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    Recognition & Awards

    EnterpriseWorks, Graduates, Recognition & Awards

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Ascent Integrated Tech Wins at the 23rd Annual Chicago Innovation Awards

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    EnterpriseWorks graduate Ascent Integrated Tech was named one of the winners of the 23rd Annual Chicago Innovation Awards, a celebration of the most innovative products and services in the Chicago region. The Chicago Innovation Awards recognize winners across all industries, including startups, corporations, not-for-profit, and more to demonstrate the breadth of innovation thriving in Illinois. Winners were celebrated on Thursday, November 14, 2024, during a ceremony held at the University of Illinois: Chicago Forum. As a winner, Ascent Integrated Tech will be celebrated on a global stage next summer when they ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City.  The top 100 finalists will also be awarded a scholarship to “The Practical Innovator” at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, an executive education course with a $2,500 value. Ascent Integrated Tech was founded at EnterpriseWorks in the Research Park by Paul Couston and Alex Gorsuch. Couston and Gorsuch designed a software program for first responders, including firefighters, special forces, and SWAT teams. The platform optimizes 3D tracking technology, placed inside helmets and bracelets, to provide commanders with critical information, such as their team’s location. These tracking sensors provide details about the team members’ health and environment, such as CO2 levels, humidity, and airborne metal oxide. Read a full news story about this on Ascent’s website, or view the full list of winners on the Chicago Innovation Awards website.

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Ascent Integrated Tech Wins at the 23rd Annual Chicago Innovation Awards Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Graduates, Media Mentions, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    EnterpiseWorks Graduate Prenosis Earns Spot on TIME’s Best Inventions List

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    Prenosis, EnterpriseWorks startup graduate, has earned a place on TIME’s Best Inventions of the Year list for its innovative Sepsis ImmunoScore. Sepsis ImmunoScore is an AI diagnostic tool transforming sepsis care—a critical need in U.S. hospitals, where nearly 1.7 million patients are affected annually. The system analyzes 22 health metrics, including vital signs and blood measurements, to provide a rapid sepsis risk score, helping doctors diagnose and predict severe cases within 24 hours. “The Sepsis ImmunoScore is setting a new standard of proactive sepsis care—where faster and more accurate prediction and diagnosis is essential to saving lives,” CEO and co-founder Bobby Reddy Jr. said in a press release. “We are honored to be recognized by TIME for the potential of our work to improve patient outcomes and to bring precision medicine to acute care.” Reddy was also recently honored as one of Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40, a recognition given to executives, founders, creators, and strategists driving change and innovation in the Chicago area. Prenosis was an EnterpriseWorks tenant from 2017 to 2018. Founder Rashid Bashir, Dean of Grainger College of Engineering and Research Park Board of Managers member, developed these technologies with his research group in the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, along with Bobby Reddy Jr. While at the Research Park, the Prenosis team earned a second-place prize in the 14th Annual Dale V. Cozad New Venture Competition. For more information, visit the Prenosis website

    EnterpiseWorks Graduate Prenosis Earns Spot on TIME’s Best Inventions List Read Post »

    Partnerships & Acquisitions, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Research Park Executive Director Laura Appenzeller Named to IQMP Leadership Team

