Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is one of the top accelerators in the U.S. designed to help companies affiliated with the University of Chicago turn ideas into viable businesses. Run by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the program includes five tracks to serve the diverse entrepreneurs at the University of Chicago. The Alumni New Venture Challenge (ANVC) track serves University of Chicago alumni who are launching early stage ventures.
In this first year, the ANVC will launch in five regions: East Coast (NYC), Midwest (Chicago), West Coast (Bay Area), Europe (London), and Asia (Bangalore). It will follow a similar rigorous, milestone-driven structure that is found in all tracks of the existing NVC. Semifinals will be hosted in each local region and the program will culminate in Chicago during Chicago Booth Reconnect Weekend on Thursday, May 2, 2019, where finalist teams from each region will pitch in front of a world-class panel of investors and established entrepreneurs for a chance to win up to $100,000 in funding!