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University of Chicago

Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge Finals 2027

Thursday, June 3, 2027 at 6:00 PM UTC

Chicago Booth Harper Center, Chicago, IL

Estimated from NVC's annual cycle (2026: Phase I deadline Jan 21, finals June 4). Exact 2027 dates not yet posted by Polsky.

Official event page

About the event

The Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) at Chicago Booth is a year-long, three-phase business launch program culminating in a finals event with $1M+ in cash and in-kind prizes. Phase I applications typically close in late January, with finals at the end of Spring quarter (early June).

Who should apply: Chicago Booth and University of Chicago graduate students. Dates below follow the program's annual cycle until Polsky posts the official 2027 schedule.

Hosted by Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

Presenting teams (23)

Accepted teams appear here as they are confirmed.

All University of Chicago startups

BallotReady

University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Nonpartisan voter guide platform; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago).

Braintree

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Payments company (Venmo); Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth), acquired by PayPal.

CavilinQ

$150,000

prize won

University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund

Program portfolio

Quantum computing hardware; George Shultz Innovation Fund investee ($150K) that raised an $8.8M seed round (UChicago).

Exactics

$135,000

prize won

University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

Rapid Lyme disease test; $135,000 first place at the 2025 Social New Venture Challenge (UChicago).

FiscalNote

University of Chicago · LTF Ventures

Notable alumni outcome

Government-affairs data and analytics platform; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago research.

Flow Medical

University of Chicago · Harper Court Ventures

Program portfolio

Medical device startup that raised a $5M seed round; Harper Court Ventures portfolio company (UChicago).

Grubhub

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Online food-ordering platform; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth), later a public company.

Hello Tractor

University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Agricultural equipment-sharing platform in Africa; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago).

Lighthouse Solutions

$200,000

prize won

University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

AI decoy agents to fight human trafficking; $200,000 first place at the 2026 Social New Venture Challenge (UChicago).

LuminAID

University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Solar inflatable lights; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago), featured on Shark Tank.

memQ

University of Chicago · UChicago Science Incubator

Faculty spinout

Quantum networking spinout; first tenant of the UChicago Science Incubator at Hyde Park Labs.

Morton Labs

$150,000

prize won

University of Chicago · Global New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

Computational science for fusion energy; $150,000 first place at the 2026 Global New Venture Challenge (UChicago).

Nestera

$560,000

prize won

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

2nd placeCompetition winner

2nd place ($560,000) at the 2026 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (UChicago Booth).

Parasol Medtech

$250,000

prize won

University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund

Program portfolio

Medical device venture; $250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).

Paytera

$85,000

prize won

University of Chicago · College New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

Peer-to-peer payments for Mexico; $85,000 first place at the 2026 College New Venture Challenge (UChicago).

Phinorm

$185,000

prize won

University of Chicago · Global New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

Drone classification for defense; $185,000 first place at the 2026 Global New Venture Challenge (UChicago).

Shield AI

University of Chicago · LTF Ventures

Notable alumni outcome

Defense autonomy company; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago entrepreneurship research.

Signl

$250,000

prize won

University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund

Program portfolio

$250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).

Simple Mills

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Better-for-you packaged foods brand; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth).

Slideflow Labs

$575,000

prize won

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

1st placeCompetition winner

Cancer pathology AI company; $575,000 Rattan L. Khosa First Place Prize at the 2026 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (UChicago Booth).

StaC12

$250,000

prize won

University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund

Program portfolio

Diamond semiconductor materials; $250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2025 (UChicago).

Theta Neurotech

$200,000

prize won

University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund

Program portfolio

EEG-based seizure prediction; $200,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2025 (UChicago).

Tovala

University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge

Notable alumni outcome

Smart oven and meal-kit company; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth).