In the News

Below is a sampling of articles and news from print media and the internet about entrepreneurship featuring Chicago Booth faculty, alumni, and students.

For more entrepreneurship news, check out Event Coverage and our newsletter, the New Venture News.

Angel investors add green to Chicago pastures
Chicago Tribune, February 17, 2010
Hyde Park Angels, the Polsky Center's affiliated angel network, provides a forum for members to invest in seed and early stage businesses in the region. Read article.

EBay, Amazon Offer Route to New Career for Jobless Americans
Crain's Chicago Business, February 8, 2010
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship, provides her insight into starting a business on online sites like eBay. Read article.

How to Hire an HR Director
Inc.com, February 1, 2010
Ellen Rudnick, '73 Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship lends her advice in this in-depth article about HR needs at a small firm. Read article.

Something for the Weekend
FT.com, January 29, 2010
Luigi Zingales, Robert C. McCormack Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, talks about the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index, which he coauthors each quarter. Read article and read more about the Index.

TransFS Shines Light on Credit Card Processors
Chicago Sun-Times, January 11, 2010
Chicago-based startup TransFS, which participated in the 2009 NVC and grew in the Polsky Center's ARCH incubator, was featured for its new online credit card processing directory, which helps small businesses save money. Read article.

"GE Is Flat-footed, Not Knowledgeable and Missing What the Local Market Needs"
Forbes India, December 16, 2009
James Schrager, PhD '93, clinical professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management, gave a candid Q&A on GE's management strategy and growth in India. Read article.

Coffee with a Mission
Chicago Tribune, December 11, 2009
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship, provides her insight into the social benefits that businesses are tapping into. Read article.

Waiting for the Right Price at the Right Time Online
Chicago Sun-Times, November 30, 2009
TransFS, founded by Sean Harper, '09, and Joshua Krall, '09, which was a participant in the 2008 New Venture Challenge, is featured in this article. The Chicago-based start-up features a reverse-auction for small businesses to find the most economical credit card processing rates. Read article.

Owning it: power and change
Crain's Chicago Business, September 21, 2009
Linda Darragh, director of entrepreneurship programs, was quoted in this feature on women entrepreneurs in the Chicago business community. Read article.

Generation Success
Entrepreneur Magazine, September 2009
Current part-time student Brian Taylor was a featured entrepreneur on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine with his company, Kernel Season's, which he started while an undergrad. Read article.

Power2Switch Lets Consumers Choose Their Electricity Suppliers
The New York Times, August 15, 2009
Power2Switch, which was launched through the 2009 New Venture Challenge (NVC), was a featured start-up by VentureBeat for its innovative approach to allow consumers and businesses to find cost-effective electricity. The article also references the company's partnership with TransFS, a 2008 NVC company. Read article.

Berkeley Ventures Creates Initial Portfolio to Meet Change in Venture Ecosystem
Forbes.com, August 4, 2009
2009 New Venture Challenge companies Power2Switch and Virtual Labs were selected as two of the first four portfolio companies for Berkeley Ventures, a new Bay Area incubator for early-stage tech startups. Quoted in the article is Waverly Deutsch, clinical professor of entrepreneurship. who comments on the importance of incubators. Read article.

Will Your Product Sell?
Forbes.com, June 5, 2009
2009 NVC finalist In Context Solutions, founded by part-time student Bob Gillespie, was named to Forbes list of "America's Most Promising Companies." Read article.

Her Light Shines
Chicago Sun-Times, May 30, 2009
Linda Darragh, clinical associate professor entrepreneurship and Polsky Center director of entrepreneurship programs, won the won Illinois Technology Association's CityLIGHTS award for her various efforts in support of entrepreneurial development. Read article.

iPhone "Bump" Has Chicago Connection
NBC-5, April 29, 2009
The Polsky Center, the ARCH Incubator, and student businesses Bump Technologies and ProOnGo were featured in this NBC-5 profile. Watch video.

Wicker Park's iCream is a 21st Century Parlor
ABC-7, April 21, 2009
Co-founded by Cora Shaw, '08 and Jason McKinney, '06, iCream recently opened a new, innovative cafe, offering instant, made-to-order ice cream. Read article and watch video.

Therapists Use Internet to Treat Reluctant Veterans
Chicago Public Radio - WBEZ, April 20, 2009
Prevail Health Solutions, co-founded by Richard Gengler, '09 and Roger Sweis, '08, is featured for its efforts to reach veterans who shy away from the therapist's couch. Read or listen to article.

The Elevator Pitch: T&E Cleanup
BusinessWeek, April 3, 2009
Second year student Phillip Leslie provides the elevator pitch for his company ProOnGo LLC, and receives feedback from a seasoned venture capitalist. ProOnGo was a finalist at the 2008 New Venture Challenge and is currently located in the ARCH Venture Partners New Business Incubator. Read article.

New iPhone app works by bump, not touch
Chicago Tribune, March 30, 2009
Current New Venture Challenge phase II team Bump Technologies, founded by first year Chicago Booth students David Lieb and Jake Mintz, is featured for its new, innovative approach to transfer data. Read article.

Board of advisers can offer ideas to keep grow business, create opportunities
Chicago Tribune, March 2, 2009
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship, offers insight into the benefits of setting up a board. Read article.

Online recruiting industry helps fulfill dreams
New York Times, February 28, 2009
CaptainU, the 2008 New Venture Challenge co-winner and its founder and president Avi Stopper, '06, are included for their successes in the online sports recruiting process. Read article.

Profiting in choppy markets
The Economic Times, February 13, 2009
Raj Mujumder, '07, founder and CEO of Bangalore-based iMetanoia talks about the growth of his young financial and risk management services firm. Read article.

Tracking Buying Patterns with Surveillance Cameras
New York Times, January 1, 2009
ReTel Technologies,a 2008 New Venture Challenge finalist, is featured as one of the year's bright ideas for its powerful shopper analytics. The company, founded by George Aspland, '08, Scott Roberts, '08, and Adam Rodnitzky, '08, is housed in the Polsky Center's ARCH New Business Incubator. Read article.

Leaving the Information Superhighway for Jet Streams of Images
New York Times, December 24, 2008
Cooliris, co-founded by serial entrepreneur Soujanya Bhumkar, '99, is featured for the growth of its innovative visual Web-browsing tool. Read article.

Stopper finding new ways to recruit
ESPNRISE.com, December 4, 2008
Avi Stopper, '06, founder and president of CaptainU, the 2008 New Venture Challenge co-winner, talks about the myths of college sports recruiting. Read Article.

Starting up as the economy goes down
SME Web (UK), November 14, 2008
Linda Darragh, director of entrepreneurship programs at the Polsky Center writes about how entrepreneurs can achieve start-up success in tough economic times. Read article.

No Time Like the Present
Crain's Chicago Business, November 10, 2008
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center Executive Director and clinical professor entrepreneurship offers her insights in this feature about starting a business during a recession. Read article.

At the Speed of Life
New York Times, November 1, 2008
Scott Griffith, '90, CEO of Zipcar, talks about life and passion in this op-ed article. Read article.

The Bailout: A Primer
Forbes.com, October 17, 2008
Steven N. Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, provides his commentary on the breakdown of the credit crisis. Read editorial.

PrepMe Aces the College Tests
BusinessWeek, October 16, 2008
Karan Goel, '06, CEO and co-founder of PrepMe (the 2006 New Venture Challenge winner) is featured for the growth of his start-up. PrepMe is a 2008 Chicago Innovation Awards winner. Read article.

All you have to do is ask
Crain's Chicago Business, October 13, 2008
Linda Darragh, director of entrepreneurship programs at the Polsky Center, talks about important ways entrepreneurs can conduct market research. Read article.

Ricketts' ticket
Crain's Chicago Business, September 15, 2008
Entrepreneur Thomas Ricketts, '93, is in the running to buy the Chicago Cubs. Read article.

One Private Equity Firm's Busy China Niche - Bad Loans
The Wall Street Journal, September 10, 2008
The Deal Journal blog highlights the efforts of Shorline Capital Management in China, which was cofounded by Benjamin Fanger, '05 and Xiaolin Zhang, '04 in 2004. Read article.

