Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
About the program
Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
Top-ranked MBA startup accelerator in the nation, now in its 30th year. The NVC is a credit-bearing Booth course that culminates in a competitive pitch event where 10 finalists compete for $2.1M in total SAFE funding.
Also known as: Kaplan NVC, NVC
Key numbers
Funding range
Not listed
Funding available
Equity
Varies by investment
Application
Annual
Graduate Students · Institution Wide
Last activity
2026-06-04
Active
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Student experiences · Read or add a note
Student notes
Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge
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Startups
Braintree
Payments company (Venmo); Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth), acquired by PayPal.
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.
Nestera
2nd place ($560,000) at the 2026 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (UChicago Booth).
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).
Tovala
Smart oven and meal-kit company; Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge alumnus (UChicago Booth).
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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 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
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