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Reflections of an iVenture Fellow

Reflections of an iVenture Fellow

Reflections of an iVenture Fellow

Sanya Rupani Deciding to stay in the cornfields of Champaign-Urbana for the summer wasn’t the most exciting choice I’ve ever made. Knowing little to nothing about iVenture at the time, I made the call simply based upon the multiple glowing reviews...

Manu EdakaraOct 29Comments Disabled

Program directors plan out the space before the program begins

iVenture Begins

iVenture Begins

iVenture directors planning out space before the program begins As another summer rolls around, iVenture has kicked off its 10-week startup accelerator welcoming 15 new talented student ventures to the iVenture family. On Thursday and Friday, the iVenture...

iVentureMay 23Comments Disabled

Entrepreneurial Eye: iVenture from a Fine Arts Perspective

Entrepreneurial Eye: iVenture from a Fine Arts Perspective

Entrepreneurial Eye: iVenture from a Fine Arts Perspective

Interview with Industrial Design major & entrepreneur Kofo Sulaiman, co-founder of Slay’d, an app that better connects minority beauty industry professionals to their customers. iVA: How has your perspective on entrepreneurship changed since...

iVentureOct 30Comments Disabled

Applications for iVenture 4 (2018-2019) now open!

Applications for iVenture 4 (2018-2019) now open!

Applications for iVenture 4 (2018-2019) now open!

Apply to join iVenture 4 (2018-2019)! Final wave applications are due April 30, 2018. Read info below and apply here. The iVenture Accelerator is the educational accelerator for top student startups at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign....

Oct 11Comments Disabled

Communicate like it matters, because it matters! – Jennifer Bechtel

Communicate like it matters, because it matters! – Jennifer Bechtel

Communicate like it matters, because it matters! – Jennifer Bechtel

Jennifer Bechtel from Innovation Living-Learning Community shares her advice on public-speaking and pitching. Jennifer has a background in theater, film directing, and coaching young entrepreneurs in all aspects of professional growth. Go early and...

iVentureJul 24Comments Disabled

Advice on Customer Discovery from ChopBox & TeaSquares Founder Jordan Buckner

Advice on Customer Discovery from ChopBox & TeaSquares Founder Jordan Buckner

Advice on Customer Discovery from ChopBox & TeaSquares Founder Jordan Buckner

Photo cred: DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson Tools for Customer Discovery Founder of ChopBox & TeaSquares, Jordan Buckner, explains that success in costumer discovery comes through research, trial-and-error, and collaboration. Illinois MBA graduate Jordan...

iVentureJun 22Comments Disabled

Mentor Spotlight: cleverbridge & Hyde Park Angels’ Craig Vodnik

Mentor Spotlight: cleverbridge & Hyde Park Angels’ Craig Vodnik

Mentor Spotlight: cleverbridge & Hyde Park Angels’ Craig Vodnik

Craig Vodnik, founder of cleverbridge, continues to support young entrepreneurs by answering iVenture’s questions about mentoring. Hi Craig, As you already know, the iVenture Accelerator works hard to match its resident and alumni teams with mentors....

iVentureJun 16Comments Disabled

Mesh++ featured in Chicago Tribune

Mesh++ featured in Chicago Tribune

Mesh++ featured in Chicago Tribune

Mesh++, a iVenture second cohort, was recently profiled in a Chicago Tribune article for their upcoming pilot with Chicago Park Districts. They build solar powered wi-fi nodes to supply internet in areas of low-power and low-connectivity. Read more...

Mar 15Comments Disabled

Engadget Names Amber Agriculture Top Startup at CES

Engadget Names Amber Agriculture Top Startup at CES

Engadget Names Amber Agriculture Top Startup at CES

Amber Agriculture, a venture in iVenture Accelerator second cohort, has been named the top startup of the 2017 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). See Research Park’s press release for full coverage.

Jan 19Comments Disabled

Cast21 Raises $800K for Their Waterproof, Breathable Cast

Cast21 Raises $800K for Their Waterproof, Breathable Cast

Cast21 Raises $800K for Their Waterproof, Breathable Cast

Cast21, a medical device startup in iVenture’s second cohort, recently raised $800K for the waterproof, breathable casting technology. Check out ChicagoInno’s full story here.

Jan 19Comments Disabled

Therapalz wins Saint Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition

Therapalz wins Saint Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition

Therapalz wins Saint Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition

Therapalz, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student startup that incorporates a therapeutic object to help caretakers better care for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, won the Saint Louis University Real Elevator Pitch Competition on Sunday,...

Dec 08Comments Disabled

Sean Chou, former CTO at Fieldglass, Tells iVenture His Entrepreneurial Story

Sean Chou, former CTO at Fieldglass, Tells iVenture His Entrepreneurial Story

Sean Chou, former CTO at Fieldglass, Tells iVenture His Entrepreneurial Story

On July 24, the iVenture teams excitedly gathered into the Matter Medical Accelerator space to meet and talk with Sean Chou. Once the students sat down, Sean introduced himself as a former University of Illinois student entrepreneur. Since graduating...

iVentureAug 02Comments Disabled

College of Engineering Professor Bruce Litchfield Gives Workshop on Creativity + Innovation

College of Engineering Professor Bruce Litchfield Gives Workshop on Creativity + Innovation

College of Engineering Professor Bruce Litchfield Gives Workshop on Creativity + Innovation

After a morning of individual work time, the students reconvened in the iVenture Commons for a workshop from College of Engineering professor Bruce Litchfield. His class, which has many iVenture alumnas, focuses on the various creative processes, and...

iVentureJun 20Comments Disabled

Serial Entrepreneur + VC Associate Chase Bonhag Talks Collegiate Entrepreneurship

Serial Entrepreneur + VC Associate Chase Bonhag Talks Collegiate Entrepreneurship

Serial Entrepreneur + VC Associate Chase Bonhag Talks Collegiate Entrepreneurship

Chase Bonhag joined the iVenture Fellows today for a lively discussion about humility, gratitude, and the power of supportive advisors. Chase is an Associate at IllinoisVENTURES and has been heavily involved in the local entrepreneurship ecosystem....

iVentureJun 13Comments Disabled

iVenture Welcomes Al Goldstein, CEO of Avant, to Kickoff Summer Session!

iVenture Welcomes Al Goldstein, CEO of Avant, to Kickoff Summer Session!

iVenture Welcomes Al Goldstein, CEO of Avant, to Kickoff Summer Session!

Today kicked off the first day of the 2016-2017 iVenture Accelerator! Following a welcome breakfast, entrepreneur-extraordinaire Al Goldstein joined the Fellows to speak about his journey co-founding three successful companies: Enova International, Pangea...

iVentureJun 07Comments Disabled

Lunch+Office Hours with Kevin Price, CFO of Trunk Club

Lunch+Office Hours with Kevin Price, CFO of Trunk Club

Lunch+Office Hours with Kevin Price, CFO of Trunk Club

Kevin Price, CFO and Co-Founder of Trunk Club, joined the iVenture Accelerator for a lunch talk and office hours. He joined Trunk Club as a founding member in 2008. . He shared his journey on helping Trunk Club get to $100 million in revenues per...

Mar 30Comments Disabled