University of Chicago President endorses $25M Harper Court Ventures fund launch

The University of Chicago has launched Harper Court Ventures Fund I, a $25 million early-stage deep tech fund aimed at investing in transformative startups emerging from its ecosystem.

Managed by MFV Partners, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm with a strong track record in quantum computing, robotics, AI, and climate technologies, the fund plans to back approximately 40 startups over the next three years.

"We are pleased to have a new partner in Harper Court Ventures," said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, highlighting the fund's role as a new engine of innovation for the Midwest and beyond.

The fund is led by Chicago Booth alumnus Karthee Madasamy, MBA '06, and supported by investors including the UChicago Endowment and several members of the University's Board of Trustees.

The University of Chicago ecosystem is uniquely positioned for this initiative, featuring more than 160 interdisciplinary institutes and centers, 50 state-of-the-art core facilities, and 101 affiliated Nobel laureates. This infrastructure supports the development and scaling of technologies addressing some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

One example of innovation from the university is Flow Medical, founded by UChicago researchers, which is developing treatments for acute pulmonary embolism.

MFV Partners, founded in 2018, has a history of investing in early-stage deep tech startups that have become category leaders, reinforcing the potential impact of Harper Court Ventures in fostering transformative technologies.

This fund represents a significant commitment to deep tech innovation, leveraging the university’s research strengths and venture capital expertise to accelerate startup growth and regional economic development.

The University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos endorsed the launch of Harper Court Ventures, a $25 million early-stage deep tech fund managed by MFV Partners. The fund aims to invest in about 40 transformative startups from the university’s ecosystem over three years, supported by the UChicago Endowment and trustees.