Financial Resources

The Polsky Center offers financial resources for students interested in entrepreneurship. Financial support covers awards and scholarships, funding for internships, as well as competition prizes that serve as seed money for new ventures.

Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge (NVC)

Prizes in the form of cash, legal services, professional consulting, and incubator space are awarded to the top teams that make it to the final stage of the New Venture Challenge business plan competition. The distinguished panel of judges determine how the funds are awarded among the finalist teams, with the winning team receiving $25,000. In 2008, a total of $80,000 was awarded to the top businesses. These dollars serve a seed money to develop the winning business plans into fully functioning businesses.

Entrepreneurial Internship Program

The summer Entrepreneurial Internship Program provides half of a Chicago Booth student’s salary as well as benefits, during their 10-week internship. Thanks to generous support from alumni and friends of the Polsky Center, this subsidy eases the monetary burden on the small and sometimes fledgling companies who employ the Chicago Booth students.

Herman Family Fellowship

The Herman Family Fellowship was established at the GSB in 1995 by Michael, '64, and Karen Herman, to provide incoming female students an opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial interests. Each year, an incoming female student dedicated to studying entrepreneurship is awarded $50,000 to span her two-year MBA education at Chicago Booth. She also will join the family of Herman Family Fellows, allowing her to participate in yearly reunions hosted by the Hermans and the Polsky Center.

There is no formal application process for the Herman Family Fellowship. Admitted students are nominated for the fellowship. For questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 773.702.7396 or e-mail admissions@ChicagoGSB.edu.

Vashee Promising Entrepreneur Award

The Promising Entrepreneur Award, generated from the Vijay, ’77, and Sita Vashee Promising Entrepreneur Endowment Fund, provides a monetary award to one graduating student who has demonstrated leadership in entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth. The award began in 2006.

Case Writing Award

Chicago Booth students who take Bus 34105 as part of the Entrepreneurial Internship Program write case studies based on their own summer internships. The Polsky Center awards $500 to two students with the most outstanding cases.

Travel and Lodging Support

Students have the opportunity to participate in a number of nationally known business competitions during their time at Chicago Booth. The Polsky Center can provide financial support for travel and lodging expenses for these competitions, and also connects students with an entrepreneurship faculty member to advise them in these endeavors. Funding is limited so interested students are encouraged to contact the Polsky Center for more details.