Chicago-Urbana-Champaign

Located in the heart of the United States, Chicago-Urbana-Champaign is a bustling metropolis renowned for its rich cultural heritage, world-class universities, and diverse population.

As the third-largest city in the nation, it offers a multitude of business opportunities and has established itself as a global hub for innovation and technology. With a supportive startup ecosystem, top talent, and affordable living costs, Chicago-Urbana-Champaign is an ideal destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Video Credits: TechChicago Week 2022 #TCW22 (Highlight Reel)

Chicago-Urbana-Champaign is a thriving hub for startups, with 12 Unicorns minted in 2021, including ActiveCampaign and project44. According to M25, a Chicago-based VC firm, it is the best place to launch a new startup and the epicenter of business in the Midwest. In 2021, Chicago-Urbana-Champaign startups raised $7 billion across 372 venture deals, thanks to the range of resources available, such as incubators, accelerators, and venture capital firms, as well as the active involvement of the local government. Notable startup events include the annual TECHSPO Chicago and the Venture Capital World Summit.

The city is home to several prestigious universities, providing opportunities for education and talent acquisition. Alumni of the University of Chicago have founded exciting startups like Grab, Pinterest, and Deliveroo. What sets Chicago-Urbana-Champaign's startup scene apart is its diversity. Women founders raised over $257 million in 2021, and TechRise awarded nearly $1 million in seed funding to more than 42 early-stage Black- and Latino-founded startups. In 2022, incubator 1871 launched a new accelerator program for Black-owned businesses, and LongJump, a first-check venture fund, made its first investments in underrepresented founders in Chicago-Urbana-Champaign.

Chicago-Urbana-Champaign's welcoming attitude, central location, and opportunities for startups make it an ideal location for business and leisure alike.

Academic Details

Financial Details

NOC programme is financially neutral, whereby students should not incur additional costs due to their participation in the programme. During the programme, students will continue to pay for regular living expenses with their personal allowances, while they will be paid a monthly stipend to defray the additional expenses for living overseas. Students continue to pay regular tuition fee to NUS for the duration of the programme, while programme costs will be borne by NOC. Personal expenditures are expected to vary, as it depends on the individual preferences and lifestyle.

NUS Overseas Colleges will provide or cover the following:

Tuition fees for approved entrepreneurship courses at the partner university
Consulting professor appointed to supervise student on internship
Start-up mentorship for students
NUS student travel insurance

Students need to pay:

Your regular tuition and other miscellaneous fees to NUS
Regular overseas living expenses
Round trip air-fare to Chicago
Additional expenses incurred for interest/recreational activities

NOC Components	Units (Max)
Internship courses	32
Entrepreneurship courses	8
ETP2271 Discovering Resilience and Purpose	2
Total	42