EnterpriseWorks

The Research Park is thrilled to announce that Cynthia Faullin, who brings 10 years of intensive experience with deep-tech startups and entrepreneurs, will return to EnterpriseWorks as the Associate Director for Operations starting June 20. Faullin will serve as the primary touchpoint for EnterpriseWorks tenants and affiliated entrepreneurs, ensuring that the facility meets the needs of its entrepreneurs and startups, both physical and programmatic. She will be responsible for overseeing leasing and property management for the building and its grounds. For the past two years Faullin was the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois-Chicago. There, she oversaw the Technology Innovation Lab which provides laboratory and office space to UIC early-stage startups as well as programming and consulting for entrepreneurs who are commercializing research-based technologies. Faullin first joined EnterpriseWorks in 2014, developing extensive knowledge of the complexity of academic tech entrepreneurship. She was well known for her customer-centric, engaging approach to accomplished CEOs and the entrepreneurial curious alike. Prior to her first stint at EnterpriseWorks, Cynthia spent 10 years in commercial real estate where she was part of a team that specialized in mixed-use development in downtown Champaign. She previously worked on the UIUC campus in undergraduate academic affairs and later career services. Cynthia is a proud Canadian, and has Bachelor degrees in English Literature and Women’s Studies from Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario.

CHAMPAIGN, Il. – The Illinois AgTech Accelerator kicked off the 2023 gener8tor AgTech cohort on March 20, with Serra Ventures serving as a key partner. The accelerator is investing $100k in five high-growth AgTech and agriculture startups, providing a concierge, white-glove experience to each of them. EnterpriseWorks startup Boston Bioprocess is among the five companies chosen to participate. The others include Milwaukee-based Agricycle; Toronto-based Just Vertical; Brazil-based DigiFarmz Smart Agriculture; and Boston-based RevivBio. At the end of the program, startup founders will pitch their companies to investors, community partners and the public at a showcase event at Parkland College on June 6. The gener8tor AgTech Accelerator is designed to set a path for startups emerging ag and food technologies succeed by leveraging local, regional and global partnerships with investors, corporations and academic institutions. “We’re excited to partner with gener8tor to help support early-stage AgTech and Agriculture startups in the Midwest,” said Dennis Beard, managing partner at Serra Ventures. “Illinois is home to world-class institutions like the University of Illinois, and we believe this partnership can help grow the next generation of startups in the region.” Other program supporters include Agri-Fab, GEM Realty Capital, University of Illinois Research Park, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, and BASF. Startup companies and founders interested in learning more about the Illinois AgTech Accelerator and resources or applying to a future program are encouraged to visit the gener8tor website.

Matt Meltzer, an immigration attorney and partner in Chicago-based Meltzer Hellrung, has joined the EnterpriseWorks Entrepreneur-in-Residence program. Meltzer is now available to meet with technology entrepreneurs and startup ventures. “As an entrepreneur, I deeply enjoy working with fellow entrepreneurs. The US immigration pathways for entrepreneurs are never easy; but with solid planning and creativity, we can work towards making a path possible,” Meltzer said. Meltzer is no stranger to the EnterpriseWorks and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign entrepreneurship community. He has led workshops and delivered lectures on topics related to employment authorization and immigration pathways for entrepreneurs. View a previous webinar below. The EIR allows entrepreneurs to seek help from experienced and successful members from the EIR over a variety of topics including business consulting, strategy assistance, marketing and communication help, investor preparedness. This program also hosts a series of events featuring the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. To learn more about the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program or request to meet with Meltzer, click here. BIOGRAPHY: Matt co-founded Meltzer Hellrung in 2014 with his business partner, Matthew Hellrung. Their vision was to combine exceptional, strategic, and programmatic legal guidance with best-in-class technology to provide a service that makes immigration management easier for companies and more transparent, intuitive, and reassuring for foreign national employees. In addition, Matt continues to strive to build a workplace that treats employees with dignity and invests in their long-term success. Matt’s clients range from entrepreneurs to small and growth-phase companies to multinational corporations. In his practice, he has built up a specialty working with emerging companies, including entrepreneurs, foreign companies entering the US market, and high-growth venture backed companies. Matt works closely with clients to help them assess immediate legal needs and build strategies that scale with continued growth. Matt advises companies regarding employee hiring and I-9 compliance, immigration policy, reorganizations and mergers, global immigration and expansion, and government inspections. View his complete bio here.