COVID-19 RESOURCES

COVID-19 Resources

The Illinois University Incubator Network hosts IUIN Peer webinars for Illinois university incubators to share resources and best practices for responding to the impact of COVID-19 on incubator operations and communities. Staff of the University of Illinois Research Park and the EnterpriseWorks Technology incubator are hosting virtual events and workshops that are open to the public and feature timely and relevant topics for the Illinois innovation and entrepreneurship communities. They have also curated an online list of COVID-19 resources.

Digital Dipstick DOLI image

Digital Dipstick Wins SBIR Funding Using Resources Throughout Illinois

Digital Dipstick Company, a fluid-monitoring technology startup, was recently awarded $224,000 in Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from the National Science Foundation. Digital Dipstick received guidance and help from resources provided by the Illinois University Incubator Network, designed to help entrepreneurs affiliated with University-based entrepreneurship centers. But their story starts long before that.

Photo of Entrepreneurial Fellowship Winners (L to R) Zachary Walsh, Benjamin Sestak, Liam Keffer.

Entrepreneurial Fellowship Winners Create Unity Threads

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — United by their civic-minded entrepreneurial talents and empowered by Illinois Wesleyan University’s $5,000 bi-annual Entrepreneurial Fellowship grant, Liam Keffer ’20 (Evergreen Park, Illinois), Benjamin Sestak ’19 (Springfield, Illinois) and Zachary Walsh ’20 (Lombard, Illinois) are developing an online specialty clothing store – Unity Threads – which caters to the needs of children with disabilities.

Photo of a bottle of Tiesta Tea, Blueberry Wild Child flavor. Bottle is surrounded by various fruits and dried flower elements.

Launching A Food or Beverage Business In This City Can Help Determine Its Success

Entrepreneurs across the country are constantly testing their food and beverage offerings, but where they test them matters. Just because something works on either coast doesn’t mean it’ll take off nationwide, says Alan Reed, executive director of Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network. “But if things work in Chicago, you probably have a nationwide success on your hands ,” Reed says.

Photograph of a poster advertisement for an "Informational Workshop, USDA SBIR." Poster includes photos of agriculture elements. A section on "What is SBIR?" is included in the middle. Workshop location, date, and time details are in the lower portion, along with a link on how to register. Logos of sponsors are across the bottom. Specific details are included in the news story.

Funding for innovative research and development to be focus of SIU workshop

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Do you have a great idea for something that would enhance agriculture, rural health care, rural communities or the environment?
Government funding is available for innovative research and development focusing on those topics.
Learn more about a program that helps people convert a concept into a proven, commercialized product at a June 28 informational workshop at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program workshop is set for 9 a.m. to noon at the Dunn Richmond Economic Development Center, located at 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale.