Chicago’s business media spotlight shines on eight startups associated with the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, each earning a spot on Chicago Inno’s ’24 Startups to Watch in 2024′ list. This esteemed recognition underscores the startups’ potential to make significant waves in the technology and healthcare sectors.
The Polsky Center, established in 1998 at the Booth School of Business, has been instrumental in nurturing student and faculty entrepreneurs to bring innovative ideas to market. Among those celebrated on the list are the creators of Flow Medical, Nūtrad, and Alnair Therapeutics, all participants in the Polsky Deep Tech Ventures program.
Flow Medical
Flow Medical, born from the minds of University of Chicago researchers Jonathan Paul and Osman Ahmed, is pioneering a multifunctional catheter designed to address deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This innovation was partly fueled by the increased incidence of DVT and pulmonary embolisms observed in COVID-19 patients. The founders’ ambition to improve existing treatment methods led to the conceptualization of a steerable catheter with a fiber-optic pressure sensor, tailored to enhance lytic delivery and monitor clot resolution.
Recognizing the gap between concept and creation, the team leveraged the Polsky Center’s resources to partner with Ontogen Medtech and progress to the prototype stage, further supported by a $200,000 co-investment from the George Shultz Innovation Fund.
Nūtrad
Nūtrad seeks to streamline supply chain interactions by harnessing AI to synchronize data exchanges between manufacturers and retailers, thereby reducing reliance on intermediaries and the risk of human error. John Sexton Abrams, Nūtrad’s CEO, leveraged his prior experience at Cardinal Health and Syndigo to develop an AI-driven solution that enhances accuracy and efficiency in product information management. Despite not being a university affiliate, Abrams found a supportive community within the Polsky Center, leading to pivotal mentorship moments and subsequent funding opportunities.
Alnair Therapeutics
Alnair Therapeutics is charting a course in oncology with a platform technology poised to revolutionize drug delivery for hard-to-treat cancers. The company’s inception is rooted in the work of Xiaoyang Wu, an associate professor at the University, focusing on exploiting cancer metabolism for targeted drug delivery. Alnair’s progression through the I-Corps program and the Compass Deep Tech Accelerator at Polsky has been critical, earning them a $175,000 award from the George Shultz Innovation Fund and a $585,000 investment through the New Venture Challenge.
The founders of these startups collectively laud the robust and somewhat understated entrepreneurial ecosystem at UChicago, facilitated by the Polsky Center, as pivotal to their transformative journeys. This ecosystem continues to foster a culture of innovation that is propelling these startups into the limelight of Chicago’s tech scene.
