Get Involved: Alumni
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- Get Involved: Alumni
Deep Illini Ties
Our alumni helped entrepreneurship become a key differentiator for Illinois – and they continue to be a part of where we’re heading next.
Dear fellow Illini,
Like many of you, I’m a proud product of Illinois’ entrepreneurship legacy. It’s an honor to be back on campus, working alongside leaders who are shaping a bold future for Illini Entrepreneurship. But continuing to lead in this space requires more than institutional effort – it takes everyone who believes in the potential of Illinois.
That’s why I’m asking you to get involved. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, executive, or mentor, your experience and energy can help cultivate the next generation of Illini founders. There are countless ways to engage – from advising student teams and investing in ventures, to guest speaking and supporting new programs.
With your involvement, we can build an ecosystem that not only sustains our legacy but propels us to the very top among public universities. We all have a role to play – and I hope you’ll embrace this opportunity to help shape the future of Illini Entrepreneurship.
- Gerald Wilson, Director of Entrepreneurship
Let’s go!

Let's connect!
Ready to get involved our enterpreneurial programs and support the next generation of talent?
We can help match you with the right opportunities. Fill out this alumni questionnaire to tell us more about you, your company, and how you might want to engage.
Get Involved
Be a mentor or judge a competition via programs like I-Corps, the Cozad New Venture Challenge, and other TEC programs.
Network and share your expertise at Founders Week, the Ag Tech Summit, and other Research Park events.
Tap into resources like those available through the FAST Center.
Engage Illinois students with your company by sponsoring a project, recruiting interns, and more.
It takes a village to build a start-up, and it takes a ton of villages to build an ecosystem… Being able to be in a place like Illinois, where we have knowledge capital, IP capital, and university capital, increases the likelihood of success for the companies coming out of here.
Chika Umeadi
Product Manager, Google, Illinois alum 2010
Founders Week 2025 is October 8-11
Nearly 300 Illini investors, founders and entrepreneurs came to campus last fall for our first-ever Founders Week.
Join us this year to connect with our extended ecosystem and learn about the latest and greatest developments.