they begin their MBA program.
Sterling Partners Investment Thesis Challenge (SPITC)
The Sterling Partners Investment Thesis Challenge (SPITC) launched in 2011 with the generous support of Sterling Partners. SPITC is exclusive for Chicago Booth students interested in forming teams and...
UChicago App Challenge
The UChicago App Challenge helps you translate an innovation idea or observation into a mobile app, great website or program.
UChicago GEN
UChicago GEN is a global community that provides connections, valuable content, and other resources for entrepreneurs and investors affiliated with the University of Chicago.
UChicago Startup Investment Program
A new initiative where University of Chicago co-invests alongside established venture funds in startups led by UChicago faculty, students, staff and alumni.
Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)
The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is the world's largest venture capital competition with over 70 universities competing.
Women & Entrepreneurship Conference
The Learn, Launch, Lead: Women in Entrepreneurship Conference helps guide aspiring entrepreneurs by fostering a supportive environment of the industry’s professionals for them to learn how to launch,...
This site uses cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation and your ability to provide feedback, analyze your use of products and services, assist with our promotional and marketing efforts.