The iVenture team.
The incredible Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship is led by a small full-time staff. Current and emeritus staff members have led the 20+ programs that comprise the entire ecosystem.
Manu Edakara
Manu Edakara
Hello, I'm Manu. In my role, I coach a diverse array of ambitious young people on career — especially those inspired to pursue entrepreneurship. A significant portion of my time is spent thinking through career, vision, impact, and life goals, often in very uncertain and risky future scenarios.
Mayank Mehta
Mayank Mehta
Hello! My name is Mayank, and I exist at the intersection of social impact, brand strategy, and human centered design. With a spiritual lens, I'm always looking to see how impact at scale begins and create a stronger foundation for all change-makers to create a brighter impact in our world.
Sahana Raj
Sahana Raj
Hello! My name is Sahana. By harnessing data-driven insights and life-centered systems thinking, I design for productive dialogue and sustainable innovation—ensuring that thoughtful design excludes no one.
Staff, emeritus
Staff, emeritus
iVenture wouldn't be where it is without them here first.
iVenture wouldn't be where it is without them here first.
Professor Noah Isserman is the reason iVenture exists, plain and simple. A Gates Scholar from Cambridge focused on the financing and future of social goods, Professor Isserman worked with hundreds of nonprofits, companies, and government boards, mostly at the board level, on six continents. A former CEO with two successful exits, Noah is the founder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation and the inaugural Faculty Director of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. His visionary leadership led to our extraordinary values and community. Today, he continues to advise and invest in the next generation of founders.
Professor Noah Isserman is the reason iVenture exists, plain and simple. A Gates Scholar from Cambridge focused on the financing and future of social goods, Professor Isserman worked with hundreds of nonprofits, companies, and government boards, mostly at the board level, on six continents. A former CEO with two successful exits, Noah is the founder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation and the inaugural Faculty Director of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. His visionary leadership led to our extraordinary values and community. Today, he continues to advise and invest in the next generation of founders.
Ryan Singh is the cofounder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation. As our lead coordinator, Ryan was instrumental in building the operations and community of our office. He is also the co-founder and COO of Loop Health (an iVenture 1 startup), where he's focused on pioneering value-based and preventative healthcare in India.
Ryan Singh is the cofounder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation. As our lead coordinator, Ryan was instrumental in building the operations and community of our office. He is also the co-founder and COO of Loop Health (an iVenture 1 startup), where he's focused on pioneering value-based and preventative healthcare in India.
Kristin Walters was part of the iVenture founding team as our Communications Director and guided our messaging through challenging times such as the pandemic.
Kristin Walters was part of the iVenture founding team as our Communications Director and guided our messaging through challenging times such as the pandemic.
Program Fellowship
The iVenture staff is supported by incredible Fellows. From operations to events to data to social media to videography to DEI, the iVenture Fellows span a wide variety of professions across a diverse number of colleges, majors, and dreams.
Multi-cohort fellows.
They loved iVenture so much they decided to come back again and again.
New year, new Fellow friends.
The iVenture Fellowship grows every year. We couldn't be who we are without them being who they are.
Manu Edakara
Hello, I'm Manu. In my role, I coach a diverse array of ambitious young people on career — especially those inspired to pursue entrepreneurship. A significant portion of my time is spent thinking through career, vision, impact, and life goals, often in very uncertain and risky future scenarios.
Mayank Mehta
Hello! My name is Mayank, and I exist at the intersection of social impact, brand strategy, and human centered design. With a spiritual lens, I'm always looking to see how impact at scale begins and create a stronger foundation for all change-makers to create a brighter impact in our world.
Sahana Raj
Hello! My name is Sahana. By harnessing data-driven insights and life-centered systems thinking, I design for productive dialogue and sustainable innovation—ensuring that thoughtful design excludes no one.
Staff, emeritus
iVenture wouldn't be where it is without them here first.
Professor Noah Isserman is the reason iVenture exists, plain and simple. A Gates Scholar from Cambridge focused on the financing and future of social goods, Professor Isserman worked with hundreds of nonprofits, companies, and government boards, mostly at the board level, on six continents. A former CEO with two successful exits, Noah is the founder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation and the inaugural Faculty Director of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. His visionary leadership led to our extraordinary values and community. Today, he continues to advise and invest in the next generation of founders.
Ryan Singh is the cofounder of iVenture Accelerator and Illinois Social Innovation. As our lead coordinator, Ryan was instrumental in building the operations and community of our office. He is also the co-founder and COO of Loop Health (an iVenture 1 startup), where he's focused on pioneering value-based and preventative healthcare in India.
Kristin Walters was part of the iVenture founding team as our Communications Director and guided our messaging through challenging times such as the pandemic.
Program Fellowship
The iVenture staff is supported by incredible Fellows. From operations to events to data to social media to videography to DEI, the iVenture Fellows span a wide variety of professions across a diverse number of colleges, majors, and dreams.
Multi-cohort fellows.
They loved iVenture so much they decided to come back again and again.
New year, new Fellow friends.
The iVenture Fellowship grows every year. We couldn't be who we are without them being who they are.
High school shadow
iV9
iVenture Accelerator
The educational accelerator for startups ready to scale within the U of I system – a program of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship.
iVenture Accelerator
The educational accelerator for startups ready to scale within the U of I system – a program of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship.
iVenture Accelerator
The educational accelerator for startups ready to scale within the U of I system – a program of the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship.