Caroline Thies

60 Hazelwood Dr. Electronics, Hardware Software, Analytics, Mobile Applications Tenant Directory

Provenance Security

Provenance Security akulagoyal@gmail.com (925) 413-5010 60 Hazelwood Dr. Provenance Security revolutionizes computer security by transforming how security metadata is represented, capturing the causal relationships between system events and providing a deeper understanding of threats. Utilizing advanced graph analytics, Provenance Security can dramatically reduce costs by eliminating the many false alarms plaguing legacy malware detection systems. Moreover, the company’s data representation automates fine-grained alert correlation and response and offers clear and concise explanations of attacker’s movements. As a result, threat analysts can focus on real threats – enhancing the organization’s overall security posture. Provenance Security at Research Park Provenance Security receives Catapult Award and Student Startup Tenancy

Provenance Security Read Post »

Community EnterpriseWorks Events Investments Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards

Eight Cozad New Venture Challenge Startups Receive Awards from EnterpriseWorks

Eight student startups who competed in the 2025 Cozad New Venture Challenge received awards from Research Park and EnterpriseWorks. The CNVC is a campus-wide program run by the Technology Entrepreneur Center that provides mentoring to teams through the phases of venture creation, and resources in idea validation, pitching skills, and customer development.  EnterpriseWorks Catapult Award: includes up to $5,000 in professional support services to assist in new venture formation, in addition to student startup tenancy. Catapult recipients are:  Instinfo, a website where attendees can press a single button to get more information about a live presentation in real time Pinata Diagnostics, a startup that is using proximity aptamers for point-of-care ultrasensitive protein detection, allowing for rapid testing for traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and more The Student Startup Tenancy award, which includes access to EnterpriseWorks entrepreneurship resources including professional consulting, co-working space, and more, was awarded to: Earlynosis, an AI-powered wearable biosensor for real-time sepsis detection Sensiboo is building the future of human development with a playtime planning app and wearable device that empowers parents to optimize early brain growth through personalized, enriching, real-world experiences Sprout, the first balloon-expandable RV-PA conduit that will replace right ventricular outflow tracts for congenital heart disease patients Tandemn, a software company that combines idle GPUs into a high-performance network for AI compute YoTally, a startup that is developing a smart stitch counter to prevent miscounting stitches while crocheting   Research Park is proud to be of the sponsors of the newly launched Dr. P. Street College Innovation Prize. The Dr. P Street College Innovation Prize was created to honor the memory of Dr. William Patterson, a beloved member of the University of Illinois innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem who passed away in 2024. This prize recognizes student entrepreneurs using technology and education to empower the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship of under-resourced communities. EnterpriseWorks contributed $2,500 of in-kind business incorporation professional services. Strand Logic is the winner of the inaugural Dr. P Innovation Prize. Strand is revolutionizing Black hair care with innovative technology, automating synthetic hair separation to eliminate prep time.     EnterpriseWorks Student Memberships Available  EnterpriseWorks is pleased to offer student memberships to select Cozad teams who are continuing to work on their businesses and are interested in being part of the broader Champaign-Urbana startup community. Interested teams are encouraged to apply by filling out this form, mentioning participation in CNVC. Past participants of the program include EnterpriseWorks graduates Cast21, DeepWalk, Mesh++, Prenosis, Psyonic, and Serionix, in addition to current EnterpriseWorks startups Natrion and ZiteAI. Learn more about Cozad on the TEC website.

Eight Cozad New Venture Challenge Startups Receive Awards from EnterpriseWorks Read Post »

Media Gallery

APTech Grand Opening

Applied Pavement Technology, Inc celebrated the grand opening of its Research Park headquarters on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. APTech is a leading consultancy firm specializing in pavement engineering and management solutions, collaborating with clients to support data-driven and performance-based decision-making that improves transportation infrastructure. After several years of company growth, APTech’s home base relocated from downtown Urbana to its Research Park business center in September 2024.

APTech Grand Opening Read Post »

Media Gallery

Mondelēz Grand Opening

Mondelēz International, one of the world’s largest snack companies, opened its Research Park innovation center on April 9, 2025. Mondelēz FutureLab aims to leverage forward-thinking perspectives from students across multiple disciplines to identify disruptive concepts, experiment with emerging technologies, and challenge conventional product development processes.

Mondelēz Grand Opening Read Post »

Community Events News Research Park

Mondelez International opens Innovation Center at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (April 9, 2025) – Mondelēz International, one of the world’s largest snack companies, has opened an innovation center at the University of Illinois Research Park, its first on a college campus.    Mondelēz FutureLab aims to leverage forward-thinking perspectives from students across multiple disciplines. By leveraging the abilities and unfiltered imagination of students, Mondelēz seeks to identify disruptive concepts, experiment with emerging technologies, and challenge conventional product development processes.   FutureLab provides interns with campus resources, flexible innovation processes, and support to help materialize their innovative ideas, and to test their magical hypotheses.  “By embracing unconventional collaborations, Mondelēz reinforces its position as leading the future of snacking, driving superior innovation that meets the evolving needs of consumers in a rapidly changing world ,” said Marylena Meza, SVP R&D Strategy & Excellence of Mondelēz. “This initiative not only strengthens Mondelēz’s commitment to fostering innovation, it also provides students with invaluable hands-on experience, mentorship, and the chance to see their ideas come to life.”    FutureLab opened with a small team of research and development professional leaders from within the company. When fully occupied, FutureLab will host a team of University of Illinois student interns working year-round.  “Mondelēz is eager to tap into student insights to develop products and experiences that resonate with emerging consumer preferences, and where better to do that than our land grant institution – a state focused on ag and food innovation,” said Dr. Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “With Mondelēz’s Chicago roots, there’s all the more reason to be optimistic about the future of the state’s booming bioeconomy.”   Students will have the opportunity to work on new and evolving research projects that will bring together traditional sciences and other disciplines such as music and arts, leveraging digital approaches. Interns will gain industry experience while making real contributions to internal corporate R&D programs, skills that will benefit students as they move forward in their careers.   The site is led by Michelle Firrell, who has over 17 years of progressive experience in leading scientific and technical teams, shaping research programs, and driving operations for global organizations.  About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate’s Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on LinkedIn at Mondelēz International: Overview | LinkedIn  About the Research Park at the University of Illinois  The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. Follow the company on LinkedIn at UIResearchPark. 

Mondelez International opens Innovation Center at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Read Post »

60 Hazelwood Dr. Energy, CleanTech Tenant Directory

PowerBox Technologies

PowerBox Technologies contact@powerboxtech.com (202)599-4782 60 Hazelwood Dr. PowerBox Technology specializes in addressing critical challenges faced by manufacturing plants, especially in regions with aging energy infrastructure and fluctuating energy demands. The company’s solutions improve reliability and efficiency and promote sustainability by integrating renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency. From advanced software solutions for power and energy modeling to strategic cost and revenue monitoring, Powerbox’s suite of services is designed to propel energy systems to new heights.  powerboxtech.com PowerBox Technology at Research Park PowerBox founder Oscar Azofeifa featured on Rising Eagles podcast TechRise competition at Research Park Founders Week features finalist PowerBox Technology  PowerBox Technology joins POETS at Research Park

PowerBox Technologies Read Post »

Features Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

Brunswick Site Manager Jeffrey Reifsnyder named to Boating Industry 40 Under 40

Jeffrey Reifsnyder, Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab’s site manager and Advanced Technology Director, was recently recognized on the Boating Industry magazine’s 40 Under 40 list.  Reifsnyder joined Brunswick’s Research Park team in January 2024. The BI DesignLab works with Brunswick’s corporate office to further accelerate the company’s progress in modernizing the recreational boating experience with autonomous docking technology, AI-powered virtual agents for marine applications, and more. “At the Lab, we have anywhere from 10 to 30 interns [who] work with us throughout the year,” said Reifsnyder. “It’s an opportunity…to give to the future by investing in the interns. My hope is that I can inspire the next generation…to not just join the industry, but bring passion and innovation to it.” Learn more about the 40 Under 40 Program, which highlights leaders from a diverse array of recreational boating industry segments, on the Boating Industry website.

Brunswick Site Manager Jeffrey Reifsnyder named to Boating Industry 40 Under 40 Read Post »

Events Research Park

10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit Recap

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Research Park’s 10th Annual AgTech Summit on Thursday, March 6, 2025 fostered conversations surrounding the most pressing AgTech trends, including fintech, computing, and more. Moderators and panelists represented a wide spectrum of AgTech, including leaders from the State of Illinois, the agtech industry, startups, and more.  A major highlight of the Summit was the inaugural Startup World Cup Agriculture & Food Regional. This event brought together 10 innovative startups from seven states for a chance to win the Startup World Cup finale in October. Keep reading for a recap of the AgTech Summit. The event kicked off with opening remarks from our hosts and community leaders. Laura Appenzeller, the Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois opened the day by highlighting Champaign-Urbana’s role as the heart of agriculture land and recognizing the history of the AgTech Summit. Then, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones spoke about the importance of radical collaborations in agriculture for the U. of I. The day’s first panel focused on The Circular Bioeconomy: Bioprocessing in all its Applications. Kim Kidwell, Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the University of Illinois, moderated this discussion, featuring Bühler Group Director of Innovation Thierry Duvanel, L’Oréal Chief Open Innovation/Open Excellence Officer Mohamed Kanji, and Black & Veatch Solutions Manager Jeremy Owen. After The Circular Bioeconomy, the first fireside chat started, spotlighting ADM‘s Chief Commercial Officer of Precision Fermentation, Allyson Fish. Fish sat down with moderator Beth Conerty, the Regional Innovation Officer at IBRL and iFAB.  The program then shifted to the presentation of the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize, which recognizes a University of Illinois entrepreneur focused on agricultural innovations. This year’s winner was Boston Bioprocess, an EnterpriseWorks startup that offers full-suite fermentation and downstream processing services at benchtop and pilot-scale. “It’s been a real pleasure to see them take over one lab after the next at the incubator, and one hire after the next, building an amazing team and startup company that is thriving,” said Laura Appenzeller. https://youtu.be/PRpUj_62EkE?si=oeid3sgPS7Gycbqp The second panel, The Intersection of AgTech & FinTech was moderated by John Reid, the Executive Director at the Center for Digital Agriculture. The panel covered the intersection between finance and agriculture, featuring HarvestIQ Vice President of Product Strategy Eric Barnard, Farmland Stock Exchange Co-founder and CEO Brian Kearney, Compeer Financial Director of New Markets Mary Morgan and CNH Industrial CX Business Product Owner Jennifer Whisman. After a break for lunch and a University department showcase, Research Park Talent Manager Bryan Goode and the AGCO Acceleration Center’s Business Site Lead Karandeep Singh shared how Research Park participated in HackIllinois‘ annual Hackathon on February 28 to March 2.  That was followed by a fireside chat with Kristin Richards, the Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Laura Appenzeller moderated this discussion about AgTech and government policy, business, and more.  The final panel of the day discussed Pushing the Frontiers of Computing to Solve Grand Challenges in Agriculture. Bayer‘s Head of Data, Systems, and Intelligence for Plant Biotech Mark Moran moderated panelists in a discussion of how computing is applied in the AgTech industry. Panelists included Intersect Illinois SVP, Chief Quantum Officer Preeti Chalsani, John Deere Senior Manager of Data Science Jarai Carter, ACES Gardner Associate Professor of Agricultural Policy Jonathan Coppess and Chicago Biomedical Consortium Executive Director Michelle Hoffmann. Wolf Creek Farm was awarded the 2025 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism. “[Wolf Creek Farm] has taken innovation to heart,” said Alex Lovdahl, award presenter and Director of Insights and Analytics at BRANDT. The farm “seamlessly integrates sustainable growing methods, self-designed equipment and precision agriculture to maximize efficiency and quality.” This award presentation was followed by Startup World Cup‘s Agriculture & Food Regional competition, featuring pitches from the following startups:  AGTECHLOGIC INC. — Developed Agtellio, an AI solution helping farms reduce chemical use by up to 90%, lowering costs and improving yields while providing actionable insights for asset efficiency. Cattle Care — Uses computer vision with existing security cameras to measure employee efficiency on dairy farms, enabling performance-based compensation and improving workforce productivity. EarthSense, Inc. — Creates AI-powered farming robots targeting labor shortages and rising costs, initially serving oil palm companies in Asia that manage over 10 million hectares. Re-Nuble — Converts vegetative food byproducts into biological fertilizers and peat replacements, helping commercial farms reduce costs and mitigate pathogen risks through lab-tested products. Vivid Machines — Offers tractor-mountable AI cameras providing real-time, per-plant fruit predictions, enabling precise tree-level decisions to increase fruit size and reduce labor costs. Earnest Agriculture — Produces Prairie Power, a probiotic seed coating that improves soil health, delivering a proven 6 percent yield increase for row crop farmers with measurable ROI. Oaken — Building asset management software to streamline farmland management and financing, automating payments, lease management, and relationship tracking. Good Agriculture — Provides AI-powered farm business management that automates back-office tasks, saving farmers 5-10 hours weekly while improving profitability. Integrated Dynamics, Inc. — Developing high-selectivity waste-to-value technology using synthetic biology and high-temperature microbes to convert organic waste into commodity chemicals. UfarmX — Africa’s largest farmer data and procurement platform connecting smallholder farmers to agribusinesses and financial institutions, eliminating middlemen and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Congratulations to Champaign-based startup EarthSense for winning the 2025 Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional.  The final fireside chat featured Chris Harbourt, CEO of Frenzy Ag, and Ken Paige, Founder, Chief Science Officer and President of Frenzy Ag. The discussion was moderated by EnterpriseWorks Director of Entrepreneurship Gerald Wilson. The 2025 AgTech Innovation Summit concluded with a Tech Showcase of local startups and area innovators during a networking reception. The AgTech Summit is free thanks to its generous sponsors John Deere, AGCO, the College of ACES, Frenzy Ag, Buhler Group, Cooley, GDM, Intersect Illinois, the Illinois/Champaign County Farm Bureau, the University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo and the NSF I-Corps Hub. The AgTech Summit is hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park with support from the University of Illinois, the College of ACES, and the Office of Corporate Relations.

10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit Recap Read Post »

Media Gallery

2025 AgTech Summit

10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit On March 6, 2025, Research Park hosted the 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit. This conference brings together agriculture industry leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, and innovators to learn and share knowledge about the current and future of agtech. The 2025 AgTech Summit included panels, keynote presentations, networking opportunities, a pitch competition, and more. This event is free thanks to our generous sponsors. Save the date for next year’s event on March 10, 2026, or learn more about the AgTech Summit. 

2025 AgTech Summit Read Post »

News Recognition & Awards

Wolf Creek Farm Awarded 2025 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 6, 2025) — Wolf Creek Farm was named the recipient of this year’s Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, an award that honors a grower/producer/farmer who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices. Located in Williamsville, Wolf Creek Farm provides wholesale produce purchase options for farm-to-table retailers, truck farmers, farmers market retailers, distributors, and more. Owner Roger Bock is a University of Illinois alumnus and fifth-generation farmer, tool maker, commercial pilot, and Certified Aerial Applicator. “We use the plant science department [at the University of Illinois] to guide us and answer questions about problems we are having with special crops,” said Bock. “Wolf Creek Farm optimizes lesser growing areas by rotating in edible crops.” The farming operation consists of 1200 acres of corn and soybeans and 15 acres of wholesale vegetables and is also optimized with support from University of Illinois Extension. The Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism was established in 2021 in honor of Glen “GB” Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture, who passed away in late 2020. The BRANDT Foundation partnered with the University of Illinois to provide the winner with a $10,000 prize. “Mentoring good agriculture practices to youth farm workers is a priority of Wolf Creek Farm,” said Chris Baker, who nominated Wolf Creek Farm for the Brandt Prize. Bock said he plans to use the award’s $10,000 prize to expand the farm’s hoop house space. The award was announced at the 2025 AgTech Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. Previous Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism winners include Andrew and Karlie Bowman (2024), Eric Miller (2023), Matt Riggs, (2022), and Will Glazik (2021). About The BRANDT Foundation  The BRANDT Foundation was established in 2012 as a philanthropic extension of BRANDT, Inc. The Brandt family has always stood with their communities and as their company grew, so did the opportunities to give back. The BRANDT Foundation offers donations, grants, and support to charities, organizations, and communities that reside in the same area of the company; geographically and industry-related. About the AgTech Innovation Summit  Produced by the University of Illinois Research Park, the AgTech Innovation Summit is an interactive conference where participants learn and share knowledge about the current state of AgTech and get a look into the future through dynamic panels, inspiring keynote presentations, and networking opportunities. One of the premier AgTech hubs in the nation, Champaign-Urbana is uniquely positioned to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and industry for learning, networking, and advancing this sector.

Wolf Creek Farm Awarded 2025 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism Read Post »