AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows Program
The AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows Program is a highly selective program connecting high-potential, inception-stage AI startups from leading Midwest research universities with infrastructure, mentorship, and national investor networks.
Launched in collaboration with the AI Research Commons (ARC), Microsoft, and NVIDIA, the program is open to faculty, students, and researchers from the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Washington University in St. Louis.
ARC is a collaborative platform built to support early-stage AI companies emerging from leading research institutions. Working alongside university innovation teams at Third Coast Foundry institutions, ARC will identify and select the highest-quality AI founding teams and give them a structured pathway to scale, including cloud infrastructure, one-on-one technical guidance, co-working space in San Francisco, hands-on mentorship from experienced AI operators and investors, and curated access to Bay Area venture capital.
Selected companies will receive:
- Up to $350K in Startup credits on eligible services through Microsoft for Startups, access to leading AI models through Azure, 1:1 technical guidance from Microsoft experts, and discounts on essential tools like GitHub, Microsoft 365, and LinkedIn Premium.
- Benefits from NVIDIA’s Inception Program for Startups, including access to the latest developer tools and training, preferred pricing on NVIDIA hardware and software, exclusive offers from partners, and exposure to a global ecosystem of investors.
- Hands-on mentorship from experienced AI operators, researchers, and investors.
- Co-working space at the Third Coast Foundry, located in San Francisco’s AI corridor.
- An invitation to present to AI Pathfinders at Mayfield, an exclusive community of leading AI founders, operators, and industry executives.
- An opportunity to showcase at Mayfield AI Start, a curated gathering of emerging AI-focused venture capital managers.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Application Deadline
The current application deadline has passed.
Application and Eligibility
The AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows Program (ARC) is open to individuals and teams with strong technical backgrounds from the following institutions: University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Washington University in St. Louis.
Who should apply:
- Master’s and PhD students, faculty, and select undergraduate participants in entrepreneurship programs
- Individuals with strong technical backgrounds in computer science, engineering, data science, or related fields
- Builders working on early-stage AI ideas, research, or technologies with commercialization potential
What we look for:
- Technical excellence and deep curiosity about AI
- A strong bias toward action and rapid experimentation
- Entrepreneurial ambition and a desire to build venture-backed companies
- Participants do not need to have an incorporated company to apply—just a strong idea and the drive to build.
Applications will be reviewed by a joint committee of university leaders and venture investors, with selection based on technical strength, originality of ideas, and potential for real-world impact.