Harper Court Ventures is a newly launched $25 million pre-seed and seed fund managed by MFV Partners in affiliation with the University of Chicago and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Established in 2025, the fund is designed to support deep tech and life science startups with connections to the university, including faculty, alumni, and research teams. It represents a strategic partnership between institutional capital and academic innovation, aiming to commercialize cutting-edge research and amplify the university's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The fund focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments in deep tech and life sciences. Harper Court Ventures is particularly interested in university-affiliated startups that are science- and technology-driven, with potential to generate transformational impact in sectors like biotech, medical devices, quantum computing, advanced materials, and AI-driven healthcare solutions. Eligible companies typically include spinouts or startups with strong ties to University of Chicago talent or IP.
Launched in June 2025, the Harper Court Ventures Fund I totals $25 million and plans to invest in approximately 40 companies over the next three years. Typical initial checks will range from $250,000 to $500,000, with additional reserves set aside for follow-on investments in high-performing startups.
The fund is backed by a mix of institutional and individual limited partners, including the University of Chicago endowment, a major Chicago-based financial institution, as well as trustees, alumni, and friends of the university.
Notably, a portion of the fund’s carry is earmarked to be donated back to the University of Chicago and the Polsky Center to further support innovation and entrepreneurship on campus. This creates a unique flywheel: the more the fund succeeds, the more it fuels the university’s innovation engine.
Leadership
Harper Court Ventures is managed by MFV Partners, a venture capital firm led by Karthee Madasamy, a University of Chicago Booth School of Business alumnus and seasoned investor with deep expertise in frontier technologies. MFV brings a strong track record in managing institutional funds, providing portfolio support, and investing at the intersection of academia and commercialization.
Investment Strategy
Harper Court Ventures employs a thesis-driven approach focused on identifying breakthrough technologies emerging from university labs and founder-led teams with a strong technical edge. The fund acts as an institutional-grade bridge between early innovation and scalable commercial ventures, offering both capital and hands-on support. Harper Court Ventures leverages the resources of the Polsky Center and MFV’s venture infrastructure to provide strategic guidance, operational support, and follow-on fundraising mentorship.
Notable Investments
As a newly launched fund, Harper Court Ventures’ portfolio has not yet been made public. However, the firm has announced plans to back 40 startups affiliated with the University of Chicago over its first three years, with particular attention to deep tech and life sciences.
