Abby Rundblom is the primary point-of-contact and coordination lead for grant-funded entrepreneurial support programs led by EnterpriseWorks and the Research Park. This includes the SBA-funded Illinois FAST Center and the Entrepreneurial Leadership Development Accelerator (ELDA). Abby provides client case management for Illinois startups seeking information or assistance pursuing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding. She collaborates with various ecosystem partners to coordinate SBIR/STTR training webinars, workshops, and proposal preparation programs.

Abby is an alumna of the University of Illinois, graduating with a BS in Animal Science and an MS in Agricultural Education and Leadership Studies. She is currently completing her MBA at the University. She has over 10 years of scientific laboratory experience and extensive experience in leadership and management. Before joining the EnterpriseWorks team, she held various positions at the University, ranging from talent management and acquisition with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA), technical assistance with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI), to being one of the first technicians hired in the COVID Lab at the peak of the pandemic at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Her most recent role was with the USDA in Fargo, ND as a laboratory technician performing next-generation sequencing for small grains.

Abby enjoys spending time with her partner, spending time with her Giant Schnauzer, practicing Spanish and Swedish, playing the violin, supporting and engaging with the local LGBTQ+ community, writing, and traveling. She recently completed her goal of visiting all 50 states, and she has been to 20 countries. She is a published poet and avid reader.