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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
16
16 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
9
Accelerator · Venture Fund · Student Vc
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
16 programs indexed
Venture Fund
George Shultz Innovation Fund
Venture FundAlso: Shultz Innovation Fund, Innovation Fund
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Faculty, Alumni
- Verification
- Verified
Harper Court Ventures
Venture FundAlso: Harper Court Ventures Fund I
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Faculty, Alumni
- Verification
- Verified
UChicago Startup Investment Program
Venture FundAlso: Startup Investment Program
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Faculty, Alumni +more
- Verification
- Verified
Accelerator
Alchemist Chicago / Duality
AcceleratorAlso: Alchemist Chicago, Duality Quantum Accelerator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- —
- Verification
- Verified
College New Venture Challenge
AcceleratorAlso: CNVC
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
AcceleratorAlso: Kaplan NVC, NVC
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-04
- Participants
- Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Global New Venture Challenge
AcceleratorAlso: GNVC
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge
AcceleratorAlso: SNVC, Edwardson SNVC
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Polsky Build and Launch Accelerators
AcceleratorAlso: Build Accelerator, Launch Accelerator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-13
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
BallotReady
University of Chicago · John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge
Nonpartisan voter guide platform; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago).
Braintree
University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
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
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
Rapid Lyme disease test; $135,000 first place at the 2025 Social New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
FiscalNote
University of Chicago · LTF Ventures
Government-affairs data and analytics platform; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago research.
Flow Medical
University of Chicago · Harper Court Ventures
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
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
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
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
Solar inflatable lights; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago), featured on Shark Tank.
memQ
University of Chicago · UChicago Science Incubator
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
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 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
Medical device venture; $250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).
Paytera
$85,000
prize won
University of Chicago · College New Venture Challenge
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
Drone classification for defense; $185,000 first place at the 2026 Global New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
Shield AI
University of Chicago · LTF Ventures
Defense autonomy company; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago entrepreneurship research.
Signl
$250,000
prize won
University of Chicago · George Shultz Innovation Fund
$250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).
Simple Mills
University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
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
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
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
EEG-based seizure prediction; $200,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2025 (UChicago).
Tovala
University of Chicago · Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
Smart oven and meal-kit company; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth).
Historical winners (research notes)
- Slideflow Labs — Cancer pathology AI ($575K Kaplan NVC 1st 2026)
- Lighthouse Solutions — AI decoy agents anti-trafficking ($200K SNVC 1st 2026)
- Paytera — P2P payments Mexico ($85K CNVC 1st 2026)
- Phinorm — Drone classification defense ($185K GNVC 1st 2026)
- Morton Labs — Fusion energy computational science ($150K GNVC 1st 2026)
- Nestera ($560K Kaplan NVC 2nd 2026)
- Exactics — Rapid Lyme disease test ($135K SNVC 1st 2025)
- CavilinQ — Quantum computing ($150K Shultz Fund, $8.8M seed)
- Parasol Medtech ($250K Shultz Fund 2026)
- Signl ($250K Shultz Fund 2026)
- StaC12 — Diamond semiconductor ($250K Shultz Fund 2025)
- Theta Neurotech — EEG seizure prediction ($200K Shultz Fund 2025)
- Grubhub — Kaplan NVC alumni
- Braintree/Venmo — Kaplan NVC alumni
- Simple Mills — Kaplan NVC alumni
- Tovala — Kaplan NVC alumni
- LuminAID — SNVC alumni
- Hello Tractor — SNVC alumni
- BallotReady — SNVC alumni
- Flow Medical ($5M seed, Harper Court Ventures portfolio)
- memQ — Quantum spinout, Science Incubator first tenant
- Shield AI — LTF Ventures portfolio
- FiscalNote — LTF Ventures portfolio
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, with approximately 18,000 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (central hub since 1997, Managing Director Samir Mayekar), which manages the nationally-ranked New Venture Challenge ($2.1M awarded across 4 tracks in 2026), the George Shultz Innovation Fund ($10.4M invested in 83 startups, up to $250K each), the Build and Launch Accelerators ($10K SAFE + $5K stipend), the UChicago Science Incubator (22K sq ft wet lab at Hyde Park Labs), Polsky Tech Commercialization ($35.4M licensing revenue, 238 disclosures), and the Polsky Exchange (700+ community businesses supported).
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Managing Director Samir Mayekar, FY25: $5.5M+ investments facilitated)
- Startup accelerator: Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (30th year, $2.1M in 2026, $575K first prize)
- Undergrad accelerator: College New Venture Challenge (14th year, $330K in 2026)
- EMBA accelerator: Global New Venture Challenge (19th year, $435K record in 2026)
- Social impact accelerator: Social New Venture Challenge (16th year, $400K in 2026, 250+ ventures/$305M+ raised)
- Summer accelerators: Build & Launch ($10K SAFE + $5K stipend per founder)
- Deep tech VC fund: George Shultz Innovation Fund ($10.4M to 83 startups, up to $250K)
- Deep tech VC fund: Harper Court Ventures ($25M, managed by MFV Partners, launched 2025)
- Endowment co-investment: UChicago Startup Investment Program ($25M, since 2016)
- Deep tech accelerator: Alchemist Chicago/Duality (global, $50K SAFE Phase 2)
- Incubator: UChicago Science Incubator (22K sq ft wet lab, Hyde Park Labs, opened Q2 2025)
- Tech transfer: Polsky Technology Ventures (238 disclosures, $35.4M licensing, 103 patents FY25)
- Pre-accelerator: Polsky I-Corps (7-week NSF-funded customer discovery)
- Community incubator: Polsky Exchange (co-working, SBDC, 100+ mentors, 700+ businesses)
- Graduating founder fellowship: Polsky Founders' Fund Fellowship ($24K SAFE)
- Student-run VC: LTF Ventures ($500-$3K non-equity grants, since 2012)
- Student orgs: Midway Ventures (VC/consulting), Edge Entrepreneurship, Windy Ventures, ILC Startup (100 Days Challenge)
Student Organizations
- LTF Ventures — Student-run VC since 2012. Non-equity grants $500-$3K. Notable portfolio: Shield AI, FiscalNote.
