In conjunction with attending the PE/VC Lab course (in either the winter or spring quarter), participants in the PE/VC Lab also intern for 15-20 hours per week for at least 10 weeks between January and late May with a PE or VC firm (broadly defined to include seed/venture capital firms, growth equity firms, and buyout firms).
Application Cycle
There is only one application process for both the winter and spring quarter courses. If you intend to participate in the PE/VC Lab during any portion of the 2025-26 academic year, you must apply in alignment with the October 17th deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
Project Scope for PE/VC Lab Interns
Students work on specific assignments for their firm, but the internships must have an investment focus. Projects may include deal sourcing, investment thesis development, due diligence,evaluating new market and business opportunities for investment, and analyzing specific issues faced by portfolio companies. Internships focusing solely on operations are generally not approved.
PE/VC Lab Host Firms
Please refer to the Host Firm Gallery section to view firms interested in bringing on interns through the PE/VC Lab.
Host Firm Geography
The PE/VC Lab supports internships in regions beyond Chicago. Some of the pre-approved internships sourced by the Polsky Center team are outside of Chicago, and students are encouraged to source their own internships in their target geographies and petition to have the internship approved for the Lab.
Internship Modality
Internships can be fully in person, virtual, or hybrid. We advise students to work directly with their host firms to identify the modality that works for both. If the internship is fully remote, we encourage students to discuss accommodations with their firm that will allow them (to the extent possible) to “sit in” on conference calls and video meetings, participate in Slack conversations, receive virtual mentorship, and delve into longer-term projects to ensure a valuable learning experience.
Internship Compensation
Because students are receiving academic credit, internships are typically unpaid; however, the Polsky Center will reimburse students for up to $500 for local transportation expenses (in accordance with the University of Chicago’s policies on travel) and educational material purchases related to their internships. Students who go on to intern with their firms for the summer may negotiate separate terms and compensation. You can learn more in the Funding Opportunities section.
Travel funding for out of state internships
In addition to the $500 in reimbursement that is available for all interns, students with out-of-state internships can apply for an additional $1500 in reimbursement to offset travel costs for one or more in-person experiences. Students must apply with an application that consists of a proposed budget and the host firm must complete an on-site approval form. A small amount of funding beyond the $1500 is available for students in need of additional financial assistance. Applications for additional funding will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Reach out to the Polsky Center for more information. You can learn more in the Funding Opportunities section.