Entrepreneurship Essentials
Campus Resources
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation drives the creation of new businesses at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s South Side. The Polsky Center helps students, staff, faculty and alumni on their entrepreneurial journey, helping them turn their ideas into impact. Learn more
The Polsky Exchange is operated by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is a 34,000 square foot coworking space located on 53rd Street in Hyde Park. Membership is free for all University students, faculty and staff. Learn more
The Arts|Science Initiative cultivates collaboration, active exchange, and sustained dialogue among those pursuing artistic and scientific inquiry within the University and beyond. Learn more
The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts advances arts practice, inquiry, and presentation at the University of Chicago, and fosters meaningful collaboration and cultural engagement. Learn more
Centers and Institutes
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation drives the creation of new businesses at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s South Side. The Polsky Center helps students, staff, faculty and alumni on their entrepreneurial journey, helping them turn their ideas into impact. Learn more
Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at UChicago’s Law School provides free legal assistance, access to resources, and advocacy for entrepreneurs in the Chicago area. Learn more
The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering explores innovative technologies in nanoscale manipulation and design at a molecular scale. Learn more
The Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society supports collaborative research projects that transcend any single individual, discipline, or methodology. Learn more
UChicago Impact provides empirically based tools and supporting services to create reliably excellent schooling, partnering with school systems to gather evidence, supply expert analysis, and build capacity. Learn more
Funding and Investment
Hyde Park Angels is the Midwest’s largest angel organization, providing a forum for entrepreneurial-minded members to invest in early-stage businesses. Learn more
Learning To Fly Ventures is a student-run venture capital organization dedicated to helping novel ideas get off the ground. We are proud to fund UChicago students to pursue their creative, professional missions. Learn More
Polsky Center Accelerator Program provides UChicago student enterprises funding, office space, coaching, and weekly programming. Learn more
Strategic Collaborative Initiatives program provides seed grants for joint UChicago, Argonne, and Fermilab projects. Learn more
Incubators and Workspaces
The Polsky Exchange is operated by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is a 34,000 square foot coworking space located on 53rd Street in Hyde Park. Membership is free for all University students, faculty and staff. Learn more
1871 is part of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, and is a 50,000-square-foot incubator in downtown Chicago that provides affordable workspace and access to mentors and investors for digital start-ups. Learn more
University Technology Park at IIT offers laboratory and office space for lease. The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory are academic affiliates and hold office space there. Learn more
The Washington Park Arts Incubator is a space for artist residencies, arts education, community-based arts projects, as well as exhibitions, performances, and talks. Learn more
Innovation Competitions
College New Venture Challenge (CNVC) is run by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in collaboration with Careers in Entrepreneurship, and is the undergraduate-focused track of the New Venture Challenge. The CNVC is offered as a class in the Winter quarter. Students wishing to participate in the class must apply and meet all application requirements. Learn more
Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) is run by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in collaboration with the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, and it helps students launch for-profit and nonprofit ventures that have a social impact mission. The SNVC is offered as a class in the Spring quarter. Students wishing to participate in the class must apply and meet all application requirements. Learn more
New Venture Challenge (NVC) is run by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and helps students turn entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses. It has helped launch more than 160 companies, including Grubhub, Braintree and Simple Mills. The NVC is offered as a class in the Spring quarter. Careers in Entrepreneurship has programs for undergrad students to join teams as consultants or interns for the Spring quarter. Learn more
UChicago Mobile App Challenge cultivates app ideas from across the University and grants $10,000 to winning mobile applications. Learn more
Student Engagement
ILC Entrepreneurship works with students interested in entrepreneurship through workshops, speakers, and startup competitions. Learn more
Learning To Fly Ventures is a student-run venture capital organization dedicated to helping novel ideas get off the ground. We are proud to fund UChicago students to pursue their creative, professional missions. Learn More
Midway Ventures focuses on organizational development, marketing, client and VC/angel relations, new business development, recruitment, and client work, including (but not limited to) growth strategy, marketing materials, and professional referrals.Learn more
Rockefeller Business Management creates an entrepreneurial community within UChicago that can help students bring their aspirations and concepts to life in order to make a lasting change in the world! Members begin by attending educational events, such as workshops that teach practical business skills and lectures from successful innovators. Learn more