A bootcamp of up to 30 startups feeding ten into the global Alchemist Accelerator program.
- The offer:
- $50k per company
- Location:
- Chicago, IL, United States
- Equity:
- ~4%
What you need to qualify
- Pre-seed or Seed-stage deep tech startups
- Technical founding teams of at least two co-founders
- Ability to attend the Alchemist Chicago Bootcamp in-person in Chicago (October 2026)
- Global founders welcome; must obtain appropriate visas and be fluent in English
- No University of Chicago affiliation required
- Teams that advance must be able to attend the San Francisco immersions on the deep tech track, or the Duality in-person sessions on the quantum track
Eligibility
- Eligible stages
- All stages
- Countries
- Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval
How to apply
- 1
Submit the online application before the deadline
Apply through the Alchemist Chicago form at form.fillout.com/t/8BiXRGnSwpus. Applications opened 13 July 2026 and close on 20 August 2026 at 3:00 pm.
- 2
Wait for bootcamp selection
Up to 30 startups are selected to participate in the Polsky Center Startup Bootcamp in Chicago.
- 3
Attend the bootcamp in person
The bootcamp runs 19 to 23 October 2026 in Chicago and covers entrepreneurial training, mentorship, IP support and access to the University of Chicago ecosystem. In-person attendance is an eligibility condition, and international founders must arrange their own visas.
- 4
Be evaluated during bootcamp week
Up to 15 teams will advance based on team strength, market opportunity, technology differentiation, traction, and readiness to scale.
- 5
Join Alchemist Launchpad
Teams that advance run January to July 2027 on the deep tech track, or December 2026 to July 2027 on the quantum track with Duality. Launchpad provides personalized mentorship, investor engagement, two in-person immersions in San Francisco and a $50K SAFE investment, ending in demo day.