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 gallery, and encourages those looking to participate in our programs to check it regularly for updates.
Connect with us by filling out our Get Started with Polsky online form >>
Programs & Events
New Venture Challenge
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.
Data & AI Accelerator
The LAUNCH ACCELERATOR allows students to spend their summer fundraising for their venture, selling, and gaining/maintaining momentum.
BUILD and LAUNCH Summer Accelerators
The BUILD and LAUNCH Summer Accelerators give student teams the opportunity to work intensively and solely on their businesses and social enterprises in a collaborative and dynamic environment over th...
BUILD Accelerator
The BUILD ACCELERATOR allows students to spend their summer building the key elements of their venture, and validating assumptions around their market or customers.
Compass Deep Tech Accelerator
Polsky's new 6-month accelerator for deep tech startups and early technologies.
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.
College New Venture Challenge (CNVC)
The College New Venture Challenge (CNVC) supports UChicago College students in launching scalable ventures.
Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC)
The Polsky Center's Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is a nationally-ranked accelerator program in the U.S.
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...
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...
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.
Private Equity Alumni/Student Coaching Program
Polsky Founders’ Circles
A virtual place where alumni founders can connect with fellow founders and receive coaching from an expert.
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...
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...
LAUNCH Accelerator
The LAUNCH ACCELERATOR allows students to spend their summer fundraising for their venture, selling, and gaining/maintaining momentum.
THE PROTOTYPE FOR SUCCESS
The Prototype for Success program explores career paths at the intersection of business and emerging technologies.
Customer Discovery Bootcamp
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...
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.
Polsky Science Innovation Fellows Program
Students and post-docs evaluate high-potential technologies emerging out of University of Chicago research labs.
Business Development Fellows
Business Development (BD) Fellows act as business leads for selected deep tech ventures participating in the Polsky Center’s Compass Accelerator, a six-month program.
Private Equity Conference
The BPOC Private Equity Conference brings together financiers, students, and entrepreneurs to network and share insights into the dynamics of investing in a constantly changing economy.
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...
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 Financial Fundamentals
The Polsky Small Business Financial Fundamentals focuses on supporting small businesses owners and help gain better financial management knowledge and skills.
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.
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.
Alumni Entrepreneurs Growth Forum
Great things can happen when founders get together to learn and share their stories with each other.
Rattan L. Khosa 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.
Science Commercialization Advisors
Science Commercialization Advisors provide the opportunity for industry experts and leaders to engage with UChicago researchers and ventures to help them determine their next step to commercialization...
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.
C200
Award that supports Booth students with demonstrated commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and the advancement of women.
Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)
The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is the world's largest venture capital competition with over 70 universities competing.
Collaboratorium
The Collaboratorium unites UChicago students with researchers, technologists, and faculty who want to explore the commercialization opportunities and business applications of their work.
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...
Innovation Fund Associates Program
Students and post-docs receive robust training and perform diligence on innovation projects.
MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT)
MIINT is a learning opportunity that allows student teams to source early-stage impact investments.
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
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