Former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in Chicago, Samir Mayekar, has been appointed Managing Director of the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, effective November 6, 2023. Mayekar, a tech entrepreneur with experience in academia and government sectors, co-founded NanoGraf, a green-energy company, reports Crain's Chicago Business.
In his former position as Deputy Mayor, Mayekar was instrumental in leading the Invest South/West initiative, a program designed to invest $750 million in mixed-use developments across ten underserved communities on Chicago's South and West sides, according to the Chicago Tribune. He also aided in to the selection and development of Chicago's first casino, an endeavor that sparked controversy.
As the Polsky Center's Managing Director, Mayekar has plans to apply the center's resources for commercializing academic innovation at a University of Chicago. This involves tackling concerns such as climate change and the conscientious implementation of artificial intelligence. Mayekar's appointment coincides with Chicago's emerging status in deep tech commercialization, including a $1 billion federal funding award for the Midwest Hydrogen Hub and the introduction of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, as per the Chicago Tribune.
Mayekar, who has previously served on the board of trustees and as the head of the alumni association at Northwestern University, brings a unique blend of private sector, government, and academic acumen to his new role. Steven Kaplan, a University of Chicago finance professor and Polsky Center co-founder, highlighted Mayekar's extensive range of experiences as beneficial to understanding both the internal and external aspects required in this role, as reported by Crain's Chicago Business.
The Polsky Center has expanded since its establishment in 1998, evolving from supporting entrepreneurship among students at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to promoting tech commercialization, deep science funding, and small business development in the city's South and West sides, furthers the Chicago Tribune. Its recent endeavors include the first U.S quantum technology accelerator program, Duality, and the creation of incubators targeting data science, artificial intelligence, clean tech, and life sciences.
"When we win big things lately, it comes from collaboration," Mayekar stated in an interview, per the Chicago Tribune. As the Polsky Center's new Managing Director, his focus on cultivating partnerships and maximizing his varied background are expected to further contribute to the advancements brought about by the center.