Tiny Detergent Maker Scores Big as U.S. Sponsor
The Wall Street Journal, August 11, 2008
Mark Konjevod, '07 (XP-76), founder of WIN Products Inc. talks about the growth of his company and how it became the official detergent of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Read article.

Picking Winners
Economist.com, May 27, 2008
Research from Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, is featured in this article about whether investors should bet on the jockey (the management team) or the horse (the business). Read article.

Leaving Kraft Singles Behind, She's Doing it Her Whey
BusinessWeek Chicago, May 2008
Daphne Mazarakis, '99, who recently left Kraft Foods to start her own line of yogurt with whey protein, is featured in the Fresh Entrepreneurs section of the magazine. Her Evanston-based start-up Tula Foods plans to launch its Better Whey products this summer in Chicago. Read article.

Tolan's Way
Crain's Chicago Business, March 3, 2008
Mary Tolan, '92, CEO of Accretive Health, is featured in this cover story about her efforts to grow Accretive into a $250 million company from scratch over four years. Read article.

Have 2 firms? Make sure they relate
Chicago Tribune, February 11, 2008
Linda Darragh, director of entrepreneurship programs at the Polsky Center and adjunct associate professor of entrepreneurship, and Scott Meadow, clinical professor of entrepreneurship, offer their advice to anyone contemplating taking on two start-up ventures. Read article.

When opportunity calls
Crains, February 11, 2008
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship, provides helpful input to those looking to sell their business. Read article.

LiquidTalk makes solid gains
Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2008
2006 New Venture Challenge participating company LiquidTalk, co-founded by Dan Anderson, '94, is featured for its growth and recent milestones. Read article.

Kauffman Foundation Announces 2008 Entrepreneurship Dissertation Fellows
Kauffman Foundation Press Release, January 2, 2008
GSB doctoral student Erez Yoeli was one of 16 recipients of the 2007-08 Kauffman Dissertation Fellowship and will receive $20,000 for his dissertation "Business Networking in Silicon Valley." Read press release.

Deciding how to grow through acquisition
Fortune Small Business, December 21, 2007
Ellen Rudnick, '73, Polsky Center executive director and clinical professor of entrepreneurship, offers helpful suggestions to a real estate business owner who wants to grow by buying. Read article.

Midwest firms looking to ride the wave of VC investment in clean tech
Medill Reports, December 4, 2007
The Polsky Center's highly successful Midwest Alternative Energy Venture Forum is featured in this article about the growth of the clean technology industry throughout the Midwest. Read article.

U. of C.'s Kaplan helps boost entrepreneurs
Chicago Sun-Times, November 30, 2007
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, received the 2007 Richard J. Daley Medal from the Illinois Venture Capital Association.

Putting the wind in Windy City
Crain's Chicago Business, November 19, 2007
Michael P. Polsky's, '87 company Invenergy LLC is featured for its investments in renewable energy resources. Read article.

Tough CEOs often most successful, a study finds
Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2007
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, talks about his research along with Morten Sorensen, assistant professor of finance and Mark Klebanov, PhD candidate in finance, about the most successful traits for CEOs. Read article.

Is it too good to be true? Start-ups find first pitch of improved technology hard sell
Chicago Tribune, November 12, 2007
Linda Darragh, Polsky Center director of entrepreneurship programs and adjunct associate professor of entrepreneurship, comments on the challenges and opportunities faced by tech-based start-ups. Read article.

Look to outsiders to help you steer
Chicago Tribune, November 5, 2007
James E. Schrager, clinical professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management, provides insight into the benefits of an advisory board to small businesses.

Illinois Venture Capital Association Q&A with Steve Kaplan
IVCA Newsletter, October 24, 2007
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance is interviewed about venture capital and private equity. Read newsletter article.

Cash is king, survey confirms
Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2007
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, talks about his research along with KPMG regarding the use of cash to finance acquisitions versus stock transactions. Read article.

