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At Illinois, we produce Founders.
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A Vibrant Ecosystem, a Legacy of Innovation

From student startup competitions and entrepreneurial courses to the EnterpriseWorks business incubator and the impressive roster of alumni founders, the entrepreneurship ecosystem at Illinois boasts a rich past and promises an exciting future. It’s no surprise that Illinois is a top-10* university when it comes to producing founders.

*PitchBook’s 2024 ranking of universities based on the number of venture capital-backed companies started by alumni.

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Illinois Entrepreneurship by the Numbers

$100M+
venture capital raised by iVenture student teams

4700+
students participated in Cozad New Venture Challenge since 2000

$4M+
in funding awarded to Cozad New Venture Challenge teams

350+
Companies Incubated at EnterpriseWorks since 2003

$206M
raised in SBIR/STTR funding for EnterpriseWorks startups

$2.9B
in additional capital raised by companies supported by Illinois Ventures

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Have 60 seconds?

Hear from some of our alums about why they're involved in the future of entrepreneurship at Illinois.

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Find out how you can plug into our ecosystem!

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Students

Start building skills and connections for your next great idea.

Get Started

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Faculty & Staff

Are you an innovator who's interested in entrepreneurship?

Get Started

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Alumni

Connect with ecosystem leaders and your Illini peers, both old and new.

Get started

 

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You're invited to Founders Week 2026

Make plans to join us for the third annual Founders Week, September 30-October 3, 2026! Entrepreneurship at Illinois' premier event features networking, fireside chats, and the return of the TechRise Startup Pitch Competition! Whether you're a founder looking to fund your new idea or a venture capitalist ready to invest in Illinois startups, Founders Week has something for every entrepreneur.

Learn more about Founders Week and make plans to attend this Fall.

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Looking for one of our primary units?

A technology business incubator and entrepreneurship event hub, located in the Research Park.

Go to EnterpriseWorks site

Find early-stage investors to help take your company from a pioneering venture to a successful start-up.

Go to Illinois Ventures site

Get help moving your research innovations into public use by licensing university intellectual property.

Go to OTM Site

Participate in entrepreneurial activities, such as iVenture Accelerator, and find top faculty researching the science of entrepreneurship. 

Go to OVOE site 

A leading technology hub that cultivates startups as well as increases capabilities for established companies.

Go to Research Park site

An incubator for breakthrough ideation and innovation between science, engineering, and the arts.

Go to SEC site

A center developing the next generation of visionaries and leaders through academic courses, startup competitions, and more.

Go to the site 

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