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.
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.
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.
EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is offering a new summer camp experience for high school-aged students interested in entrepreneurship. The SIUE Summer Entrepreneurship Academy, a five-day camp, will give ninth through 12th grade students an opportunity to work on the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to be a successful entrepreneur. The camp will end with the students pitching a business idea to a panel of local entrepreneurs.
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago on May 30 announced the winners of the 22nd annual Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge, a top-ranked accelerator program in the nation.
Eleven finalists shared in a $700,000 cash prize pool—the highest ever given at the New Venture Challenge, greatly surpassing last year’s prize pool of $400,000. Thanks to a recent gift from Chicago Booth alum Rattan L. Khosa, an additional $150,000 for the new Rattan L. Khosa First-Place Prize was included, as well as $240,000 that was added from various prize sponsors and distinguished judges during today’s deliberations.
Northwestern’s annual student startup competition, VentureCat, brought together 29 of the best and brightest teams from across the University in a battle for $100,000 in non-dilutive prize money. The semifinalist teams represented almost every school at Northwestern and featured graduate and undergraduate students. After a long day of pitching May 23 at the Kellogg Global Hub — and in front of an audience of hundreds and a panel of judges — three teams stood out.