Steven Kaplan Testifies Before House Financial Services Committee
Wall Street Journal, March 8, 2007
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, testified on the "Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act." Read ChicagoBoothNews.

Chicago GSB Team Wins Regional VCIC
Venture Capital Investment Competition, February 10, 2007
Chicago GSB students Mark Buchanan, Sam Kruger, Richard McCormack, Jason Starr, and Vineeth Subramanyam won the prestigious VCIC central regional competition that puts business school students in the shoes of venture capitalists. The team will compete in the international finals April 12-14.

A Startup that Puts Teenagers to the Test
Financial Times, October 26, 2006
Alumnus Karan Goel, '06, on the founding of his college prep company, PrepMe.com. Read article.

Austin Ventures Expands Partner Team
Austin Ventures Press Release, Business Wire, October 24, 2006
Alumnus Phillip Siegel, '88, promoted to partner at Austin Ventures.

Listen to Criticism--That Is if You Find It
Chicago Tribune, October 16, 2006
Alumnus Russ Rosenzweig, '00, CEO of the Roundtable Group Inc., discusses at the end of the article the importance of joining peer-to-peer entrepreneurial groups.

Big School Experience
Crain's Chicago Business, October 16, 2006
Alumnus Sol Kanthack, '00, CEO of Brightroom Inc., answers questions about the reputation of the University of Chicago and how it has positively affected his career. Read article.

Second Acts: From High Finance to Ravioli
US News & World Report, October 1, 2006
Alumnus Timothy Sheerer, '88, former Merrill Lynch executive, gave up his high-paying career in New York City to open a family restaurant in Pittsburgh.
Read article.

Form Follows Function:
What's the Best Way to Structure Your Small Business?
Crain's Chicago Business, August 29, 2006
Waverly Deutsch, clinical professor of entrepreneurship, proposes several ideas for small business owners to consider when they set up their companies, including exit strategy, investors, and control.

Time to Get Plugged In?
Crain's Chicago Business, August 14, 2006
Alumnus Jon Morris, '05, founder of Internet Marketing Initiative, and a New Venture Challenge finalist, comments on the importance of small businesses to be web savvy.

Private Equity's Barbarians Are on Top - for Now
Fortune magazine, August 8, 2006
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, comments on the cyclical state of the private equity industry. Read article.

Their Deal Is Meals on Wheels
Chicago Reader, August 4, 2006
Evening student Matthew Maloney and his partner Mike Evans from GrubHub.com talk about their New Venture Challenge win and how their new company is taking off. Read article.

Biz U: Game Plans
Entrepreneur magazine, August 2006
Waverly Deutsch, clinical professor of entrepreneurship, comments on the game that she developed to simulate real-life business situations. Deutsch also is pictured in the magazine.

Steven C. Preston Is Sworn in as Administrator of SBA
U.S. Small Business Administration press release, July 11, 2006
Alumnus Steven C. Preston, '85, was sworn in July 10, 2006, and is the 22nd administrator of the SBA.

Where New Thinking Is the Only Option
Crain’s Chicago, June 12, 2006
Linda Darragh, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship, comments on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a leader in the futures trading industry, in an article about the CME’s entrepreneurial nature.

Turning a Good Idea into Business
Chicago Sun-Times, May 16, 2006
Waverly Deutsch, clinical professor of entrepreneurship, cites three mistakes entrepreneurs make when marketing their products: letting someone else do the selling; sticking with the same distribution channels throughout a product’s lifecycle; and underestimating the role of luck.

For the Little Guy, Internet Is Leveling the Field
Chicago Sun-Times, May 16, 2006
James E. Schrager, clinical professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management, says “technology has broken down the barriers” for small businesses competing with larger ones.

We’ve got the Horses; it’s Jockeys We Need
Chicago Sun-Times, April 3, 2006
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, discusses with columnist Michael Krauss, AB ’75, MBA ’76, research Kaplan conducted and will present to the National Venture Capital Association luncheon.

Private Inequity
Forbes magazine, March 13, 2006
Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Professor of entrepreneurship and finance, cites research statistics about buyout funds from 1980 to 2001.