Application
The 2026 Polsky BUILD Accelerator application will open in late February.
Build Accelerator Eligibility & Expectations
The Build Accelerator is designed for student and alumni founders who want to spend the summer validating their venture, building core elements of their product, and preparing for market entry.
Who Can Apply
Teams must include at least one founder who is:
-
A current full- or part-time student at the University of Chicago, or
-
A UChicago alum
Eligible ventures may be for-profit or non-profit.
This program is a fit if you:
-
Have an idea you want to validate
-
Are building (or need to build) a pilot or MVP
-
Are not yet in market, or only minimally in market
-
Want structured support around customer and market validation
-
May plan to apply to a New Venture Challenge track in the future (optional)
The Build and Launch Accelerators serve different stages of ventures. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply only to the track that matches their current stage. If unsure, contact the Polsky team for guidance.
Founder Funding for 2026
Teams selected for the accelerator receive both venture funding and founder support.
$10,000 SAFE Investment (per team)
-
Issued through the University’s SAFE agreement
-
Paid to the venture for business expenses (software, legal, marketing, etc.)
-
One investment per team
$5,000 Founder Stipend (per eligible founder, max 2)
Eligible founders must:
-
Be a current student or alum of a UChicago degree program
-
Work full-time (40 hours/week) on the venture during the program
-
Participate in person in Chicago for the duration of the program
-
Hold equity in the venture
The stipend is non-dilutive and intended to offset living expenses during the summer.
Participation Expectations
Participants are expected to:
-
Work full-time (40 hours/week) on their venture (time cannot be split across teammates)
-
Attend all mandatory programming
-
Work from the provided co-working space (unless otherwise approved)
-
Stay accountable to coaches, mentors, and milestones
-
Communicate proactively with program staff
Participants should be ready to fully commit to accelerating their venture over the summer.