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Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3)

The Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3) is a resource available to graduating University of Chicago students who are committed to growing a company after graduation. The goal of the program is to provide entrepreneurs with funding to sustain momentum on ventures.

What does the PF3 include? Each individual accepted into the fellowship will be provided with up to $24,000 in the form of a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), paid out to an incorporated entity in quarterly installments of $6,000 over a period of one year.

For questions about the SAFE, please reference the SAFE FAQ. Fellows will also benefit from a continued relationship with the Polsky Center through quarterly coaching check-ins.

Download FAQs

Key Dates and Deadlines

Application Deadline
The 2026 application deadline has passed.

Application and Eligibility

Who can apply?
The fellowship is open to all UChicago students completing either undergraduate or graduate degree programs. Eligible applicants are those who plan to work on their startups as their main professional activity after graduation. Applicants who have accepted and/or deferred job offers will not be eligible for PF3. The Polsky Center expects to award up to 7 fellowships.

Eligibility requirements
In order to qualify, an applicant’s business should be at a point where it has received credible traction and the entrepreneur must demonstrate that he/she is fully committed to working on the business for the foreseeable future. Applicants should have:

  • An incorporated business

  • A live product/service and paying customers

    a.     If your business is in an industry that has a long product or sales cycle (e.g., biotech, deeptech), please provide a detailed timeline of your milestones, the anticipated value inflection points (quantitative or qualitative) at these milestones, and how you plan to acquire your first customer.

    b.     This criteria may be waived on a case by case basis for IP-based ventures with a long path to market. These ventures will receive additional review from the Deep Tech Ventures team at the Polsky Center.

  • Demonstrated progress on the venture in the past six months and clearly articulated and measurable milestones for future venture growth

  • A full-time focus on their startup venture (minimum 40 hours per week)

  • Good academic standing with a 2.33 GPA or better

  • A graduation date between December 2025 and December 2026

  • Entrepreneurs whose startups have received external funding (i.e., institutional investment), which allows them to receive a salary/personal income are not eligible for PF3. If, after receiving a PF3 fellowship, a fellow successfully raises external funding, he or she must notify the Polsky Center to assess continuing eligibility.

Past Participants

2025 Cohort

2024 Cohort

2023 Cohort

  • Anna Jacobs and Lori Ebenstein – inclusive+
  • Laura Mattos and Sydney Reynolds – Zelia
  • Charlotte Clais – Kadia Health
  • Bryce Wiatrak and Mary Regan Collineau – Vinalia
  • Santiago Figuero – EverLeather

2022 Cohort

2021 Cohort

2020 Cohort

2019 Cohort

2018 Cohort

  • Yaniv Guelman – Fulbito
  • Colin Keeley – Bevy
  • Mason Kim – ABChicken
  • Randy Paris – BrewBike
  • Mrin Patil – Seedling
  • Rodrigo Studart – Lowko
  • Elizabeth Zellner – WowChow

2017 Cohort

  • Ramzi Assaf – Portefini
  • Christopher Heinrich – Triple
  • Julia McInnis – Lancelot
  • Maria Scott – TAINA

2016 Cohort

  • Dane Guarino – Markit Medical
  • Andi Hadisutjipto – Riviter
  • Rho Kook Song – Freenters
  • Mike Pintar – NETenergy

2015 Cohort

  • Ryan Mattison – Nomwell
  • David Rabie – Tovala
  • Pratyush Rastogi – Lumii Health