The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Chicago Booth

Community & Global Initiatives

Hyde Park Angels

Founded in 2006 by a group of XP students, Hyde Park Angels (HPA) provides a forum for entrepreneurial-minded members to invest in seed and early-stage businesses, primarily located in the Midwest. HPA partnered with the Polsky Center in 2007 to assist in the execution of its mission. Members include current and former executives, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists who meet quarterly to formally consider start-ups that have been screened by the selection committee and also provide domain expertise, strategic advice, and coaching to its companies. HPA also offers the opportunity for Chicago Booth students to intern as associates and gain valuable venture capital experience. To date, HPA has invested in three companies launched by Chicago Booth entrepreneurs.  

Donald W. Hamer, '58, Small Business Initiative

In 2004, Donald W. Hamer, '58, provided a generous grant to the Polsky Center to develop educational programs that target regional small businesses and add value to the local economy and Chicago Booth community. The Hamer Small Business Initiative allows the center to develop educational programs to help address the challenges faced by small business owners including sponsoring conferences and workshops, subsidizing student internships, conducting small business research, and building networks across the community.

Social Venture Forum

In 2010, Chicago Booth teamed with the Foundation Source to launch the first-of-its-kind Social Venture Forum, which aims to offer private foundations new opportunities and techniques for social enterprise investing. At this annual event, foundations learn how to further their social mission while generating financial return by deploying philanthropic capital in innovative ways. If your social venture seeks funding, we encourage you to consider applying to the Chicago Social Venture Forum. Although we are not accepting submissions at this time, you can contact Erika Mercer for more information on future events. For more information, see the application and rules (PDF) from last year. 

Global Entrepreneurial Immersion Initiative

The Polsky Center launched the Entrepreneurial Immersion Initiative in 2007 to develop educational programs that allow Chicago Booth alumni, students, and faculty to build understanding, communication, and partnerships across the globe. Following the success of the inaugural immersion trip to China, the Polsky Center traveled to India in October 2008 for an exclusive, unforgettable journey through one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Check back for information on future global events.

Small Business and Social Venture Assistance

The Polsky Center works closely with the regional business community to provide assistance to emerging entrepreneurs, small businesses, and social ventures through a number of programs and activities. Read about our resources for general business assistance (PDF) and for social entrepreneurship assistance (PDF).   

Collegiate Scholars Program

The Collegiate Scholars Program is a three-year enrichment program offered by the University of Chicago to prepare talented Chicago Public School students for academic success. Waverly Deutsch, clinical professor of entrepreneurship, teaches Elements of Entrepreneurship, where CPS students get real-world exposure to starting a business. Watch a short documentary about the entrepreneurship course, which was made possible through a generous grant from the Goldman Sachs Foundation.