Events
All Chicago Booth students are encouraged to sync their calendars with the EVC group so you won't miss any events. Events may be scheduled on short notice and an integrated calendar is the best way to stay involved. The EVC Events Calendar is compatible with Google Calendar, iCal, Outlook, and Tungle.
SeedCon
SeedCon, co-hosted with the The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is a conference designed to bring together successful entrepreneurs and seasoned venture capitalists to share ideas and advice, foster creativity, and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within.
SeedCon took place on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 1871 in Chicago. Scott Case, founder of Priceline, was the keynote speaker.
Although the format of SeedCon may change from year to year, in the past, we have hosted discussion panels, keynotes, and fireside chats on topics such as lean startup methodology, the merits of incubator and accelerator programs, how to find technical talent, and much more.
Venture Capital Investment Competition
The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is a student-run event during the winter quarter, coordinated by the EVC Group and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
The VCIC is intended to give students the experience of thinking and acting as venture capitalists and to identify top students to represent Chicago Booth at the regional and national intercollegiate MBA competitions. Serving as VCs during the competition, students interact with real, local startups and have the opportunity to be evaluated by experienced Partners, Managing Directors, and Investors from Midwest facing VC firms.
Chicago Booth VCIC teams have won the regional competition 6 times, including most recently in 2020, crediting Chicago Booth's internal competition with being an essential tool for their success.
Treks
Treks, an exclusive benefit of being an EVC member, offer an extraordinary opportunity for bonding with fellow classmates and making invaluable connections in the professional space.
The EVC group typically sponsors several unique treks, though the exact number of treks may change from year to year depending on demand and opportunity:
• VC Treks: SF, LA, NYC, Austin
• Startup Treks: SF, LA, NYC, Austin
As the number of Chicago Booth students interesting in developing their own start-ups or entering Venture Capital have grown, demand for these treks has far outpaced capacity. Students are now asked to complete a questionnaire application for all treks and are limited to one trek per calendar year. Priority is also awarded to those planning to make entrepreneurship or venture capital their summer internship or career upon graduation.
In the past three years, EVC Treks have visited the top VC Firms and emerging startups including
Lunch and Learns + Bootcamp Series
Life can get pretty busy at Chicago Booth and EVC wants to ensure that you can get your events without having to compromise class time. Hosted throughout the term, EVC will bring accomplished entrepreneurs and venture capitalists from throughout the country. These events are typically led by a moderator and opened up to Q&A for the final 15-20 minutes of the session. It's a great way to spend a lunch, meet like-minded classmates, and connect with seasoned experts.
We also run a weekly startup and VC bootcamp series in the fall to get all members up to speed, which is led by the co-chairs as well as outside professionals.
Recent notable speakers have included:
• Steven Galanis, CEO Cameo
• Sam Yagan, Founder OK Cupid
• Maria Katris, Founder of Built In
• David Rabie, CEO Tovala
• John Ciasulli, CEO Nubundle / Uptake
• Oliver Samwer, Founder Rocket Internet
