EnterpriseWorks

EnterpriseWorks at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign helps launch successful startup companies; the 43,000 SF facility is at the heart of the Research Park’s community building efforts. Its atrium is a hub of activity and its clients span from biotechnology, chemical sciences, software development, to materials sciences. Through the commercialization of leading research from across the University of Illinois, its startups are working to address challenges with transformative results.

Location

Champaign, IL
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Contact Information

Rebecca Motley, Interim Operations Manager
motley1@illinois.edu
217-265-9171

The Garage

A hub of entrepreneurship and student innovation at Northwestern, The Garage is currently home to 60 student-founded startups per academic quarter. The community of students, faculty, staff and alumni share a passion for new ideas, helping to make the Garage the perfect place to let these ideas grow. Over 1000 students, faculty and staff visit The Garage each month for classes, workshops and other events. One of these programs includes Wildfire that helps to prepare students for the next phase of their start-ups.

Location

Evanston, IL
Northwestern University

Contact Information

thegarage@northwestern.edu
847-467-7155

Peoria Next

Since its opening in 2007, The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center has been a home to a group of innovators and entrepreneurs who are looking to turn their ideas and innovations into commercial enterprises. The building can house up to 27 start-up companies in three different levels. Currently, the companies who are tenants at the center specialize in a range of fields, including: medical devices, mechanical engineering, molecular studies, biofuels and information technology.

Location

Peoria, IL
Bradley University

Contact Information

ksmallberger@fsmail.bradley.edu
309-495-7238

Small Business Incubator

The small business incubator at Southern Illinois University was founded with help from the Office of Economic and Regional Development to help the growth of small businesses in southern Illinois. Since its opening in 1990, the incubator has assisted more than 50 organizations get off the ground and grow. The incubator is now managed by the Illinois Small Business Development Center, which provides more assistance to entrepreneurs such as one-on-one consulting and workshops.

Location

Carbondale, IL
Southern Illinois University

Contact Information

incubator@siu.edu
618-536-2424

Polsky Center

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation aims to accelerate the commercialization of research and supports new ventures and ideas. Since 1996, the center has helped more than 160 companies worldwide that have earned more than $4 billion in mergers and exits and raised $575 million in funding. Its resources include a 34,000 square-foot, multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; a $20 million Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures; and a state-of-the-art Fabrication Lab for prototyping new products.

Location

Chicago, IL
University of Chicago

Contact Information

polsky@uchicago.edu
773-834-9767

University Technology Park at IIT

Located in the heart of Chicago’s south side on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus, University Technology Park (UTP) is one of the nation’s fastest-growing hubs for high-tech innovation. UTP leased space to its first tenants in October 2005 and celebrated its official opening in November 2006. Since then it has provided space and support for nearly 60 startups who are creating jobs and opportunities in Chicago and beyond.

Location

Chicago, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology

Contact Information

Jeanette Massura, Interim Director
jmassura@iit.edu
312-567-5171

Technology Innovation Lab

Located in the Illinois Medical District, the Technology Innovation Lab is a startup incubator that supports UIC and community entrepreneurs looking to grow their ideas and technologies into sustainable businesses. The 12,000 square foot facility houses shared wet and dry laboratory space, co-working and office space, and programming and events to support early stage technology startups.

Location

Chicago, IL
University of Illinois at Chicago

Contact Information

techinnovationlab@uic.edu
312-996-9671

EIGERlab

EIGERlab is northern Illinois’ comprehensive resource where both new and existing entrepreneurs and inventors collaborate with pioneering leaders to incubate and accelerate businesses. EIGERlab ties together Innovation-Collaboration-Entrepreneurship into a centrally located, state of the art mixed-use incubator, serving the region with leading edge business and engineering support services. The facility and programs assist in the development of a robust and diverse entrepreneurial culture through the collaboration of education, business and government.

Location

Rockford, IL
Northern Illinois University

Contact Information

mcobert@eigerlab.org
815-965-3522

Innovate Springfield

Innovate Springfield is a non-profit organization that aims to fuel and cultivate a culture of innovation and economic development in the greater Springfield, Illinois region. They achieve this through three main programs: the business incubator, a place for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses; Sangamon CEO, a yearlong course empowering high school students to become entrepreneurs; and a social innovation incubator non-profits and service providers in the community.

Location

Springfield, IL
University of Illinois at Springfield

Contact Information

howdy@innovatespringfield.org
217-206-8671

Helix 51

The Helix 51 incubator at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, located in North Chicago, Illinois, is the only wet lab-based incubator in Lake County, the heart of Illinois' human bioscience community with 122 bioscience companies and 33,000 bioscience jobs. The name Helix 51 stems from the discovery of the helical structure of DNA as identified by scientist Rosalind Franklin in her famous photo 51. The incubator was inaugurated in May 2019 and currently has 5 lab-based bioscience companies and an additional 5 faculty or regional companies. Plans are underway to expand capacity in the new Innovation and Research Park which opened in February 2020, for an additional 9 start-up companies or international "soft-landing" candidates. The incubator offers shared scientific equipment, access to RFU's multiple research cores, conference rooms, Entrepreneurs-In Residence, interns and other support programs and amenities.

Location

Chicago, IL
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Contact Information

Steven C. Kuemmerle, PhD
Associate Vice President for Innovation and Industry Relations
steven.kuemmerle@rosalindfranklin.edu
224-570-7986

Michael Rosen
Managing Director, RFUMS Innovation and Research Park & Helix 51 Incubator
michael.rosen@rosalindfranklin.edu
847-871-3178

BIG Center

Northeastern Illinois University's Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) Center, launched in Fall 2018, has already provided entrepreneurship training and support for more than 40 bootstrapping entrepreneurs and their start-ups and established businesses, as well as in-class, hands-on, real-world entrepreneurship experiences for more than 150 NEIU students, working on the entrepreneurs' projects. The BIG Center's business growth training for Main Street businesses has already helped entrepreneurs in more than 20 industries including specialty food products, education, health care, manufacturing, importing, consulting, real estate, retail, broadcast media and technology.

Location

Chicago, IL
Northeastern Illinois University

Contact Information

BIG-Center@neiu.edu
773-442-6078

Ignite Lab

Ignite Lab, at Loyola University Chicago, enables students, staff, and faculty the ability to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into a reality. Since 2018, the center has been connecting its members to recognize opportunities, develop new business ideas, and launch new ventures. Ignite Lab is also a proud partner with over 40 community mentors who bring valuable skills and backgrounds to the center’s members.

Location

Chicago, IL
Loyola University Chicago

Contact Information

ignitelab@luc.edu