For More Information:
Danyelle Michelini
Technology Entrepreneur Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(217) 333-1210
dmichel2@illinois.edu

CHICAGO, Ill.  (Sept. 18, 2013)  -- Last Thursday, September 12, Polsinelli Intellectual Property Practice held their first Entrepreneur and Investor Forum with the University of Illinois.

As a cross-functional group of attorneys, Polsinelli handles the most complex issues concerning technology, and high tech companies. Polsinelli attorneys counsel companies of all sizes including startups and universities.

Polsinelli hosted the Chicago event with the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses in order to create an environment where the innovation and talent coming from both universities could be showcased to the Chicago investment community.

The forum was kicked off by lightning round presentations from entrepreneurial resources followed by panels of student startups, faculty startups, alumni startups, and investors.

At the close of the evening, companies were given a demo table and the opportunity to network with investors and other attendees.

The forum welcomed over 100 participants from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the Chicago community.

With all of the knowledge, ideas, and innovation present, it is needless to say that this event was a success.

“Our main goal was to connect entrepreneurial ecosystems across the University of Illinois campuses to the investor community in Chicago, and I felt like we succeeded at that”, says Jed Taylor, Assistant Director of the Technology Entrepreneur Center in Urbana-Champaign.

Laura Frerichs, the Research Park Director in Urbana-Champaign also added, “(The forum) made me very proud of our collective efforts. It was very nice showing in Chicago, and I hope we continue to the achievements of Illinois entrepreneurs and our ecosystem.”

The University welcomes the enthusiasm of Chicago firms and companies and will persist in helping startups gain traction among Illinois’ entrepreneurial ecosystem.