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Pitch competition · Chicago, Illinois, United States

College New Venture Challenge

The University of Chicago launch programme and competition for College undergraduates: apply in the fall, build a business plan in a winter Booth class, then pitch to investors for prize money invested on a SAFE.

Open · closes 3 Nov 2026 Run by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Chicago

Apply on the programme's site Programme website

Verified 19 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published In 2026 the winner, Paytera, took first place and US$85,000.
Instrument
SAFE
Equity taken
not published Winners sign the Polsky Center's non-negotiable SAFE to receive the prize money.
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
In person
Stages
Idea, pre-seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
not published
Perks
not published

Applications (a 5-page feasibility summary and a 1-minute video) are due at 3:00 pm Central on 3 November 2026. Selected teams take the CNVC class in the winter quarter; finals are at the end of that quarter.

Application dates

Open · closes 3 Nov 2026CNVC 2027

Who can apply

  • At least one current UChicago College student, registered by the Phase I deadline, as an integral team member with at least 10% equity
  • Alumni and people outside the university may join; only current UChicago students present
  • No more than US$1,000,000 of institutional investment
  • For-profit or non-profit; a team must incorporate to receive prize money
  • Stage: idea, pre-seed

Companies it names as alumni

Cubii, Sokowatch, MoneyThink, Quevos, Fronen

What founders should check

  1. Equity: Winners sign the Polsky Center's non-negotiable SAFE to receive the prize money. Ask for the exact stake before you accept a place.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It runs in person in Chicago. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
  4. Applications are open until 3 November 2026. That is less than a month away, so start the form now.

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