Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC)

The Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC) was an accelerator program offered by the Polsky Center from 2018-2024. It was designed to support University of Chicago alumni from around the world who were launching early-stage ventures. The program included several months of coaching and pitch practice and concluded with a finals event, where top teams competed for investment from the University of Chicago.

The ANVC is not currently offered; however, while in operation it produced over 98 still-active ventures that have raised over $33 million in funding and garnered over $110 million in valuations.

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Congratulations to the 2024 Winners.

// First Place ($55,000): UpTrials

UpTrials is an AI-enabled software to help clinical research employers hire, upskill, and supercharge their workforce.

• Team Lead: Renuka Agarwal, MBA ’18

// Second Place ($70,000): Familial

Familial is a digital app that gives families peace of mind by making holistic long-term planning easier and more collaborative.

• Team Lead: Eleanor Jacobs, MBA ’22

// Third Place ($20,000): Panacea

Panacea’s SaaS platform automates the workflows of care managers to address gaps in geriatric patient care and improve chronic disease outcomes. It assists care managers in overseeing every aspect of patient care, from care coordination to medication adherence.

• Team Lead: Ariadne Souroutzidis, MBA ’20

// Fourth Place ($15,000): p!ng

p!ng is the first zero-wait coffee drive-thru, powered by true end-to-end fulfillment automation and machine learning.

• Team Lead: Jane Lo, MBA ’09