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Starting a Startup at UChicago

Jack Flintoft

Mar 8, 2025

Here’s my practical, no-BS guide to finding startup resources on campus.

Hell, I tried (and failed) to create a small startup on campus in my first year. The reality is … UChicago is tough – we are slogged with 9-week-long quarters, midterms after only a couple of weeks, and the depressing reality of grade deflation. If there’s anywhere where all the headwinds are against you, it’s here. But … sometimes, it’s good to have a compass to guide you towards disrupting. Although these four categories aren’t all-encompassing, I’ll split up this UChicago resource into four buckets, catering to more mature startups the further down I get.

Getting inside the community / around builders

Think of this as the top layer of the iceberg. If you’re a budding entrepreneur wanting to start building, the best place to begin is surrounding yourself with like-minded builders.

Some areas to watch out for:

Polsky events – Sign up for the event newsletter here. Go to as many as you can. Even if you feel like you have “nothing to add,” this isn’t often true – sometimes, people love talking about their ideas. Worst case? You’ll meet some really awesome people.
CNVC mixer events – Before the College New Venture Challenge (CNVC), there are often mixers to mingle and meet teammates – use this to your advantage.
LTF Ventures & Windy Ventures events – Follow their Instagrams! LTF and Windy host regular brunches, networking events, and founder mixers. Watch this space.

Accelerators/Incubators

Accelerators and incubators can be thought of as “startup schools,” where as a startup, you are given the training wheels to be able to launch and fly. While Polsky offers some programs, there’s even more than just CNVC.

Polsky’s CNVC – This is Polsky’s flagship undergraduate accelerator program. Started back in 2006, it has funded companies such as Simple Mills, Cubii, and Moneythink. The program runs during the winter quarter and is open to undergraduates (except first-years). The application typically opens around mid-fall quarter, and decisions are released before the end of fall quarter. 12 teams compete for three prizes, with a total prize pool of up to $200,000 in recent years.
Polsky’s BUILD and LAUNCH programs – These programs take place over the summer, and both give a generous stipend to startups who get in. While it’s not guaranteed, many teams from the BUILD program go into the CNVC. You can think of BUILD as a full-time accelerator over summer to build your product out and LAUNCH as the same but for iterating post-launch and securing more funding.
LTF Kickstart – Kickstart is the most informal of the bunch. The eight-week incubator is run in Booth. It is a 1-hour time commitment per week for eight weeks, with a demo day at the end. Typically, startups who want a more hands-off approach come through Kickstart.
ILC 100-Day Challenge – This 100-day startup sprint runs you through the startup-building process, hosted by the Innovation and Leadership Club (ILC).

Student Clubs

Student clubs are a great place to meet people who are integrated into the startup community.

LTF Ventures

What they do: LTF is UChicago’s undergraduate student venture firm. The team gives out grants to student startups, many of which have gone on to secure funding in the range of $10M+. They also run Kickstart in the spring, a startup incubator.
Recruiting: LTF typically recruits a couple of associates in fall quarter, who help source, screen, and invest in budding student startups.

Windy Ventures

What they do: Windy is UChicago’s fastest-growing startup community. They host founder brunches, dinners, and networking events.
Follow their Instagram to stay up to date with startup news and events.

Midway Ventures

What they do: A professional organization focused more on VC recruiting/education. They also consult student startups, giving them pro-bono advice, pitch deck building, etc.
Recruiting: Midway typically takes place in fall quarter.

Finding Funding

Do you already have an idea? Already built out an MVP? Looking to secure funding?

LTF Ventures

What they offer: LTF offers non-equity checks (~$500-$3k) to student startups. Unlike a regular VC who takes equity (ownership) in your company, LTF – UChicago’s student-run VC – does not take ownership. Instead, they offer “grant” style funding to promote entrepreneurship on campus.
Check size: $500–$3,000.
Use cases: Mission-critical funds (server hosting, incorporation expenses, training costs, etc.). Apply here.

Dorm Room Fund (DRF)

What they offer: DRF is a nationwide student-run VC firm giving startups (usually) their first check of $40,000–$100,000.
Founded in: 2012.
Notable investments: Cursor, Shield AI, Posh VIP, and FiscalNote.
How to apply: Apply here or reach out to UChicago partner Jack Flintoft.

Outside Funding

What they offer: If you’re going at breakneck speeds and looking to seek other funding, it’s best to talk to some of our partners who have experience connecting UChicago founders with external funding.
Cost: Free. We offer this service pro bono. Reach out to a member of the LTF team!