- Midway Ventures — Student-run VC/consulting since 2014. 30+ startups helped. Runs CVCC.
- Edge Entrepreneurship — Premier undergraduate entrepreneurship club. Cohort-based. CNVC mentors.
- Windy Ventures — Fastest-growing startup community. Founder brunches, dinners, networking.
- International Leadership Council (ILC) — Startup division. 100 Days Challenge, $3K prizes. 50+ ventures.
- UChicago Venture Club (UCVC) — Chinese entrepreneurship association. Pitch and demo days.
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 1 Confidence: High Key Factors: Polsky Center central hub with Managing Director, Kaplan NVC ($2.1M across 4 tracks, 30th year, Grubhub/Braintree alumni), Shultz Innovation Fund ($10.4M to 83 startups), Harper Court Ventures ($25M deep tech fund), Science Incubator (22K sq ft wet lab at Hyde Park Labs), Alchemist Chicago/Duality (global deep tech accelerator), Tech Commercialization (238 disclosures, $35.4M licensing), Startup Investment Program ($25M endowment co-investment), Polsky Exchange (700+ community businesses), Build/Launch Accelerators ($10K SAFE + $5K stipend), LTF Ventures (student-run VC since 2012), I-Corps (21 teams), PF3 ($24K SAFE). World-class ecosystem spanning all constituencies.
News & articles
16 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of Chicago.
16 sources
Official sources(16)
University of Chicago
Alchemist Chicago and Duality Accelerator
Alchemist Chicago is a foundational tech launchpad powered by Alchemist's global network and the UChicago ecosystem, while Duality is the nation's first quantum-focused accelerator program. Both are open to global startups without requiring UChicago affiliation.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Build and Launch Summer Accelerators
The Polsky Build and Launch Summer Accelerators are intensive 10-week programs providing student and recent alumni founders with funding, mentorship, and workspace to develop and scale their ventures over the summer.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
College New Venture Challenge (CNVC)
The College New Venture Challenge (CNVC) is the undergraduate track of the Polsky Center's nationally-ranked NVC program, supporting UChicago College students (and UIUC students through a formal partnership) interested in launching startups.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Global New Venture Challenge (GNVC)
The Global New Venture Challenge (GNVC) is the global track of the NVC, supporting Chicago Booth Executive MBA students across campuses in Chicago, Hong Kong, and London. Now in its 19th year (2026).
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Harper Court Ventures
Harper Court Ventures Fund I is a $25 million early-stage deep tech fund launched in May 2025, independently managed by MFV Partners (led by Karthee Madasamy, MBA '06) with a formal exclusive cooperation agreement with the University of Chicago.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Center I-Corps Program
The Polsky Center I-Corps program is an NSF-funded, 8-week experiential curriculum that trains scientists, researchers, and students to assess the commercial potential of their STEM research through customer discovery.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC)
The Edward L. Kaplan NVC, launched in 1996, is a year-long business launch program recognized as the #1 university accelerator in the nation. It is the flagship track of the Polsky Center's New Venture Challenge program for Chicago Booth graduate students.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
LTF Ventures Student-Run Venture Fund
Learning to Fly (LTF) Ventures is a student-run venture capital fund founded in 2017 that provides $500-$3,000 in non-equity, grant-style pre-seed funding to UChicago student startups with zero equity taken.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Founders' Fund Fellowship (PF3)
The Polsky Founders' Fund Fellowship (PF3) provides up to $24,000 in SAFE-based funding to graduating UChicago students (undergraduate and graduate) who commit to working full-time on their startups after graduation.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is the University of Chicago's central hub for venture creation, startup acceleration, technology commercialization, and community entrepreneurship. A 60-person team managing the full spectrum of innovation from lab to market.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Exchange Coworking and Incubator Space
The Polsky Exchange is a 34,000 sq ft startup incubator and coworking facility across two buildings on Hyde Park's 53rd Street corridor, providing workspace, mentorship, programming, and a fabrication lab to UChicago affiliates and community entrepreneurs.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
UChicago Science Incubator
The UChicago Science Incubator is a ~22,000 sq ft wet lab and office incubator located in Hyde Park Labs (300,000+ sq ft), operated by the Polsky Center in partnership with Portal Innovations, opened in Q2 2025.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
George Shultz Innovation Fund
The George Shultz Innovation Fund is a multi-million dollar evergreen seed fund providing up to $250K in investment funding for early-stage tech ventures from UChicago, Argonne, Fermilab, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
Read on University of Chicago
John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC)
University of Chicago
University of Chicago
John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC)
The John Edwardson Social New Venture Challenge is the social impact track of the NVC, run in partnership with the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation. Open to for-profit and nonprofit ventures with a social mission at their core.
Read on University of Chicago
University of Chicago
UChicago Startup Investment Program
The UChicago Startup Investment Program designates $25 million from the university's endowment to co-invest alongside established venture capital firms in Series A rounds of startups led by UChicago faculty, students, staff, and alumni.
Read on University of Chicago
Polsky Center Technology Commercialization and Tech Transfer
University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Polsky Center Technology Commercialization and Tech Transfer
The Polsky Center serves as the official technology transfer office for the University of Chicago, managing patent protection, licensing, industry partnerships, and new venture formation from faculty research.
Read on University of Chicago
This profile lists 16 programs for University of Chicago. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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