MFV Partners, a deep technology venture capital firm, has launched Harper Court Ventures Fund I, a $25 million fund aimed at early-stage startups from the University of Chicago ecosystem. Announced on May 29, the fund will focus on pre-seed and seed-stage companies that leverage research and innovation from UChicago labs and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
The fund is managed by MFV Partners with an exclusive cooperation agreement with the University. It aims to support ventures in sectors such as quantum computing, life sciences, energy, and artificial intelligence. Over the next three years, Harper Court Ventures plans to invest in approximately 40 startups.
Investors include the UChicago Endowment and several members of the University's Board of Trustees like Andy Alper, Ken Jacobs, Ashley Duchossois Joyce, Rachel Kohler, Michael Polsky, Emmanuel Roman, and Donald Wilson.
Initial investments have been made in three UChicago-related companies: Flow Medical is developing catheter-based therapy for pulmonary embolism; SimCare AI is creating a platform for clinical skills training using AI-generated patient conversations; Beacon focuses on illness prevention technology that eliminates viruses from air and surfaces.
MFV Partners was founded in 2018 in Silicon Valley and has invested in startups across various technologies. Karthee Madasamy leads MFV Partners. He said: “Through this partnership, we aim to cement Chicago’s position as a deep tech hub in the Midwest by bringing our proven approaches to early-stage ventures in the University of Chicago’s ecosystem.”
UChicago President Paul Alivisatos commented on the partnership: “We are pleased to have a new partner in Harper Court Ventures.” He emphasized its potential to enhance breakthroughs that serve society.
Samir Mayekar from the Polsky Center noted: “The launch of Harper Court Ventures will help ensure innovations in the University of Chicago ecosystem have the best chance of succeeding—giving entrepreneurs the runway needed to hit key milestones and accelerate their path to market.”
The collaboration aims to strengthen Chicago's position as a leader in deep tech innovation through strategic investments.