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.
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.
fintech
Providing deep programming and support to students, staff, alumni and members of the community running FinTech startup companies.
C200
Award that supports Booth students with demonstrated commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and the advancement of women.
Polsky Founders Forum
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.
Polsky Life Sciences Launchpad
Providing hands-on, end-to-end support for select translational, life sciences research projects with the goal of launching them into investable startup ventures.
Midwest-China Symposium
Bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors from Greater China and the Midwest for a series of keynote addresses, pitch sessions, and networking.
Social New Venture Challenge
Global New Venture Challenge
College New Venture Challenge
New Venture Challenge
Private Equity and Venture Capital 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...
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...
Oxford Chicago Global Private Equity Challenge
A case competition that enables teams from both institutions to assess the potential for a leveraged buyout of a publicly-listed company.
Alumni New Venture Challenge
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...
Innovation Fest
A month-long celebration of the pioneering and entrepreneurial endeavors at the University of Chicago.
Alumni Entrepreneurs Growth Forum
Great things can happen when founders get together to learn and share their stories with each other.
Big Problems, Big Ideas
Big Problems, Big Ideas harnesses the brain power at the University of Chicago to discuss and identify solutions to some of the biggest problems we’re facing at local and global levels.
Chicago Microbiome Conference
A two-day program of informative sessions, rich discussion, and networking opportunities presented by experts across academia and industry.
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...
Collaboratorium
The Collaboratorium unites UChicago students with researchers, technologists, and faculty who want to explore the commercialization opportunities and business applications of their work.
Chicago Booth Search Fund Investor Summit
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.
SeedCon
Bringing together successful entrepreneurs and seasoned venture capitalists to share ideas and advice, foster creativity, and ignite the entrepreneurial-spirit within.
Machine Learning Venture Capital Summit
An event dedicated to exploring technology that has the potential to change the way people interact with things like music, email, and financial planning.
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.
Lab Corps
National laboratory staff with commercially relevant technology team up with entrepreneurs.
MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT)
MIINT is a learning opportunity that allows student teams to source early-stage impact investments.
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 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 Incubator
Providing dedicated space, mentorship, and support to early-stage startups, helping them achieve critical milestones and grow into sustainable businesses.
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.
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.
UChicago App Challenge
The UChicago App Challenge helps you translate an innovation idea or observation into a mobile app, great website or program.
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.
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