Taking Startups to the Next Level: TransUnion Partners with University of Chicago’s Polsky Center
Partnership will provide students with a go-to-market strategy and startup solution
A new partnership between TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) and the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will take startups to the next level with the use of cutting-edge data assets.
The program supports entrepreneurial innovation and provides University of Chicago students with access to TransUnion’s Startup Credit Kit, a suite of innovative solutions to support FinTech startup development. Student-led startups that are referred into the program and approved by TransUnion will be able to utilize TransUnion’s anonymized data to test out business model concepts, determine product viability, and explore untapped opportunities in high-potential market segments.
“We are thrilled to partner with TransUnion and offer this program to our students so they may access crucial tools and information for successfully launching a business,” said Starr Marcello, executive director of the Polsky Center and an assistant adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago.
The Startup Credit Kit offers faster access to cutting-edge alternative and trended credit and fraud prevention data, allowing entrepreneurs to quickly take a concept into a market-ready solution. The two available packages support startups through the planning and launch phases. The Planning Package involves depersonalized solutions for early stage planning and development. The Launch Package includes personalized solutions for new startups going live.
To kick-off the partnership, TransUnion hosted 57 students from the CUPP Fintech Bootcamp, a partnership program between Hong Kong Cyberport, Chicago Booth Executive Education and the Polsky Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The event showcased TransUnion’s approach to supporting FinTech innovation at a global level and covered topics such as technology and consumer data to present a comprehensive overview of the startup lifecycle.
“Hong Kong is part of a strong tech ecosystem and has become a leading hub for FinTech startups,” said John Wirth, vice president of FinTech strategy and market development at TransUnion. “It is great to connect with tomorrow’s business leaders in an emerging FinTech market and offer insight into our data-driven solutions and analytics capabilities.”
Investors, universities, and non-profits that are interested in launching a similar program and would like their portfolio companies to gain access to these solutions, are encouraged to contact TransUnion at startup_creditkit@transunion.com for more information.
About TransUnion (NYSE:TRU)
Information is a powerful thing. At TransUnion, we realize that. We are dedicated to finding innovative ways information can be used to help individuals make better and smarter decisions. We help uncover unique stories, trends and insights behind each data point, using historical information as well as alternative data sources. This allows a variety of markets and businesses to better manage risk and consumers to better manage their credit, personal information and identity. Today, TransUnion has a global presence in more than 30 countries and a leading presence in several international markets across North America, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Through the power of information, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies and families and safer communities worldwide.
We call this Information for GoodSM. http://www.transunion.com/business
About the Polsky Center
The University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation brings the power of ideas in the laboratory, classroom and community to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs UChicago’s top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge, which has helped launch more than 200 companies worldwide that have gone on to achieve more than $9 billion in value and raised over $600 million in funding. The mission of the Polsky Center is to support students, faculty, alumni, and community members by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, idea and action, and research and impact. By igniting a spirit of innovation and fostering connections that extend across the University, city, region and world, the Polsky Center enables more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society. Learn more at polsky.uchicago.edu.