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    CHAMPAIGN — Laura Appenzeller, executive director of the University of Illinois Research Park, has been named to the leadership team of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. Appenzeller will serve as Associate Director and Chief Operating Officer for the first-of-its-kind project, while retaining her position with the Research Park as Executive Director. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is connected to IQMP through its leadership team, researchers in quantum science and role in supporting the newly formed IQMP LLC. Harley Johnson, a Founder Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering, is serving as Director and CEO of the IQMP. Brian DeMarco, the IQMP’s Associate Director and Chief Technology Officer, is a professor in the U. of I. physics department and Director of the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) housed in the Grainger College of Engineering. His research team has advanced the frontier of quantum science for over 20 years. “The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park will bring innovation, job creation, and economic development to the South Side of Chicago and extend across every corner of our state. I’m thrilled to see such talented individuals step into leadership roles that will guide the day-to-day operations of the campus,” said Wilbur C. Milhouse III, Chair of the IQMP’s Board of Managers and chairman/CEO of Milhouse Engineering & Construction and a former member of the University of Illinois Research Park Board of Managers. A separate company of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, IQMP’s governance structure utilizes Research Park’s model as a foundation and developed in the same spirit as a dynamic public-private partnership. While Appenzeller will leverage her extensive experience in advancing complex organizations encompassing federal, state, university and private sector partners for IQMP, she remains rooted in her role at UIRP. “I have full confidence in the Research Park team to handle day-to-day management and provide excellent customer service, while also advancing our strategic direction,” Appenzeller said. “This symbiotic relationship will result in long-term impact on both campuses.” IQMP will support the full ecosystem of companies, researchers, suppliers and other partners working to facilitate the development of quantum technologies, and will build on historic investments by Governor Pritzker and the state to further establish Illinois as a global hub for this emerging technology. Read more on WCIA’s website, or on the Crain’s Chicago Business website.

    Research Park Executive Director Laura Appenzeller Named to IQMP Leadership Team Read Post »

    Community, EnterpriseWorks, Events, Graduates, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Inaugural Founders Week at Research Park Celebrates Illinois Entrepreneurship 

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    The inaugural Founders Week, held Oct. 17-19 at Research Park, was an inspiring celebration of innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Entrepreneurship is a team sport,” said EnterpriseWorks Director of Entrepreneurship Gerald Wilson. “Founders Week is a recognition that we are all co-founders of the future of Illini Entrepreneurship.” Wilson was a key proponent in organizing the event, working closely with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Illinois Ventures, the Technology Entrepreneur Center, and more partners across campus. Founders Week highlighted the university’s role in fostering groundbreaking ventures, which consistently ranks in the top five nationally for number of companies founded, founders, and capital raised. The event brought together founders, Illini Angels, active investors, ecosystem leaders, faculty, and students interested in entrepreneurship. View the event booklet for more event highlights and relevant resources Thursday, October 17 The Founders Week celebration kicked off with a Summit on Capitalizing New Ventures on Thursday, Oct. 17. Speakers led discussions on capital formation, attraction, and allocation to fund companies. The Summit was followed by a Founders Sandbox at, including a pitch workshop. Simultaneously, a campus tour took attendees through spaces on campus that are inventing the future, including the Institute of Genomic Biology, the Integrated Biology Research Lab, and EnterpriseWorks. That evening, the first “live” TechRise pitch competition in central Illinois invited historically underrepresented founders to compete for a $25,000 cash prize. Finalists included: Thursday’s events concluded with EnterpriseWorks’ 20th Anniversary Homecoming Dinner. Friday, October 18 On Friday morning, Illini Angels held its meeting to foster community for experienced entrepreneurs and investors who invest in and mentor Illini founders. If you are interested in learning more about or joining this group, contact Paul Magelli. Later that morning, the Founders Technology Showcase began. This all-day event included panels, fireside chats, and more highlighting the hottest technologies being spun out of university research labs. Following the Founders Technology Showcase, a networking reception and startup expo allowed participants to meet more companies and turn Illini pride into a connected community Saturday, October 19 The final day of Founders Week included an Illinois Football Tailgate at EnterpriseWorks preceding the Illinois football game against Michigan at 2:30 p.m. Find more event photography in <href=”https://researchpark.illinois.edu/image-gallery/founders-week-2024/”>this media gallery.

    Inaugural Founders Week at Research Park Celebrates Illinois Entrepreneurship  Read Post »

    Community, EnterpriseWorks, Investments, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Illinois Ventures unveils Deep Tech Strategic Fund

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    Illinois Ventures, an EnterpriseWorks tenant and the venture capital arm of the U of I System, recently unveiled a new fund, the Deep Tech Strategic Fund. The organization is focused on helping students achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and has previously supported Research Park companies including DeepWalk, EarthSense, Natrion, PSYONIC, and more. The Deep Tech Strategic Fund is Illinois Ventures’ largest fund to date, consisting of $48 million from investors including the University of Illinois, Carle Health, and the University of Illinois Foundation. The fund, which targets the next wave of startups, is designed to fuel ideas that come from the University of Illinois ecosystem and is a testament to Illinois Ventures’ commitment to push the boundaries of innovation. Learn more about this investment fund on the Illinois Ventures website, Crain’s Chicago Business website, or connect with Illinois Ventures on LinkedIn.

