Updated
Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jun 5
Phinorm, Morton Labs Split Record $435,000 at 19th Global New Venture Challenge
Updated
Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jun 5

Phinorm, Morton Labs Split Record $435,000 at 19th Global New Venture Challenge

1 articles · Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jun 5

Summary

  • $435,000 in total awards went to Chicago Booth Executive MBA-led startups, with Phinorm and Morton Labs tying for first in the 19th Global New Venture Challenge.
  • Phinorm received $185,000 for on-device drone detection software for defense sensors, while Morton Labs took $150,000 for computational infrastructure aimed at speeding fusion energy research.
  • Seven finalists pitched judges after completing the program’s classroom phase, and the Polsky Center said all participants received some investment, making final dollar amounts not strictly tied to placing.
  • The remaining prizes went to Aura Interactive at $40,000, TradeCampus at $30,000, and Flex, KLIQ Ventures and Lumana at $10,000 each.
  • The GNVC, launched in 2008 for Booth’s Executive MBA students across Chicago, Hong Kong and London, is one track of a startup accelerator whose alumni include more than 500 active companies.

Insights

Beyond prize money, how do university accelerators prepare deep tech startups for long-term survival in defense and energy sectors?
As fusion investment tops $9.7B, can Morton Labs' digital tools truly shorten the decades-long timeline to commercial fusion energy?
How will Phinorm's drone-detection tech, tested in Ukraine, navigate the complex world of military procurement and international defense regulations?