Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jul 30
Polsky Center Welcomes 14 Entrepreneurs for 2026 Market Navigator, Adding 3-Week Research Lab
Updated
Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jul 30
Polsky Center Welcomes 14 Entrepreneurs for 2026 Market Navigator, Adding 3-Week Research Lab
1 articles · Updated · Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation · Jul 30
Summary
Fourteen entrepreneurs from 11 businesses joined the Polsky Center’s 2026 Market Navigator, a 10-week program for growth-stage B2C companies seeking sustainable expansion.
The cohort will receive in-person workshops, online modules and one-on-one mentoring focused on customer segmentation, pricing, market opportunities, and customer acquisition and retention.
A new three-week market research lab will pair each business with students to produce analyses of market size, competition, customer segments, and data-backed growth recommendations.
Polsky said the lab is meant to deliver professional-grade market intelligence that is often too costly or inaccessible for small businesses on Chicago’s South and West sides.
The 2026 group spans food, technology, arts and culture, child care, professional services, real estate, and workforce development, underscoring the program’s broad small-business reach.