    Illinois Ventures unveils Deep Tech Strategic Fund Read Post »

    Community, EnterpriseWorks, Investments, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    FAST Center at Illinois receives funding renewal from US SBA

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    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Illinois FAST Center, hosted by Research Park, has received a five-year renewal of its funding. The FAST Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides one-on-one assistance, training, and workshops across the state to increase access to federal research funding for Illinois small businesses. From 2020 to 2023, the FAST Center at the University of Illinois served a total of 2,288 clients, 60% of which came from underserved populations. Clients were awarded a total of $67.2 million in SBIR and STTR funding. This award is one of 49 distributed by the SBA, which provide up to $200,000 to organizations supporting startups through specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. “FAST funding, which fuels innovation to keep America competitive globally, has doubled under the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA. “At a time when we are seeing historic highs in our entrepreneurial activity with a small business boom, investing in America’s innovative startups is a top priority. America’s Seed Fund, powered by the SBA and fueled by 11 federal agencies’ SBIR and STTR programs, is the largest source of early-stage funding in the world. With FAST, we have now expanded our entrepreneurial ecosystem to nearly every state so that entrepreneurs with great ideas can invent it, commercialize it, and build it with America’s Seed Fund in every corner of America.” The Illinois FAST Center hosted America’s Seed Fund Road Tour in Champaign on July 17, 2024, allowing innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and small technology startups to connect with federal funding opportunities. Read the official press release on the SBA website. About FAST FAST provides small businesses and startups, particularly those in underserved communities, with specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance for research and development. FAST’s objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of small businesses and startups across the country, particularly those from underserved communities to help them benefit from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Through FAST, the SBA continues to play a critical role in creating inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and helping American entrepreneurs grow their networks and revenue opportunities with new capital. Learn more about FAST on the SBIR website. About the FAST Center at the University of Illinois The FAST Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is led by EnterpriseWorks and provides free resources, support, and expertise necessary to submit a highly competitive proposal to help startups and companies bridge the gap between research and commercialization. It has helped companies acquire millions of dollars in federal SBIR/STTR funding at no cost to them.

    FAST Center at Illinois receives funding renewal from US SBA Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Recognition & Awards

    Research Park Named Stage Two Winner in SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

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    CHAMPAIGN, IL – On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)announced EnterpriseWorks at University of Illinois Research Park as a Stage Two winner for the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC). EnterpriseWorks will receive a $50,000 prize for its impactful and inclusive approach to nurturing a collaborative national innovation ecosystem to advance small business research and development (R&D) from ideas to the market. EnterpriseWorks received the Stage One GAFC award in April 2024 in the sustainability and biotechnology sphere. GAFC Stage One prizes emphasized ecosystem network building, awarding organizations that engage in ecosystem-building activities such as recruiting new partners and strengthening stakeholder alliances. Stage Two offered cash prizes to 44 accelerator partnerships spanning public, private, nonprofit, and academic institutions engaging in research and development across priority areas such as national and economic security, domestic manufacturing and production, and sustainability and biotechnology. To learn more about the GAFC, visit America’s Seed Fund Accelerators page. “Innovation happens everywhere and the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to build on its commitment to promote sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems that advance research and development and commercialization in communities across the nation,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA. “The 2024 GAFC Stage Two award winners will drive forward the Investing in America agenda and strengthen America’s global competitiveness by continuing to support the expanding and increasingly diverse entrepreneurs across the nation and provide them with the opportunities that lower barriers for market and capital access.” With Stage Two funding, EnterpriseWorks plans to implement the Entrepreneurship Leadership Development Accelerator (ELDA) program and curriculum, launching its first cohort in fall of 2024. The ELDA program is being created to identify and develop entrepreneurial leaders to support the formation, launch, and growth of newly formed science-based startups. ELDA will collaborate with a broad set of academic and industry collaborators to design a curriculum and mentor a diverse group of program participants. Read the full press release to learn more. About EnterpriseWorks EnterpriseWorks is a business incubator that supports University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and community technology entrepreneurs in all stages of their startup journeys. Its clients build and create disruptive science-based startups across a wide range of domains, reflecting the depth and breadth of university expertise. Since opening in 2003, EnterpriseWorks clients have raised more than $1.4 billion in outside capital and $200 million in non-diluted funding. EnterpriseWorks is located on campus at the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign. About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the growth-oriented small business and startup community with access to financial capital, networks, assistance, and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit the SBA website.

