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News + Media
Media outlets sometimes share my work, and the work of programs we've built. If you are a member of the media, please contact me here.
 Fast Track[Centerfold story in Illinois Alumni Magazine, sent to 450,000 alumni.] iVenture got its start in Fall 2014, when faculty member Noah Isserman, new to campus at the time, was tapped to create initiatives advancing social innovation, a priority in the University’s strategic plan. |  Illinois Gets $5 MillionA year after the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign received a $150 million gift, the school recently announced another multi-million donation. The school’s Academy of Entrepreneurial Leadership has received a $5 million gift from alumni Bruce N. Barron and the REAM foundation in honor of Steven N. Miller, and will be renamed Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the Gies College announced last week. |  TV: Demo days to launch student starCHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- A few dozen of U of I students hope this is just the beginning of their success as entrepreneurs. Iventure Accelerator is a group that helps top student innovators get the tools they need to launch their startups. |
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 The Seeds of Social InnovationJulia Haried has closely followed successful businesswomen, women’s rights advocates, and the third-wave feminist movement. “I’ve read a lot about it,” says Haried, who is working on her master’s in accountancy. “But reading can take you only so far.” Through MakerGirl—one of 13 entrepreneurial ventures that are supported by the Social Innovation at Illinois initiative—“I found a way to actually participate,” Haried says. |  Interview: Central Illinois BusinessHosted by Alex Ruggieri, Noah Isserman and Ryan Singh of the University of Illinois discuss university entrepreneurship and the iVenture Accelerator. |  Social Innovation at Illinois & iVenUniversity of Illinois’ social innovation initiative that aspires to holistically develop students into critical leaders in social innovation through a rigorous two-year, three stage curricular and co-curricular pipeline for social venturing. |
 Social innovatorNoah Isserman has been appointed director of a US university initiative to promote social innovation. |
Good news about our students' work
Happily, there are many stories about the successes of our students and their (usually entrepreneurial) work. From the iVenture Accelerator alone, they've raised more than $10m, employ 40+ professionals, and serve hundreds of thousands of users.
 Trala Raises $1.3MA Chicago startup that teaches you how to play the violin just landed a round of funding from some well-known investors to get its app in front of more musicians. |  Y Combinator S19: Yummy FutureYummy Future is basically a robotic Starbucks. The company wants to take baristas out of the coffee-making process, using a box of robots to make complex espresso drinks. It’s not the only one in this space, but the startup is hoping that partnerships with existing marketplace retailers will be the key to its success. |  ABC7 Chicago: Menu3 VideoNew app allows diners to see dishes before they order |
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 Youngest TechStars Chicago TeamToday, Rohit Kalyanpur and Paul Couston, the founders of solar-powered drone startup Optivolt Labs, are the youngest founders to date to enter Techstars Chicago Accelerator as part of Techstars Class 134. Not so long ago, they were full-time undergraduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. |  Chicago startup brings internet connectiHaving seamless Wi-Fi at a large-scale, outdoor event is great. But what is even greater is providing that same level of connectivity to developing countries or disaster zones. Mesh++, a Chicago-based IoT company, is using a system of movable nodes to bring Wi-Fi to outdoor spaces around the world... the company secured a $1.3 million investment in November. |  WGN9 Chicago: MakerGirl VideoMakerGirl sparks STEM interest with 3D-printing classes for girls |
 PSYONIC featured in EconomistThe Economist recently featured Research Park company, PSYONIC for their work transforming lives and fostering innovation. Recent breakthroughs in 3D printing have lowered barriers and have enabled the creation of simple and functional prosthetics like the ones PSYONIC creates. |  Cast21 Raises $800KCast21 has created a waterproof, breathable cast. Unlike traditional casts, the Cast21 has an open lattice design (inspired by a Chinese finger trap) that allows the wearer to wash and scratch the skin below the molding. |  Best Startup Award: Amber AgPlenty of startups promise solutions to problems that are either overblown or don't really exist, but we can't say the same about Amber Agriculture. With Amber's array of sensors, farmers can more easily check the quality of their stored grain and get their wares to the companies that make our food at the right time. |
 4 of Chicago's 25 Under 25Chicago Inno’s 25 Under 25: 25 Rising Entrepreneurs and Technologists Under the Age of 25 |
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