NVC@30: Celebrating 30 Years of the New Venture Challenge

Launched in 1996, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) is recognized as one of the top-ranked accelerator programs in the nation. Over the past three decades, the NVC has launched more than 600+ companies and helped raise over $2 billion in funding. Notable alumni ventures include Grubhub, Braintree/Venmo, and Simple Mills, among others.
As we celebrate 30 years of entrepreneurial excellence, we’re reflecting on the impact the NVC has had on the Chicago Booth community and beyond—supporting founders who continue to redefine industries, inspire innovation, and create lasting change.
Throughout the year, join us for a series of events, including fireside chats with past winners and industry leaders, where we’ll explore their entrepreneurial journeys and the lessons they learned through the NVC.