    Research Park Named Stage Two Winner in SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Inc. and Fast Company Recognize University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a Leader in Entrepreneurship Innovation

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    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranked No. 24 in Ignition Schools: Top 50 Institutions Revolutionizing Entrepreneurship by Inc. and Fast Company. Ignition Schools spotlights the top 50 universities globally with the most significant impact on entrepreneurship. According to Inc., “This inaugural list recognizes schools that excel in nurturing alumni founders, securing venture capital, and advancing technology …” The Ignition School ranking evaluates institutions based on specific criteria, including success in fostering entrepreneurial talent through VC funding, generating new startups, technology licensing and the number of successful alumni businesses.

    Inc. and Fast Company Recognize University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a Leader in Entrepreneurship Innovation Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks, Recognition & Awards

    TellTail Semifinalist for the THRIVE Global Impact Challenge

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    EnterpriseWorks startup TellTail has been chosen as a semifinalist for the THRIVE Global Impact Challenge. The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is a competition led by Silicon Valley Global Ventures, a global venture and innovation firm, to find innovative startups that will advance a more sustainable future for agriculture. This year’s competition focuses on startups in soil health and biodiversity, food security and waste reduction, reducing and offsetting emissions, nutrition and health, and cleantech for energy and water. The winning company will receive the THRIVE Global Impact Challenge Award, a place in THRIVE’s award-winning Global Accelerator Program, and an investment from SVG Ventures up to $1 million. Winners will be announced in November at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit. TellTail is an innovative AgTech company focused on Smart Animal Management, founded by Angela Green-Miller, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty member in Agricultural & Biological Engineering. TellTail applies predictive and forecast algorithm technology to improve the management of pig production systems. Its first and primary goal is to provide data insights to inform decisions that give producers confidence and increase facilities’ profitability. TellTail delivers decision support tools in apps, software, and connected IoT devices.

    TellTail Semifinalist for the THRIVE Global Impact Challenge Read Post »

    Events, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

    Caterpillar Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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    Champaign, Illinois (Sept. 3, 2024) – Caterpillar Inc. today marked a significant milestone at the University of Illinois Research Park – 25 years of the Champaign Innovation Center. Caterpillar first opened an office at the Urbana-Champaign campus in 1999 to work with Caterpillar product groups, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and University departments. Since that time, the Champaign Innovation Center has developed into a leading engineering hub for virtual product development, advanced simulation, data analytics and design solutions, while simultaneously contributing to Caterpillar’s recruiting efforts and talent pipeline building. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Research Park,” said Otto Breitschwerdt, Caterpillar Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President. “The Champaign Innovation Center is a place where academia and industry meet, and these diverse perspectives result in the development of new and exciting technologies.” Caterpillar has engaged students across campus to tackle the company’s core innovation challenges, providing experiential learning opportunities through an apprenticeship approach. Students learn and grow alongside full-time Caterpillar professionals in Champaign and on site at other company locations. The model has provided a blueprint replicated by many other corporate innovation centers at Research Park. “This milestone anniversary signifies the deeply intentional and impactful relationship between Caterpillar and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, truly one of our cornerstone industry partners,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “As we look ahead to the future of innovation, we are confident that, together, we can provide opportunities for the next generation of talent and technology.”The company marked the anniversary with a celebration at its Research Park offices, bringing back past interns and company alumni. About Caterpillar Inc. With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html. About the Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub that cultivates startups and advances corporate innovation. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing both students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.

    Caterpillar Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Read Post »

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