At a glance
Indexed programs
16
All currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
9
Accelerator · Venture Fund · Student Vc
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
16 programs indexed
Venture Fund
Accelerator
Startups
Post a startupBallotReady
Nonpartisan voter guide platform; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago).
Braintree
Payments company (Venmo); Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth), acquired by PayPal.
CavilinQ
Quantum computing hardware; George Shultz Innovation Fund investee ($150K) that raised an $8.8M seed round (UChicago).
Exactics
Rapid Lyme disease test; $135,000 first place at the 2025 Social New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
FiscalNote
Government-affairs data and analytics platform; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago research.
Flow Medical
Medical device startup that raised a $5M seed round; Harper Court Ventures portfolio company (UChicago).
Grubhub
Tied for 1st place in the 2006 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge ($17,500 prize); listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 4, 2014.
Hello Tractor
Agricultural equipment-sharing platform in Africa; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago).
Lighthouse Solutions
AI decoy agents to fight human trafficking; $200,000 first place at the 2026 Social New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
LuminAID
Solar inflatable lights; Social New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago), featured on Shark Tank.
memQ
Quantum networking spinout; first tenant of the UChicago Science Incubator at Hyde Park Labs.
Morton Labs
Computational science for fusion energy; $150,000 first place at the 2026 Global New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
Nestera
2nd place ($560,000) at the 2026 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (UChicago Booth).
Parasol Medtech
Medical device venture; $250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).
Paytera
Peer-to-peer payments for Mexico; $85,000 first place at the 2026 College New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
Phinorm
Drone classification for defense; $185,000 first place at the 2026 Global New Venture Challenge (UChicago).
Shield AI
Defense autonomy company; LTF Ventures portfolio company documented in UChicago entrepreneurship research.
Signl
$250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2026 (UChicago).
Simple Mills
Tied for 1st place in the 2014 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge ($30,000 prize); acquired by Flowers Foods for $795 million in 2025.
Slideflow Labs
Cancer pathology AI company; $575,000 Rattan L. Khosa First Place Prize at the 2026 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (UChicago Booth).
StaC12
Diamond semiconductor materials; $250,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2025 (UChicago).
Theta Neurotech
EEG-based seizure prediction; $200,000 George Shultz Innovation Fund investee 2025 (UChicago).
Tovala
Smart oven and meal-kit company; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth).
Building here too? Create a founder account
Known Startups and Winners
- 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 — Tied for 1st place, 2006 Kaplan NVC ($17,500); NYSE listing April 4, 2014
- Braintree/Venmo — Kaplan NVC alumni
- Simple Mills — Tied for 1st place, 2014 Kaplan NVC ($30,000); acquired by Flowers Foods for $795M (2025)
- 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
More about this ecosystem
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.
News & articles
18 articles
News & articles
Simple Mills, 2014 Kaplan NVC winner, acquired by Flowers Foods
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Simple Mills, 2014 Kaplan NVC winner, acquired by Flowers Foods
Polsky Center news that Simple Mills, a 2014 Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge winner, was acquired by Flowers Foods for $795 million. The article states Katlin Smith's 2014 first-place prize was $30,000. Booth's 2014 winner release says Simple Mills tied for first place with RoomVa and each received $30,000.
Read on Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
University of Chicago News
Grubhub, 2006 New Venture Challenge winner, goes public
University of Chicago News story that Grubhub, the 2006 Edward L. Kaplan '71 New Venture Challenge winner, completed its public offering and listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 4, 2014 under the symbol GRUB. The Polsky Center company page adds that Grubhub tied for first place and received $17,500.
Read on University of Chicago News
University pages(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
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
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
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